“So the window is now. The opportunity is now. So once I saw that [Embiid and Simmons improved over the summer], we discussed taking a shot at it now, because who knows how long that window is going to be open?”

On trading for Tobias Harris, Brand added that "we believe we are in a position to contend now, and our moves reflect that.”

Brand said he received assurances that Sixers ownership was willing to spend this summer to keep the group together.

“I’ve gotten assurances from the managing partners that we can bring them back and sign them for what we need to sign them for. A lot of things need to happen before that. But we are all on board to keep this core together a long time.”