Elton Brand became a Philadelphia 76er yesterday, the first day teams were allowed to sign free agents. Since that time I've heard Brand called some of everything. A thief, a liar, a snake, and a few other things that would not be appropriate for family entertainment. When Brand opted out of the final year of his contract with the LA Clippers, he made it quite clear that he was doing so in an effort to force the Clippers to bring in another star--and allowing them salary cap space to do so. He was looking for a committment to win from the team. He also stated publicly that he would be willing to take less money to make that happen. And that he had every intention of re-signing with the team. The Clippers responded the very next day by obtaining a verbal committment from Baron Davis of the Golden State Warriors. Brand was said to be instrumental in making that happen. Suddenly the Clippers became the story in LA. Their fans, as well as a new generation of "bandwagoners" began spouting the "P" word--but it's the Clippers, remember.
On Monday June 30, Clippers coach and quasi-GM Mike Dunleavy contacted Brands agent David Falk. Dunleavy explained that he had "gone to the mat" on Elton's behalf, and had obtained a committment. He also said that Clippers owner Donald Sterling was not comfortable with the sum, that the owner was not available to discuss the matter any further, and that if Brand turned it down he (Sterling) would be as happy as if he'd accepted it. What an absolute moronic thing to say. This angered Falk-- to think that management would be just as happy if you turned down their contract offer, as they would be if you accept it. Brand had been with the Clippers 7 years, he is unquestionably a franchise player, and Falk felt his client was being disrespected by being offered a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum. This set in motion the events that brought us to this point. There had been no contact with any other team before this time. The contract in question was said to be $70 million. At some point, my guess would be after the Clippers were made aware of higher offers, they were willing to release 2 players and raise their offer to $81 million, but the wheels were already in motion. This would have almost equaled the 76ers offer, but the Clippers now say that when they attempted to contact Falk, their calls were not returned.
Elton Brand has been a class act on and off the court his entire time in the league. In an interview yesterday on ESPN, Brand said that he was in constant contact with Baron Davis. Davis response was "go get your money man." David Falk is a commissioned sales man. It only makes sense for him to obtain the best possible deal for a client. It appears that the only loser in this whole deal is the Clippers. They apparently had no intentions of re-signing Corey Maggette, so before they hand the opportunity to reevaluate their situation, he has moved on as well. He signed with Golden State. Replacing the 40 points that Brand and Maggette put up every night won't be easy, but if things went according to plan, they wouldn't be the Clippers.
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If this were any other team besides the Clippers, it would be surprising. But with the Clippers, I almost expected something like this to happen.
Thugmeister
State Of Jefferson, CA
Total Comments (2600)
Good blog.
Thug, who didn't expect this?
Dyhard:Homecoming…
Germantown, WI
Total Comments (32567)
exactly
Thugmeister
State Of Jefferson, CA
Total Comments (2600)
...well done. i agree that brand is portrayed as the bad guy, but in reality the clippers messed this up... and with maggette fed up and leaving too...
privateer
Total Comments (200)
Good blog Hllywd. The Clippers were basically expecting Elton to take that low ball offer to play with Davis. However, LA is Davis' hometown. He coming to the Clippers makes sense for him with or without Brand because he is now the face of a franchise.
Brand did the right thing here. He is going to a better team, and one that should have a much easier time qualifying for the playoffs and becoming a serious contender in the East with-in two to three years when the Celtics core ages to the point of no return.
J. HOVA: PLAYS NO…
Brooklyn, NY
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Thanks for the information. I needed someone to clear everything up for all the people that are mad at Elton Brand.
Denis24
Fort Wayne, IN
Total Comments (2191)
I wish he were a Piston.
stevekay
Motown, MI
Total Comments (112)
I was as shocked as many others over Brand's decision to leave LA; however, considering the usual business practices of Mr. Sterling, I'm sure that he was getting a fairly lowball figure from the start. I do understand that Brand is coming off a major injury, but he's been nothing but resilient for so long. I guess LA's loss is certainly PHI's gain.
SkyBill40
Chandler, AZ
Total Comments (1700)
Here's the thing, okay?
Coaches and players get fired, cut, traded like pieces of meat every single year. Some are justified, while I would say most players and coaches who get caught in these "business transactions" are not treated with much dignity. This happens with all teams, from the Clippers to the Spurs. We saw how Dallas and Phoenix disposed their coaches like it was yesterday's newspapers. I understand the reasons for the moves, but I still don't agree with it.
So, when a guy like Brand turns the table on the owner, we all should see it as part of the business as well. From a business standpoint, I see nothing wrong with Brand's actions. But I can totally understand Clippers fans being upset by how things turned out.
Odenator...I'll be…
Total Comments (1019)
I wish my bosses low balled me for $70 million. Seriously, I question ones commitment to winning and to his team when $70 million is not enough. Brand sold his soul for money his grandkids babies won't be able to spend.
JD41
Lewis Center , OH
Total Comments (1)
Good blog. I was hoping Brand would stay a Clipper and keep the core together. I've been an on again/off again Clipper fan for years. I've had this dream where the Clippers are the more successful & popular team in LA.
The Shamrock
Jenkintown , PA
Total Comments (362)
Brand sold his soul for money his grandkids babies won't be able to spend.
JD41 | 07/11/08, 12:06 AM
Dude, you missed the point. It wasn't about the money. He felt he wasn't given the respect a player of his calibre deserved. And he was right.
Hllywd: Old…
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (4260)
Brand sold his soul for money his grandkids babies won't be able to spend.
JD41 | 07/11/08, 12:06 AM
Dude, you missed the point. It wasn't about the money. He felt he wasn't given the respect a player of his calibre deserved. And he was right.
Hllywd: Old Schoolin' | 07/11/08, 08:31 AM
Exactly. Respect doesn't come with a price tag. You either get it or you don't. For all the years Brand played for the Clips, he deserved a better show of respect from Sterling and Dunleavy. Instead, they go low, give an ultimatum, and then fumble over their ineptitude and scramble to match Philly's offer after Brand already had one foot out the door. Brand got the worst kind of disrespect, the kind you can only get from the typical hubris and incompetence that is business as usual with the Clippers.
Homey Deez
Total Comments (6506)
West is declining, East is going to be equal very soon......
Boston showed this by winning the NBA title
djroxalot
Total Comments (15240)
Nice blog
djroxalot
Total Comments (15240)
Phoenix, Dallas and even to an extend, SA are all in decline
djroxalot
Total Comments (15240)
West is declining, East is going to be equal very soon......
Boston showed this by winning the NBA title
djroxalot | 07/11/08, 09:46 AM
Title's been alternating East/West for like the last 6 years. It's safe to speculate the pendulum is swinging the other way now.
Homey Deez
Total Comments (6506)
In Clipper Land this all makes sense.
Of course you start negotiations by low balling and insulting a man who has said he's willing to take less and makes an effort to help field a playoff caliber team.
"The owner doesn't care if you take the deal or not and by the way, he's unavailable for discussion, so don't try to go over my head a get a better deal." Typical Dunleavy. He'll coach this way as well. Baron Davis will be at his throat by midseason.
This sounds like a bone-headed Dunleavy move. I said yesterday that some part of this story was untold.
Davis, Brand and Maggette would have made serious noise next year. It felt like the worlds was off kilter when they made the Davis move.
Now all is right in the world, and Clipper Land again.
Great Post as usual Hllywd.
Petey024
Total Comments (1254)
Personally, I see this simple NBA economics. Brand has some risk about him because of his knee and one team was willing to take on that risk more than another. I agree with Skybill that Sterling offended Brand with his low ball offer and that is the reason Brand is in Philly...most likely. If Sterling really wanted Brand at 75-80 mil, he would have offered that first, but he tried to get a discount or he miscalculated the market and he lost. That's the NBA.
Personally I wish he stayed in LA....as a C's fan, I'm not looking forward to playing Elton more.
PimpyLooka
Total Comments (10268)
good blog hllywd yeah people should stop blamin brand he didn't pull a boozer...
ahung
Santa Clara , CA
Total Comments (1278)
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