Philadelphia's Brand finished for season
| Lakers dump Celtics in overtime, 110-109 |
Associated Press
Elton Brand has four more years to prove to Philadelphia he was no $80 million bust.
Year 1 was a disaster.
Brand's comeback from a separated right shoulder is over and the two-time All-Star power forward will have season-ending surgery on Monday. All the Sixers got in the first year of a five-year, $80 million contract from the player they expected to help win them a round or two in the Eastern Conference playoffs was 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in only 29 games.
"It's the most disappointed I've ever been in my career," Brand said yesterday. "This was supposed to be special. This was supposed to be winning, supposed to be fun. Management believed in me. I'm still not going to let them down."
The Sixers first said Wednesday an MRI revealed no new damage to his right shoulder, and he could play against Indiana last night.
The MRI results were reviewed by team doctor Jack McPhilemy and Dr. Craig Morgan, of the Morgan-Kalman Clinic in Wilmington, Del., who concluded that the initial tear of the labrum in Brand's right shoulder is responsible for a considerable decrease in the range of motion and instability.
ELSEWHERE
Trade: Orlando traded shooting guard Keith Bogans to Milwaukee for point guard Tyronn Lue yesterday after the Southeast Division-leading Magic lost All-Star Jameer Nelson to a serious shoulder injury. Milwaukee, which also got cash in the deal, is without top scorer Michael Redd for the rest of the season after he tore ligaments in his left knee in a win against Sacramento on Jan. 24.
All-Star game: Boston guard Ray Allen will replace injured Orlando guard Jameer Nelson next week in the NBA All-Star game. Allen was added to the Eastern Conference team yesterday by commissioner David Stern. Allen joins teammates Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett on the roster for the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix.