Around the NBA: Elton Brand rumors swirl amongst front office shakeups

The Sixers’ GM is one of the latest names to be brought up in the league’s new hiring cycle

Well, now what?

The Sixers have missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Still a few weeks out from the May 12 lottery night, that gives the organization and the fanbase plenty of time to dread every possible outcome as they wait for the future of the franchise to be severely impacted by ping pong balls. So in the meantime, let’s look around the association to see what’s going on as other seasons wind down and some begin to kick into gear.

Elton Brand to be pursued by Hawks for general manager position

Another reunion may be in store for the old school Chevy. Failing to make it out of the play-in tournament, the Atlanta Hawks are dramatically shaking things up as they have dismissed general manager Landry Fields. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of the Stein Line have reported that current Sixers GM Elton Brand is expected to be a candidate for the position.

Brand spent a couple years in the twilight of his career with the Hawks from 2013-2015. Shortly after retiring, he began working his way up Philadephia’s front office. He became the general manager after the Burner Gate fiasco in 2018, and held that position for two seasons before the team brought in Daryl Morey as president of basketball operations beside him. In those two seasons, Brand oversaw the arrival and departure of Jimmy Butler, as well as the acquisitions of Tobias Harris and Al Horford.

In other front office news, the Sacramento Kings are reportedly making longtime executive Scott Perry their new general manager to replace Monty McNair. The LA Lakers have reportedly given Rob Pelinka an extension as he continues to be the biggest beneficiary of all time for answering his phone, and the Milwaukee Bucks are extending their general manager Jon Horst. That news comes despite the team being on the brink of going 0-for-2 in playoff series in the Damian Lillard-Giannis Antetokounmpo era.

Key injuries and storylines as playoffs heat up

It’s fair to say the Sixers have never been winners of the break-up right?

Several first round playoff series have been impacted by players who used to call Philadelphia home. It seems all anyone can talk about is how much of a feel-good story the Detroit Pistons are, led by exciting young talent aided by veteran voices such as Tobias Harris. After struggling to produce in the first round last year against the New York Knicks, Harris has averaged 20 points on 58.3% field goal shooting as the tied series swings back to Detroit. In case anyone’s not mad enough, the Inquier’s Gina Mizell just wrote about Harris’ mentorship to this young group.

The LA Clippers weren’t able to pull out an overtime win in Game 1 despite 32 points from James Harden, but thanks to Kawhi Leonard turning back the clock to 2019, they were also able to even up their series on the road against the Denver Nuggets.

The Golden State Warriors could be in trouble as the aforementioned Butler suffered a nasty looking injury in the first half of their Game 2 loss to the Houston Rockets. He was unable to return due to a pelvis contusion.

More projected top picks declare for draft

Now for the “no duh” section of the check-in. Two prospects likely headed for the top-5 of the 2025 draft have officially declared for it in the past week. Duke forward Cooper Flagg, likely to go first overall, announced on his social media that he will enter the draft.

Rutgers forward Ace Bailey also announced his intentions this week according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Like Flagg, Bailey has been in the top-5 of mock drafts for around a year now. The consensus has him going third, right after fellow Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper.