NBA Trade Rumors: Why Is Andre Iguodala Discussed and Not Elton Brand?

Since last June’s NBA draft, Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers has heard his name become synonymous with trade rumors.

From witnessing his scoring average decline, to skipping out on his exit interview, to now joining his teammates in Los Angeles for team workouts during the lockout, Iguodala’s past year has been filled with an increasing amount of uncertainty.

The career 15.6 PPG scorer saw his scoring average decline last year for the third-consecutive season, as he averaged 14.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 6.3 APG, while posting the second-lowest field-goal percentage of his career at 44.5 percent.

After being mentioned in trade rumors for Monta Ellis, Lamar Odom, Chris Kaman and the second-overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, even Iguodala may be surprised that he is still a member of the Sixers.

However, when it comes to trades, have the Sixers been spending too much of their time on Iguodala and not enough time on another member of their team?

While trading Iguodala could net the team salary cap space, as well as potential draft picks and possibly even an upgrade at center, might the Sixers have another player who has a high exchange rate?

With all the rumors surrounding Iguodala, Elton Brand’s name has seemingly been skipped over as a potential trade chip.

While Iguodala’s name has been tossed around in trade rumors, Brand’s name has been mentioned alongside “bust,” “overpaid” and “worst contract.”

Yes, his performances in his three seasons with the Sixers are nowhere close to being worth the five-year, nearly $80 million deal he signed in 2008. 

And, yes, he has not been the same player with the Sixers that he was from 2003-2007 with the Los Angeles Clippers.

So who would want him?

Any team that could use a veteran upgrade at the power forward position, that's who.

The 32-year-old averaged 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 blocks last season.

While these numbers are down from his career averages of 18.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.4 APG and 1.9 blocks, they are also the best averages that Brand has posted since joining the Sixers.

As for the contract that the Sixers gave him—making him a candidate for the league’s most overpaid player—over half of it has been paid.

Unfortunately for the Sixers, and their fans, nearly $44.5 million has already been paid to Brand in the first three years of his contract.

However, this also means that Brand is only due $35,220,080 over the next two seasons.

This number is a lot easier for potential trade partners to digest than the near $50 million Brand was due this time last year.

While ridding themselves of Iguodala’s contract would give the Sixers nearly $9 million more in cap space, it does not guarantee that the team will receive any difference-makers in return.

A rumored deal with the Golden State Warriors for Monta Ellis would not help sort out the logjam the Sixers currently face in providing minutes to Iguodala, Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Jodie Meeks and Thaddeus Young. 

Brand, on the other hand, may provide the Sixers with a different set of potential acquisitions.

The Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers currently have team salaries under $45 million; the potential salary cap if the league’s new CBA calls for a hard cap.

Of these teams, only Sacramento, Memphis and the Los Angeles Clippers had a power forward who averaged more points, rebounds and blocks than Brand last season.

Would a team such as the Denver Nuggets, who currently have the league’s lowest team salary, as well as a power forward from last season in Kenyon Martin who is an unrestricted free agent, be willing to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal involving Nene and Brand?

The New Jersey Nets, who could lose Kris Humphries to free agency and who have already been mentioned as possibly having interest in Thaddeus Young, may turn their attention to Brand as a replacement.

Brand has gone from being considered as one of the league’s most overpaid players to giving the Sixers at least one solid season in his third year with the team.

And, although he led the team in scoring and rebounding last season, his departure could set the Sixers up for a much brighter future.

Besides enhancing the Sixers' chances of re-signing restricted free agent Thaddeus Young and allowing him to see the court more often, Brand’s departure would also set the team up for next offseason.

If the Sixers trade Brand, as well as decline to pick up the option in Andres Nocioni’s contract, the team could save nearly $25.6 million for the 2012-13 season.

Players such as Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, Roy Hibbert, Chris Kaman, Andrew Bynum, Kevin Love and Dwight Howard are all potential free agents next offseason.

Trading away the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, as well as their constant force from a playoff series that provided the team with plenty of optimism for the future, could force the Sixers to experience a down season next year.

However, providing the team with salary cap room, as well as allowing Holiday, Turner, Young and possibly Iguodala more time to grow before turning the Sixers into an attractive free-agent destination a year from now, may be worth the wait.

Brand’s departure would not guarantee the Sixers success in the future.

But, by saving the Sixers nearly $7 million more over the next two seasons than they would by trading Iguodala, Brand may be a better option for the Sixers to move.

Or, at least become another name to discuss in trade rumors, along with Iguodala.