Philadelphia Sixers to Sign Nick Young, Amnesty Elton Brand

Philly will soon be saying hello to Nick Young (1 year, $6 million), while waving goodbye to Elton Brand via the amnesty clause. From CSN: “The team signed shooting guard Nick Young to a one-year deal worth $6 million, according to a team source. In acquiring Young, which cannot be announced until July 11, the deal could mean the end of Lou Williams in Philly. Or does it? Shortly after coming to terms with Young, a team source said the Sixers had exercised the amnesty clause on veteran power forward Elton Brand. By using their amnesty, the Sixers removed Brand’s $18 million off the salary cap, which will allow the team to sign Young as well as pursue a scorer and some backcourt depth. One of those signings could include Williams, who led the team in scoring last season. The moves also clear enough space under the cap that the Sixers could take on salary in a trade, too. As for using the amnesty clause, teams under the salary cap can bid on Brand like an auction. According to reports, the teams currently under the salary cap include Dallas, New Orleans, Portland, and Houston. If no team places a bid, Brand becomes a free agent and can sign with any team. At age 32 with 13 NBA seasons on the odometer, the past three seasons have not been easy for Brand. Last year he finished the season with a dislocated thumb and broken hand as well as a beat-up body. The year before that, he was coming off shoulder surgery. And though he came into 2011-12 relatively healthy, it took Brand a while to find his rhythm and legs during the compressed, rapid-fire schedule. Brand played most of the second half with a dislocated thumb, and then during the playoffs he injured his neck and shoulder so badly that it limited his range of motion.”