Elton Brand is being introduced as the Sixers’ new general manager this morning.
Joining Brand at the table is owner Joshua Harris. Head coach Brett Brown spoke to the media for two hours at his Tuesday luncheon and is not present at this presser.
I’ll continue to update the post with bullet points and quotes from today’s availability:
Opening remarks
Harris:
- Elton is smart, hard working, and everything we’re looking for
- This is a player’s league and Elton is universally respected, he knows how players feel and react, he’s the perfect GM for today’s NBA, where relationships are paramount
- Brand will report to Harris and make decisions off court, while Brett Brown makes decisions on court
Brand:
- Believes this team has an incredibly bright future, a dynamic young core, veterans, and a great coach in Brett Brown
- I know how passionate the fan base is and I understand what the expectations are, the next 12 months are very important and in the near term we’re focused on advancing further into the playoffs
The organizational structure
Harris:
- Elton and Brett are partners. Both of them report to me and to ownership. We expect they will be collaborating a lot. Brett is the on- court voice and Brand is the off court voice.
- Not going after a president of basketball operations, pretty happy with the existing structure in place and we’ll put the organizational stuff behind us as we move on
- Via press release: Additionally, Alex Rucker has been elevated to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations (reported by Adrian Wojnarowski Tuesday night)
Brand:
- I’ll make basketball decision recommendations to ownership, but Brett and I are aligned. When it comes to trades, draft process, I’m running that. That’s what I’ve been hired for. Brett will have a say in final decisions, as will ownership, who we report to
Here’s an exchange with Howard Eskin about who has the final say in the existing setup:
Eskin: But who has the last say?
Harris: On the court, Brett, off the court, Elton.
Eskin: Well, on the court..
Harris: So minute to minute, coaching sort of decisions will be Brett. Personnel decisions, trades, free agency, will be Elton.
Brand: First of all, thanks for the soft ball question, Howard. Basically basketball decisions, I’m going to make those. I’ll make those recommendations to ownership. Coach and I are aligned. It is a partnership. He said partnership and it is a partnership. Teams that have won in the NBA, the GM and coaches have to get along. He’s gonna have the players; when it comes to trades, draft process, I’m running that. That’s what I’ve been hired for.”
Eskin: But final say –
Brand: Final say, coach is going to have a voice in it. We’re going to discuss it. I’m going to make my recommendations to ownership, just like any other team does.
Eskin: So Josh has the final say?
Brand: On every team, ownership has a final say, especially for big, possible landscape (changes) for our organization. Every team.
