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Seeing his team fall 10 games below .500 on Jan. 9 after also beginning the year without Nowitzki for the first 27 games, Brand would assist the Mavs’ veteran leaders in staging a late-season rally to get back into the playoff conversation before finishing up by breaking even at 41-41. Now, Brand hopes to continue calling Dallas his home as the Mavericks’ front office tries to build a team capable of competing in the Western Conference. “You know, free agent-wise, of course I’d like to be back,” Brand said. “Like I said, .500 for this organization, that’s definitely a failure. I don’t want to be a part of that. It left a bad taste, so I definitely want to be here on a winning team and try to rectify what happened this season if possible." NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Elton Brand 

Dwain Price: "If guys can play, they can play. I don't think it’s a problem." - #MavsC Elton Brand on #Wizards C Jason Collins admitting that he's gay Twitter @DwainPrice

Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Elton Brand, Jason Collins 

With free agency looming, center Elton Brand would like to return to the Dallas Mavericks for a second season. And he hopes to help make amends for the disappointing non-playoff 41-41 record the Mavs put on the boards this season. "Free agent-wise, of course I'd like to be back,'' Brand said Thursday. "Like I said (Wednesday), .500 for this organization, that is definitely a failure. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Elton Brand 

Dwain Price: "We’ll see what happens in the summer time. But absolutely I would like to be back here.'' -- #Mavs center Elton Brand Twitter @DwainPrice

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand 

Elton Brand, who never returned to peak form after tearing his left Achilles tendon during his prime, is betting on Kobe Bryant. Brand believes the 34-year-old Bryant will regain his Hall of Fame form after going through the grueling rehabilitation process that will follow Saturday’s surgery to repair his torn left Achilles tendon. “Everybody knows his work ethic,” Brand told ESPNDallas.com before the Mavericks’ Sunday game against the Hornets. “I think he’ll be fine. I know they said there’s no way to come back to 100 percent from it, but if there’s anybody that could come close, he can.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Elton Brand, Injuries 

That little tidbit was leaked to the media by shooting guard O.J. Mayo upon playful questioning following Tuesday night’s thrilling overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He meant no harm, but it was convenient fodder for an opponent looking for a little extra juice on the second night of a back-to-back. “I don’t think anything was meant by it as far as disrespect to how good the Pacers are,” Mavs center Elton Brand said. “We knew that wouldn’t be a cakewalk by any means. We knew that.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Elton Brand 

Kaman has expressed disappointment that things have not worked out better, although Elton Brand has been the team’s most effective center of late and Bernard James and Brandan Wright also have played well at times. “I talk to him all the time about it,” Carlisle said. “He’s a good player and we need him. We have good, honest conversations. Sometimes, there’s a difference of opinion, but that’s OK. Reasonable men have a right to disagree. “But I make it clear to him that he’s an important guy on this team, and we need him and need what he can do for us.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, Brandan Wright, Bernard James 

"I don't think anybody is in a hurry to get [Chris] Kaman or [Elton] Brand and all that stuff," a rival executive said. "Unless he's trying to take a contract that's loaded." CBSSports.com

Dallas Mavericks, Trade, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman 

Asked about Carlisle’s suspension talk, Brand said: “If that’s what he said, I’m pro-team, but I don’t want to see any of my teammates suspended. That’s insubordination in my locker room. I’m part of this. I hope he wasn’t talking about me. So we find a way to put in that work and get better. I don’t feel it’s at the level that guys need to get suspended, but we need to find a way to get guys to play hard and play as a team.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand, Rick Carlisle 

The horrible, heartless events in Connecticut, where 20 elementary school children were murdered, has left an impact on everybody — especially parents. NBA parents are no different. “My oldest is in school now, and it’s heart-wrenching that the lives of children were taken away,” said Elton Brand, whose child was born in 2008. “That’s the scary part. It could happen anywhere. I like to drop him off at school, and he waves and smiles and says, “See you later daddy. “And those kids aren’t coming back. I just said a prayer and wished their families the best — such a tough situation. You drop them off at school, you feel like he’s happy and safe. To think that something like that could happen, it hurts.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand, Connecticut 

Elliott Teaford: Meanest fan ever: "Elton, I hate you." EB is one of the nicest guys in the league. Once said he wanted to know every beat writer's name. Twitter @ElliottTeaford

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand 

Brand battled through a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon to play the final eight games of a contract year. The result: an $80 million contract from the 76ers. So Brand, who spent four seasons with Sixers, knows what’s eating at Bynum, who has an expiring contract, and the team that traded for him. “Coming off not being healthy, wanting to be there for your team, doing everything you can, high expectations getting here, same city. I definitely can relate,” said Brand, whose Dallas Mavericks visited Tuesday. “When I was here, I was optimistic. And I’m optimistic it’ll work out for their franchise. Eventually (Bynum) will be healthy. He’ll definitely still be seven feet. He’ll be a load down low. He’ll help this franchise.” Delaware County Daily Times

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand, Injuries 

“If we beat the Bulls (in the opening round) with Derrick Rose, maybe. But I’m a realist,” Brand said. “I kind of felt we had reached our ceiling. Maybe we didn’t. They swung for the fences, tried to get Bynum. I like the moves they made.” Delaware County Daily Times

Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Tom Moore: Brand on #Bynum situation: 'I definitely came here with high aspirations similar to Bynum. You’ve got to keep grinding.' #Sixers Twitter @tmoorepburbs

Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Elton Brand 

Tom Moore: Brand said he knew he would be amnestied by #Sixers because Rod Thorn told him beforehand. Twitter @tmoorepburbs

Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Elton Brand, Rod Thorn 

After going home Saturday night following that incredible 115-89 loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Elton Brand might as well have been counting sleep. “You don’t sleep, I don’t sleep,’’ the Dallas Mavericks’ power forward said. “I don’t watch much TV, but True Blood was on, and then Pulp Fiction was on, and then another movie was on, and I’m just like, ‘I can’t sleep, my mind is spinning.’ ‘’ Brand’s restless night eventually got the best of him. So he started watching movies. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand 

Dwain Price: #Mavs F Elton Brand will miss tonight's game against Toronto because his wife is having a baby. Twitter @DwainPrice

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand 

The Mavs originally claimed Curry off waivers on Oct. 25. Brand noted that he'll miss all that precious space Curry's overly wide body took up in the paint. "I'll miss that presence," said Brand of the player who averaged 4.5 points and two rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game for the Mavs. "He had a big presence down there. "I hope Eddy Curry gets picked up by a team because in the minutes he did play he played OK for us.." Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Eddy Curry, Elton Brand, Troy Murphy 

Brand is a well-respected NBA veteran, but being amnestied by the Philadelphia 76ers gave him additional motivation in his quest to help his new team. “Being amnestied from a team, being in the playoffs, getting to the second round, I definitely want to prove a lot, but in the right way, not individually,” said Brand. “I’m at a point in my career where I’m not worried about the individual stats, it’s just helping the team win and win big. That’s my goal and being apart of that.” HoopsWorld

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand 

There are two ways to look at being on a new team with a one-year contract. One approach would be to want to showcase an individual game to earn the attention of a new team next summer. Brand points out that few teams will have as much cap space as Dallas, so the better way to approach the season might be to understand that a player who fits in and shares the bigger team goals might be in Dallas long-term. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge,” admits Brand. “There’s guys thinking that, ‘O.K., I need to audition, to show,’ but I don’t think there’s too many more teams with cap space than right here. If you want to audition, play right and play the right way and that’s fitting into the system and doing what ownership and the coaching staff would want, that’s what I would think.” HoopsWorld

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand