Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Everybody loves the hometown kid. For the New York Knicks, they’re attempting to bring in one of Westchester County’s finest and give him the ability to finish a career at Madison Square Garden.
Former Dallas Mavericks power forward Elton Brand grew up playing basketball Peekskill High School dreaming of one day playing for the Knicks and has talked about finishing up his career in New York.
The Knicks have a need down low at the moment for one more big man off the bench. They could either bring back Kenyon Martin or go another direction as they would like to do with Brand.
Brand and his agent are simply trying to work out a deal with a potential suitor that reflects his skill level even though he is 34 years old. Brand’s agent David Falk had this to say, according to the New York Post:
“We’re just trying to get Elton a contract that is fair for his value in this marketplace.”
Falk looks like he may not necessarily care as much about the Knicks as Brand does. He wants his guy to get the best deal possible, and if that’s with the Knicks, so be it.
Last season for the Mavericks, Brand played very well averaging 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in just 21 minutes per game. It seems to me, at least, that even at his age he can still produce at a high level in a few minutes off the bench.
New York would be an interesting team for Brand, as he would be the complete opposite of their other new big man Andrea Bargnani. This could be a great move for the Knicks, getting such variety in the type of front court they’re putting together. Brand may wind up with another team yet, but right now the Knicks look to be a favorite.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior NBA Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
