It has been twenty-five years since the city of Philadelphia has seen a NBA championship parade. Kevin Garnett who came over from the Western conference last season helped deliver the Boston Celtics their first title since the 1985-1986 season. The Eastern conference race is now a lot more interesting with the 76ers beefing up their frontcourt by agreeing with Elton Brand to a five-year, $82 million contract. What made the deal possible was the ability to move Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth and a 1^st round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves to free up salary space. In the deal Philly received a future second-round draft pick and Minnesota’s $2.8 million dollar trade option. Also without taking on any contracts in return the 76ers were able offer Brand at least $14 million starting salary in a long term deal. The ex-Blue Devil brings his career averages of 20.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks to a team that put a scare in the Detroit Pistons during the playoffs. Next season they are frontrunners to challenge for home court in the first round of the postseason. The up-tempo lineup is built around Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert. Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams and rookie Marreese Speights are young talents who are ready to make significant contributions as well.

The nine-year veteran opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, turning down $16.4 million in the process. Elton wanted to be closer to his wife who lives on the East Coast and is expecting the couple’s first child. The 6’8” forward is a native of Cortland, New York and attended Peekskill High School. He was selected number one by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 draft, and played his first two seasons with the Bulls averaging 20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, shot 48% from the field and blocked 1.6 shots per game. Brand was then traded to the Clippers for the rights to Tyson Chandler and Brian Skinner, and that’s where he spent his last sevens seasons. In Los Angeles he averaged a career best 24.7 points during the 05-06 campaign. Number forty-two is coming off an injury plagued season where he appeared in only eight games due to a ruptured Achilles. However, the low-post rock averaged 34 minutes per game and scored over 20 points in two of his final four games.

The last time the 76ers won over 50 games was during the ‘01-’02 season where they lost in the NBA finals. Since then they have won 35 games or fewer three times. Just by adding Brand it can add 8-to-12 victories for a team that finished 7^th in the East with 40 victories last season. They finished third in the Atlantic Division by only one game and had four fewer wins than the Cavaliers, who were the 4^th seed in the playoffs. Reggie Evans was the starting power forward last season and averaged 5.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. He is known for his rebounding and scrappiness, but is not a two-time All-Star and a liability at the foul line (46%). The 76ers also used Thaddeus Young at power forward, but is undersized and last year’s rookie selection Jason Smith underachieved.

Another impact Brand makes is he will raise the teams scoring average which ranked 23^rd at 96.62. He will also make their team defense stronger, which excelled allowing only allowing 96.20 points which was 7^th in the league.

Last season the 76ers were 3-1 against New York beating the team by a combined 59 points. Elton has not been kind to the Knicks recently either, during the ‘06-’07 season he torched them for 27 points per game on 62% shooting and in his one game vs. the Knicks during the ‘05-’06 season he went for 25 points. Facing the new-look Knicks four times this year will result in many 25-and-10 games for the 29 year-old.

The next move Philly should make is to add some three point shooters since they finished last in percentage. They had to move Kyle Korver to create space to make a splash at a key free agent. With teams double-teaming Brand in the post and having to cut off penetration from Miller, Young, and Igoudala, it is imperative for the 76ers to upgrade their shooting.  Veteran free agents who are looking to join a contender may now look to Philly to join forces with Brand & Co.  The Knicks finished 17 games back from the 76ers last season and Philadelphia looks to stretch that number while pushing for a home-court in the East.