Sources say Brand will spurn Clippers, sign with 76ers
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: July 8, 2008, 9:04 PM ET
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The Philadelphia 76ers have apparently won the Elton Brand free-agent sweepstakes.
NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that Brand has informed the Sixers that he will accept a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million and spurn what was presumed to be a slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to hook up with Clipper-to-be Baron Davis.
The Sixers cannot formally sign Brand before midnight, with Wednesday serving as the first day that NBA teams can officially complete signings and trades after the lifting of a leaguewide moratorium which began July 1.
But Philadelphia has secured Brand's verbal commitment, sources said, after first reaching an agreement in principle with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a trade that, according to sources, will send Sixers forward Rodney Carney, center Calvin Booth and a future first-round pick to the Wolves without Philadelphia having to take back any salary. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the Sixers will receive a future second-round pick in return.
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: July 8, 2008, 9:04 PM ET
Comment
The Philadelphia 76ers have apparently won the Elton Brand free-agent sweepstakes.
NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that Brand has informed the Sixers that he will accept a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million and spurn what was presumed to be a slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to hook up with Clipper-to-be Baron Davis.
The Sixers cannot formally sign Brand before midnight, with Wednesday serving as the first day that NBA teams can officially complete signings and trades after the lifting of a leaguewide moratorium which began July 1.
But Philadelphia has secured Brand's verbal commitment, sources said, after first reaching an agreement in principle with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a trade that, according to sources, will send Sixers forward Rodney Carney, center Calvin Booth and a future first-round pick to the Wolves without Philadelphia having to take back any salary. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the Sixers will receive a future second-round pick in return.
This move might move the Clippers out of the playoffs. They have a great team with Brand and Davis there with all the young talent they have, but not I'm not so sure about them. They do have the same amount of talent as the Warriors had last year, if not more, so they could still make the playoffs but we'll see.
I don't think the Sixers jump up into the top 4 in the conference, but it definitely upgrades the team a notch or two. They weren't even a guaranteed playoff team without Brand, so it's not like they were already a great team that just added the missing piece. This just solidifies them as a sure playoff team that might be able to make some noise once they make it there. I still don't love this team, but AI, Brand, Miller, and Dalembert make up a good starting lineup (I know I'm missing one player, don't know who else starts at the top of my head) and they have one of the steals of the draft in Speights to come off the bench.
Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando and even the Raptors are still better teams though, especially the first three.
I don't think the Sixers jump up into the top 4 in the conference, but it definitely upgrades the team a notch or two. They weren't even a guaranteed playoff team without Brand, so it's not like they were already a great team that just added the missing piece. This just solidifies them as a sure playoff team that might be able to make some noise once they make it there. I still don't love this team, but AI, Brand, Miller, and Dalembert make up a good starting lineup (I know I'm missing one player, don't know who else starts at the top of my head) and they have one of the steals of the draft in Speights to come off the bench.
Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando and even the Raptors are still better teams though, especially the first three.
