Is Elton Brand’s “It’ll Make Sense Soon” Comment The New “Stupid Money”?

When Sixers GM Elton Brand was asked about his draft night trades and strategy, he had a rather interesting answer. Brand started by saying that a youth movement team isn’t poised for a championship run right out of the gate and finished his answer with this…

“I need every dollar I can get. It’ll make sense soon”

That is a rather interesting and open-ended answer for a draft night that saw Brand make four trades. First, Brand traded the 24th pick and 33rd pick to Boston to move up four spots to draft Matisse Thybulle. Then, traded the 34th pick for future picks. Moved Jonathon Simmons and 42nd pick to Wizards for $1M in cap relief. And, finally traded 57th overall for future considerations.

With all those deals, you have to ask, what will make sense soon? Why does Brand need every dollar he can get? Doesn’t that sound familiar?




Before we get into what that could mean for the Sixers, let’s examine the phrase. Uhmmmm… Sure sounds to me like Elton Brand is taking a page out of John Middleton’s book. When the Phillies offseason started, Middleton used the phrase “stupid-money” to bring the hype to the Phillies offseason. Could Brand be doing the same with the Sixers and “I need every dollar I can get. It’ll make sense soon”?

In probably the biggest offseason for the Sixers, Elton Brand is up to something and maybe positioning himself to have a plan B. Maybe even a plan C or D or E or maybe all the way down to Z if everything fails. From Brand’s comments and moves already this offseason, Elton is setting up to do anything he wants or chooses to do. Something Brand hasn’t been shy in doing in the past.

Just look at last season. After stating over and over he was looking for a 3rd star, Brand traded away promising young star Dario Saric and Robert Covington for Jimmy Butler. Later in the season, Brand essentially traded away the rest of the Sixers young assets for Tobias Harris. Moves that would have never been made under the previous management of the Sixers. Moves that showed Elton will do just about anything to win.




Which brings us to this offseason with two big decisions to make before anything else. Both decisions having an impact from the trades Brand made last season. The two stars, Jimmy Butler & Tobias Harris, Brand traded for last season are free agents. With the price Brand paid for Butler & Harris, was it worth the half of season run at a championship if neither re-sign? If only one re-signs, was it worth it?

If you think the Sixers are better off with only one acquired star back, thats wrong. The big4, Simmons-Embiid-Butler-Harris, wasn’t the issue with the Sixers heart-breaking exit from the playoffs. It was the bench. Going into the playoffs with only two valuable bench players, Ennis & Scott, was why the Sixers lost in the 2nd round to the eventual NBA Champs, Toronto Raptors.

Just look at the Raptors for instance. After Lowry-Green-Leonard-Siakam-Gasol, the Raptors used Serge Ibaka, Norman Powell, Fred VanVleet, & OG Anunoby off the bench and in rotation at some points. Being able to rotate and take advantage of small edges was a key to their success. A key that the Sixers should follow this offseason.



With needing every dollar, Elton Brand must be trying to keep both his acquired stars and improve the bench. However, if he can’t, Brand is positioned with great flexibility and cap space to do whatever he wants and pleases. It may not be the popular opinion to “run it back” with the Sixers big4. But, it’s the right move.

Following the leader is kind of the motto in the NBA. Since 2008, only three teams have won the NBA Championship without a Big3. Dallas in 2011, Cleveland in 2016, & Toronto this year. Boston started it all in 2008 with Garnett-Pierce-Allen. LA followed suit with Kobe-Odom-Gasol. Then came Lebron’s “south-beach” movement with Miami. After good drafting, Golden State made the big3 with their young two stars Curry-Thompson and added Durant with a more valuable role-playing bench.

Now, after “trusting the process”, aka tanking, the Sixers have put together a Big4 that is worth keeping and making a full-season run at a NBA title. Having one superstar and complementary players around him and expecting to win isn’t the way anymore in the NBA. Just ask James Harden in Houston or Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. Both players are elite. But, with no other stars around them to help take the heat off them, they have to do everything by themselves.




Whether you like it or not, the Sixers need Butler and Harris back. It’s not a matter of like or perspective. It’s a matter of keeping up with the NBA trends. Yes, the Sixers could very well win one day with Embiid & Simmons and break the trend. But, after using all their assets for one run at a championship, they need another shot. One that was longer than the 27 games they were together before playing in win or go home situations. But, this time they need to do it with a more balanced and helping bench.

If you start to look at the max deals Butler and Harris could get, the Sixers cap situation becomes a bit more concerning. A reason Elton Brand’s “it’ll make sense soon” comment has some intrigue to it and also some hope that Brand is ready to run-it-back with the Sixers Big4 and a stronger bench.

Time will tell to what actually Brand meant by “it’ll make sense soon”, but resigning Jimmy Butler should be the number 1 target and aspiration above anything else Elton has up his sleeve.




Here is my prediction for Elton’s “it’ll make sense soon” Sixers…

Simmons – Green – Butler – Harris – Embiid

Ross – Smith – Ennis – Thybulle – Bolden – Scott – Boban