Sixers' Brown unhappy about losing Brandon Davies in trade

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown has played the good soldier through some really difficult circumstances this season and last.

With the organization focused on long-term development over short-term wins, Brown has been tasked with leading a team that has little chance to win most nights. But there's value to be found in developing and teaching players, something Brown has embraced.

Losing those players mid-development is apparently where Brown draws the line. The Sixers' bench boss spoke openly on Thursday about losing Brandon Davies, who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for Andrei Kirilenko, Jorge Gutierrez, a 2020 second-round pick and the right to swap 2018 second-rounders. 

Basically, the Sixers absorbed Kirilenko's salary and picked up a future second for their troubles, losing Davies - a Brown favorite - in the process.

"When you start losing people that you are very fond of and have tremendous respect for," Brown said. "There is a human side of it that bothers me because you are trying to grow chemistry, you are trying to grow a culture. That takes a hit when teammates lose teammates."

A 23-year-old sophomore, Davies was averaging 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19 minutes for the Sixers, appearing in 20 of the team's 21 games and starting six of them. 

Brown's concerns don't appear to be of the on-court variety, but maintaining a strong locker room amid a 2-19 start is probably difficult enough without losing high-character players.

Such is life in Philadelphia, where if you're not a part of the future, you're completely expendable.