PF Elton Brand will not be patrolling the post for the Los Angeles Clippers till sometime 2008. Brand ruptured his left Achilles tendon on Friday during his daily workout. Brand is expected to undergo surgery in the next week.

The normal recovery time for an injury of this severity is usually a year which could force Brand to miss the entire 2007-2008 season. The Clippers have received preliminary medical reports that Brand will be sidelined for only 6 months which may mean he could return to action in February.

Fantasy Shakedown:

In Dropping Dimes’ Mock Draft, Elton Brand was drafted in the first round prior to his injury. It pains me to say that you will need to drop Brand off your cheat lists. In the best case scenario Brand could come back in February and the worst case scenario he will be lost for the entire season. With no IR spots in most leagues it will be hard for any GM to hold onto Brand and still challenge for league supremacy.

It will be difficult for any player to replace Elton Brand’s production of 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks. PF/SF Tim Thomas and rookie PF/SF Al Thornton will split playing time at the 4 spot. Tim Thomas is not known to be a strong rebounder with his career high being 5 rebounds/game. Thomas is known for his 3-point shooting. With the missing post-presence of Brand, Thomas will have less open looks from 3-point land and will be forced to play closer to the basket to help with rebounding. Thomas will get a slight bump in scoring and rebounding but his 3-point numbers will drop. Rookie Al Thornton will be given an opportunity this season to receive more PT than originally expected by Clipper management. The 6’-8” super athletic combo forward will have his NBA education accelerated. Thornton is considered a late bloomer during his college career and I have feeling that he be a late bloomer in the NBA as well. It will take probably the first half of the season for Thornton to be comfortable with the speed of the NBA and have some minor success in the second half of the season. Expect Thornton to average10 pts-6 rebs in first couple of months with his numbers increasing as the season rolls on to 12pts.-8 rebs. 

The biggest benefactors from Elton Brand’s injury will be C Chris Kaman and SF Corey Maggette. C Chris Kaman will get a nice bump in his rebounding numbers and will easily average a double-double each game. How does 12 pts, 10 rebs and 2 blocks sound? Sounds like a solid second tier center.  Coach Mike Dunleavy had announced prior to Brand’s injury that SF Corey Maggette will be re-inserted in the starting line-up. Corey will now be counted on to assume a larger scoring role. Maggette and his slashing ways will get to the line more frequently and lead the Clippers in scoring with 20 pts/game. Couple this with Maggette’s decent rebounding (7 rebs/game), you have a great sleeper pick this season.