Updated: 5:30 p.m.
Elton Brand, future NBA general manager?
If that's the career path he wants to take, he took his next step in that direction on Monday.
Brand was named the GM of the Sixers' G-League (formerly the NBA D-League) affiliate, the Delaware 87ers.
"We are thrilled that Elton has agreed to take on the GM position of the Sevens, a natural next step given both his personal and professional skill set," Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said in a statement released by the team. "The transition from a terrific playing career to team management was something that we have been talking about for some time and this opportunity is both timely and appropriate. I look forward to working side-by-side with Elton as we continue to grow and develop our overall basketball program."
The opening was created after former Sixers VP of basketball administration Brandon Williams, who also served as the 87ers' GM, recently left to take the assistant GM job with the Sacramento Kings.
The G-League GM role will have added emphasis this year as the NBA now has two-way contracts between G-League clubs and the NBA clubs. The Sixers over the weekend signed James Michael McAdoo, formerly of the Golden State Warriors, to a two-way contract.
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Following his retirement from the NBA in 2016 after playing one final season with the Sixers, Brand stayed home with the organization as he was a player development consultant on Brett Brown's bench last season.
"I'm extremely excited to begin a new role as general manager of the 87ers," Brand said. "I want to thank Josh Harris, David Blitzer, Bryan Colangelo and staff for the opportunity to develop, cultivate and elevate talent in our program. I look forward to building upon the successes the Sevens have had both on the court and in the community in Delaware."
A first overall pick out of Duke by the Chicago Bulls in 1999, Brand, a two-time All-Star, played 17 NBA seasons, five which came with the Sixers from 2008-2012 and then from 2015-2016.
Brand announced his retirement from the NBA on Oct. 20, 2016.
