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Regrets? Not Over Brand

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Times Staff Writer

The Clippers drafted Tyson Chandler second overall in the 2001 draft, promptly sending the former Compton Dominguez High center to the Chicago Bulls for power forward Elton Brand.

The Clippers still like Chandler, averaging 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. They believe he could one day emerge as a standout, perhaps even an All-Star-caliber center.

However ...

“We knew he was a very athletic guy who could get out and run,” Coach Alvin Gentry said of Chandler, 20. “But we got Elton Brand in the deal and we would do it again a thousand times. Nothing against Tyson Chandler, but we know Elton is going to get us 18 points and 10 rebounds every night. We wanted somebody who could play right away and that was Elton Brand.”

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For the record, Brand leads the Clippers with averages of 18.4 points and 11.4 rebounds. He also leads the league with 186 rebounds. Although he was not selected this season, Brand was an All-Star last season.

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The subject of building a winning team came up (surprise!) during Gentry’s pregame session with reporters. Until injuries and ineffective play torpedoed the Clippers’ progress this season, Gentry believed his team was on its way to becoming a winner.

Now Gentry is uncertain.

“I just know it’s a process,” he said. “We’ve still got guys who are still playing hard and competing, but we’re still learning to win. Playing with a lead, being able to execute at the end of games, executing plays out of timeouts--it’s all part of learning how to win in this league.”

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