The future tanking fanatic GM of the 76ers, Sam Hinkie, evaluated the signing of Brand like this: "The moment that contract was signed, it signaled the failure of that rebuild attempt. It's a textbook example of a bad contract."
Many people believed Brand was a technically skilled player who didn't rely on physical fitness, and that an Achilles tendon rupture wouldn't affect him much, as analyzed in the scouting reports regarding the 76ers' prospects.
But Zhang Yang, who is also a technically skilled player, knew that players like them, who are not known for their physical prowess, actually rely on physical fitness even more than those with super athletic ability. Their 'technical style of play' has exploited their explosiveness, speed, and more to the extreme. The so-called 'non-reliance' is merely an illusion for outsiders.
