quote:
Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand called Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson on Monday afternoon to apologize for insinuating in a radio interview that the Lakers had called -- unprompted -- to ask permission for Johnson to speak with Sixers forward Ben Simmons, league sources told ESPN.

In the interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Monday morning, Brand said, "[Lakers GM] Rob Pelinka called me and said that Ben wanted to talk to Hall of Famers after the season; Magic was on the list. He asked for authorization ... I said no."
Brand did not mention in that interview that someone from the Sixers, at the urging of one of Simmons' brothers, had contacted Pelinka first, which is what prompted Pelinka's call to Brand.
The Lakers issued a statement later Monday that read: "To clarify, last November the 76ers sent an email to the Lakers asking if Ben Simmons would be able to speak with Magic Johnson about his Hall of Fame playing career. After receiving the email request from the 76ers, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka contacted 76ers General Manager Elton Brand and informed him that Magic could only do so if the 76ers gave him pre-written approval. That was the end of the matter."

It seems the slanderous liar Brand was man enough to openly apologize to Magic after proof of someone in the Sixers Organization & Simmons family contacted Pelinka by email about Magic speaking with Ben . Pelinka/ Lakers immediately notify the NBA & Elton Brand of the email for ' unsolicited' request of Magic to speak with/ mentor Simmons( Magic gets thousands of these unsolicited requests because he's that great).

Pelinka immediately notifies Brand of said email request of Magic to avoid future ' tampering' accusations. Yet Brand goes on radio misleading the public alluding to Pelinka & the Lakers contacting the Sixers 1st.

Doubt whether fans are bigger than Brand who at least apologized after his borderline slander.

This post was edited on 2/12/19 at 3:13 pm