The Philadelphia 76ers have announced that former player Elton Brand will take over as general manager. Brand, 39, retired as a player following the 2016 season and has spent the last two years in the organization, serving as GM of the Sixers' G League affiliate in Delaware and, most recently, executive vice president of basketball operations.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski writes, "Brand made a strong impression on ownership and coach Brett Brown in the interview process, beating out several more experienced candidates inside and outside the Sixers organization, sources said. Ultimately, ownership believed Brand had sold them on vision, preparedness and the ability to grow into the role at a crucial time for the organization."
Head coach Brett Brown had been the interim GM since Bryan Colangelo resigned in June after an investigation into some suspicious twitter accounts, which were later revealed to be run by Colangelo's wife.
Brand, the Chicago Bulls' #1 overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, spent 16 seasons in the league, including two All-Star appearances as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He signed a five-year, $82 million free-agent deal with the Sixers in 2008, but also spent time in Dallas and Atlanta before returning to Philadelphia in 2015 as a player, retiring there in 2016.
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