GM Brand backs Brown, but makes no guarantees

PHILADELPHIA — One day after the NBA trade deadline, Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand held a news conference addressing the state of the team. Brand said he believes in the team’s roster construction and stands behind coach Brett Brown, but expressed discontent with the team’s road record.

“Brett is our head coach,” Brand said Friday. “I believe in Brett’s ability to lead this team. I will be responsible for that decision when it comes. I speak to Brett and we work every day to get this problem fixed. We’re not happy with it.”

Brand stopped short of guaranteeing Brown, in his seventh season, would be the Sixers’ coach for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, saying, “I’m not going to play what-ifs.”

Brand went on to reiterate that he supports Brown and called the 58-year-old coach the team’s “leader.” According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Brown signed a three-year extension with the 76ers in May of 2018.

The Sixers entered Friday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies on a four-game losing streak. One week before the All-Star break, the Sixers are just 9-19 on the road. Their league-best 22-2 record at home has helped keep them afloat as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

“I know we are more of a team than what we’ve seen recently,” Brand said. “Make no mistake, we are disappointed in how we’ve played recently.”

“The players understand how they have to do better,” Brand continued. “The whole organization has to do better.”

Sixers center Joel Embiid was limited to 16 minutes Friday due to a stiff neck. He left the game with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.

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