In Philadelphia, Marcus Hayes writes it will be an "atypical relationship" between 76ers coach Brett Brown and newly-hired GM Elton Brand. Brown will "not answer to Brand, nor should he." Brown said 76ers co-Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer "are my bosses." Hayes: "That's how it should be. Brown should be in charge." Brand was the "only candidate who made sense," as he was the "only in-house candidate who is relatively [Bryan] Colangelo-free." It will be Brand, not Brown, who will "issue injury updates" and "gauge G League progress." But Brown's voice "will be loudest" when it comes to the decision-making process (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/20).
CUTTING HIS TEETH: In Detroit, Vince Ellis noted former NBAer Ben Wallace in May purchased a minority ownership stake in the G League Grand Rapids Drive, and has "returned to the Detroit area for the commitment, showing he is 'all in' on the next stage of his life." Wallace hopes it eventually "leads to a larger role with an NBA franchise." Wallace: "I'm pushing all of my chips into the middle of the table. I definitely want to learn the business side of basketball. I'm working with a great partner in (Drive Owner) Steve Jbara, who is teaching me a lot about the business side of basketball. I'm working guys out, I'm having executive meetings, I'm selling tickets. I'm doing the whole nine" (FREEP.com, 9/18).
GOING RETRO: In Salt Lake City, Andy Larsen writes Jazz G Ricky Rubio yesterday revealed the team's throwback jersey on social media, "one of six different jerseys the Jazz will have at their disposal" for the upcoming season. The purple look is a throwback to the '84-'95 seasons, when the Jazz "wore the purple note jersey as their primary road uniforms." After that, the team "switched to the infamous mountain jerseys." The jerseys are "expected to go on sale in mid-November" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/20).
