NBA News & Rumors: Shane Battier, Elton Brand Joining Philadelphia 76ers?

The Philadelphia 76ers continue their journey to infamy, headed again in what could very well be a lousy season.

Right now, the Sixers are the worst team in the NBA with 1-25, with the Los Angeles Lakers not far behind with a 3-21 card.

For the past four years, the Sixers have had more losses than wins. Their last appearance in the NBA playoffs was way back in 2012 where they went as far as the Eastern Conference semifinals.

All else fell from that point as the Sixers seemed to have lost the appetite to win or at least set their sights on a post-season slot.

In total, the Sixers have compiled a 72-200 win-loss record and have had the reputation of being a team that is in it for the money. They have been in trade deals where they landed up with players who ended up being waived.

In short, the Sixers have projected an image where they were more concerned to help out other teams rather than themselves. Until perhaps the last couple of years, the Sixers have had promising rookies like Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor.

However, without the proper guidance and tutelage, these young turks are unlikely to make big strides in their career and the Sixers.

However, team manager Sam Hinkie may have finally grown tired of losing. He has been getting key personnel, the last of whom was Jerry Colangelo who is now the Sixers’ chairman of basketball operations for the Sixers per reports via USA Today.

Though that should get things going, the fact is that the planned evolution of the Sixers doesn’t stop there.

Brett Brown was surprisingly a new lease, and the latest right now is that the team plans to bring in two retired NBA players to help guide and mentor the ballclub per Bleacher Report.

They are Shane Battier and Elton Brand, two respectable players who could certainly be assets owing to their years of experience.

Battier played for 13 years in the NBA. He has two NBA titles under his belt but it was his all-around contributions that made him valuable for clubs he played for. Preaching that to the young and upcoming players could be a welcome addition.

Brand, on the other hand, did play for the Sixers before he was eventually let go via the amnesty clause back in 2012.

During his prime, the undersized forward did get things done despite the height handicap so he could probably be a great mentor to the young frontline of the Sixers composed of Noel, Okafor and maybe even Embiid once he does get to play NBA ball.

What is clear is that Hinkie could be dealing all the cards right now to restore honor and order to the franchise. With the right people at the helm, the Sixers can hopefully become contenders moving forward.