Brand signing puts Sixers in win-now mode

The Sixers are going to pay $82 million for a power forward that was injured all but the very end of last season. Brand has been in the league nine seasons and for the most part has been dependable. They Sixers are definitely giving him the benefit of the doubt — and maybe for good reason, although Josh Smith would have been the better long term solution. He does have nice averages of 20 points, 10 assists per game and in the eight games he did play last year, he averaged 17 points and eight rebounds, but the season was already lost. If this works out then the Sixers will have the dimension that cost them against the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs last year. Brand will give them a player that will allow them to slow down the pace of the game if needed. They’ll be able to work on that throughout the regular season and get Andre Igudola comfortable finding his offense in the half court set. The ability to play in the half court is the next step for this team. Igudola couldn’t do that last year. If he wants to be considered a bonified No. 1 option, he’s going to have to learn that phase. However Brand’s singing signifies an end to the Sixers rebuilding process.