Elton Brand played just 36 games for the Hawks last season. His role shrunk even further during the playoffs, getting just four minutes.
The writing was on the wall for the 36-year-old who previously played for the Bulls, Clippers, 76ers and Mavericks.
I wouldn’t be shocked if a contender wants Brand to fill a roster spot during the season. Size comes at a premium, and Brand seems to be a positive locker-room presence.
If this is the end of Brand’s career, it was a strong one.
He faced oversized expectations at the No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft, and that still colors opinions of him. It’s not unheard of to hear Brand called a bust. That’s not fair, though. Brand posted more win shares than anyone in his draft class aside from Shawn Marion. Simply by being one against 57, the No. 1 pick has low odds of being the very best player in each draft.
But Brand did plenty to warrant praise. He made a couple All-Star games, led the Clippers to their first playoff-series victory since moving to California and had more 20-point, nine-rebound seasons than any current players except Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.
Neither Brand’s prime (seventh-place in 2006 MVP voting) nor longevity (16 seasons, including 13 with an above-average PER) have gotten their just due. Brand wasn’t all time great, but he was very good for a bit and pretty good for a while longer.