If he's not top ten any longer, he's still knocking on the door. The guy has career averages that are simply outstanding... 20/10/2, with close to 3 assists and and a steal every game. That includes his injury year last season. Except for last season, he's averaged almost 76 games a year over 8 seasons. Elton's always been one of those guys I've drooled over having on the Rocks. Just a terrific move by Phillie!
When it comes to the Clippers, there is no loyalty. The owner has no loyalty to the players. Why should they have anything for the franchise. Anyways, this is really something coming out of nowhere to me. Everyone thought he would either be back to LA or to Golden State. Good to see one great PF fewer in the West.
Baron Davis has to be pissed; the Clippers have to be secretly happy about this since they don't have to max-out their payroll, right? Right.
Baron Davis confident he'll be playing with Elton Brand http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/la-sp-clippers4-2008jul04,0,4156538.story Owned.
Wow. The article was on target about GS having Maggette as their backup target if they failed to get Brand, at least.
over the last seven years, he was the face of the LAC, doing yeaoman's work, avg 20/10. For that, LAC refused to include a no-trade clause in the offer to Brand, and effectively told Brand to take it or leave. Brand called their bluff.
Brand's agent is spinning that. No counters from the Warriors themselves but here's one from the media: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...F?slug=aw-brandfalk070908&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Although this doesn't make them the favorite in the East yet, this is good move by Philly. The team already has tons of athleticism and a heady point gaurd leader, so to be able to add a top-flight, reliable inside player like Brand as a free agent should be considered a homerun. The money, when you compare it to guys like Rashard or Gilbert, is actually pretty reasonable, too. The Clippers just got hung out to dry. Sucks for them.
You go from bad basketball club to little better basketball club? Is it just the money or basketball? I think it's the first thing but hey not handful teams (contenders) can offer a contract to Elton Brand.
Actually, Brand said that in several interviews. ps. that yahoo article is not accurate, with no specific details, full of innuendos (one-sided slants) against Brand. for every one-sided job like that one, that is also another side to the story http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clippers10-2008jul10,0,7829753.story
Clippers got Brand-boozered. I can't get past the sleazy agent angle: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Brand-Clippers-080710
If I had never heard of any of the parties involved I'd be pretty upset with Brand. But Brand has always been an upstanding guy, model citizen and teammate...and Sterling has always been a cheapass owner who cared little to nothing about his players. Brand may have Boozered them in a way (still don't think so), but the Clippers get no sympathy from me.
I too never expected Brand leaving them. I feel that he didn't think the Clippers were committed to winning and also didn't value his contributions. I'm not trying to defend Brand but the Warriors offered him more money than the 76'er's. Boozer went for the biggest contract.
I don't know why all the media's b****ing about Elton. He did what he thought was the best for himself. He could make the playoffs and be an all-star in the Eastern Conference, which would never happen if he stayed with the Clippers.
