Elton Brand Says "I'm Not A Quitter"

[mkwest]

A few season ticket holders approach Brand after a recent loss telling EB that if he's gone so are they.

"I told them, 'Yeah, as long as everything is right. I don't want to see you guys like this,' " Brand said. "They are down. They are definitely down. Nobody wants to support a product like that. You are losing by 26 or 30 points at home. Why pay good money to come see that? You want to support your team, you want them to win ballgames. You want them to compete."

Elton responds to the critics saying there are only 2 reasons for him to return this season. 1. To showcase his abilities after recovering from injury to the rest of the league. 2. To provide some hope for the team and its fans to carry over into next season.

"People can look at it like that, but I've pretty much established myself in the league," he said. "I don't know how the off-season works, but I'm sure [other teams] could see me somehow without playing and have enough confidence in my ability that I can still play. So I don't think I need to come back to showcase myself to other teams."

Even though Brand can become a free agent, most talk is about him recovering to help next year's team.

"I'm not one to just up and leave a situation," he said. "I'm not a quitter. I owe it to the fans. I owe it to Coach [Mike Dunleavy]. He's out there coaching every single play."

LA Times

[PlinkingPanda]

And that is why we Clipper fans believe he will not opt out.

However I am certain next season will determine whether or not he stays. If we underachieve then things can be quite worrisome. We really do need to make some front office changes too...

[mkwest]

And that is why we Clipper fans believe he will not opt out.

However I am certain next season will determine whether or not he stays. If we underachieve then things can be quite worrisome. We really do need to make some front office changes too...

At the end of last season EB made some comments about the team's lack of heart/effort/fight. After he went down this past summer, I kind of thought that he would feel that he wasn't able to do his part. So at the very least I saw him returning for one more season. Now based on recent comments, it's looking like he'll be back with us next season.

I agree that the '08-'09 season is more than likely going to be the determining factor as to whether EB sees a future in staying with us. This team obviously has its shortcomings, but if Elton & Shaun were healthy we wouldn't suck nearly as much as we do. That's not to say that we would be a definite playoff team (given the competition in the west) but things would have been a lot better than they are right now imo.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

If Brand opted out and the agreed to do a sign and trade (since he really won't get money otherwise) or if he doesn't opt out, but demands a trade, what do you think the Clippers would look to get for him?

Would it be more likely that they'd want a package of expiring contracts and picks/young players, or do you think you'd be looking for a package of more established players, but with possibly longer contractual commitments?

[JJ LoDuca]

I think MK got it exactly right. Since the playoff run, EB has been frustrated with the team not sharing his same heart/passion for the game. He still believes in this club though, which is why he will return next season; but after that if he still feels that he cares more than his team does, that's when we're in danger of losing him.

First order of business to correct this lack of effort issue: get rid of Tim Thomas. Notice his two seasons with us have been far more frustrating than they should have? Get rid of TT in favor a of a guy who plays hard! Even guys who can't score like Ross and Powell can contribute since they hustle. Thomas doesn't do either! I hate that I turned this post into a Thomas-bashing one when it was supposed to be about my main man EB, but c'mon. I hate this guy.

[arenas809]

Sign and trades don't net much back because the team really doesn't have any leverage because they basically have a player not under contract that has decided he wants to sign elsewhere, so it's not a regular trade where a team may be looking for fair value or replaceable parts for a player under contract.

I think if a S&T with EB were to take place, at best the team might be able to get some draft picks, and if it's a over the cap team, I wouldn't expect much back in the terms of talent, but just a player with a contract.

The Brad Miller-Scot Pollard deal comes to mind.

I honestly don't think it would be the worst thing in the world if Mags and EB decide to end their ties to the team.

Maggette doesn't seem to want to be here and Thornton clearly is his replacement, and EB deserves to go compete for a title.

I don't really see this team as being a playoff squad in the West even with them, and the cap flexibility that would come as a result of them leaving, would put the team in a very good position to rebuild via the draft and a combination of free agency and trades.

The window to compete was short and it is now closed, since the Clips playoff year, half the teams in the West have improved, and most of the cores of the good Western teams are fairly young, so they are likely going to be competing in the conference for years.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

Alright well seeing that response, and it doesn't seem like your expectations are that high, how would you feel about:

Chicago trades:
Drew Gooden (1 year ~7M)
Larry Hughes (2years ~26M)
Thabo Sefalosha (or Tyrus Thomas, preferably Thabo from the Bulls standpoint)
Our First #9-11
2010 first
for
Elton Brand
Tim Thomas or Cuttino Mobley

Or if you don't want Hughes, maybe something with a S&T Gordon and we keep the 2010 or something.

[JJ LoDuca]

Alright well seeing that response, and it doesn't seem like your expectations are that high

Wait, say what?? Maybe us Clipper fans didn't make it clear or you missed something, but EB is our man! We don't want him going anywhere papi. We expect to have him year for the rest of his career and build around him, not trade him for a bunch of garbage like those proposed trades. I personally feel like any trade for EB not involving Dirk, D. Howard, Tim Duncan or 'Bron isn't worth talking about.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

-= original quote snipped =-



Wait, say what?? Maybe us Clipper fans didn't make it clear or you missed something, but EB is our man! We don't want him going anywhere papi. We expect to have him year for the rest of his career and build around him, not trade him for a bunch of garbage like those proposed trades. I personally feel like any trade for EB not involving Dirk, D. Howard, Tim Duncan or 'Bron isn't worth talking about.

I was replying to the most recent post by arena which said if you were going to trade him, you'd pretty much be looking for a salary matcher and picks.

I understand, that as a fan you don't want to trade him, but I'm just trying to gage your expectations if you were in a position where you had to make a trade. The one reply I got seemed like you wouldn't expect much.

Just to clarify:
If you had to trade him or lose him, you could get some expiring contracts and 2 lottery picks, and another future pick, or just let him walk. Or if expiring contracts aren't all that great to you, you may be able to get a couple established role players and a lottery pick (ie Gordon, Nocioni, pick) to build around Kaman and your pick and Thorton.

[PlinkingPanda]

Alright well seeing that response, and it doesn't seem like your expectations are that high, how would you feel about:

Chicago trades:
Drew Gooden (1 year ~7M)
Larry Hughes (2years ~26M)
Thabo Sefalosha (or Tyrus Thomas, preferably Thabo from the Bulls standpoint)
Our First #9-11
2010 first
for
Elton Brand
Tim Thomas or Cuttino Mobley

Or if you don't want Hughes, maybe something with a S&T Gordon and we keep the 2010 or something.

I don't think I'd want Hughes bad contract. I'd try to go with Portland to be honest. They have great young talent, and Lafrentz's expiring contract.

I'd do something like

Brand

for

Lafrentz,Aldridge, Jack.

I'm sure Portland fans wouldn't want to lose Aldridge, but at the same time i'm sure they'd wouldn't mind replacing Brand with him. Brand would probably be able to teach Oden a lot as well. :3

[Friend_Of_Haley]

Well I'm not sure you could get Alridge, but yes that would be better.

As far as taking on Hughes, I realize that kind of sucks, but if you get to offload Thomas or Mobley in the deal, you aren't taking on that much extra salary.

Or if you don't mind making the long term contract commitment, we would have Gordon we could dangle, which I would think would be superior to Hughes.

For example:
Gordon, Gooden, Thabo (or Tyrus) and the rights to our pick. It would just have to be after the draft in which case you don't get to actually pick your guy.

Anyways, I'm not sure Brand will even want out, but if he did, I really hope the Bulls make a bid for him.

[PlinkingPanda]

Well this is getting a little off topic. These "fantasy" trades should go in the random trade ideas sticky.

[loflin3hree5ive]

Well this is getting a little off topic. These "fantasy" trades should go in the random trade ideas sticky.

You're absolutely right. It is tempting for other teams fans to have pipe dreams of Elton wearing their uniform so I understand the speculation, but any quotes directly from Elton deserve a little more thoughtful insight than just trade proposals.

[CB4MiamiHeat]

nooooo Brand come to Miami

[jgustav1]

The Clippers have never been very active in the sign and trade business, Lorenzen Wright and Lamond Murray were sign and trade players but most FAs have left without compensation. Odom, Richardson, Simmons, Radmanovic are recent examples of this. They wouldn't be interested in an excessive multi-year contract like Hughes if they would consider doing a sign and trade.

[remixer2017]

i think brand will opt out, but i think he just wants a longer deal and he will re sign with us. so yeah he might opt out but him leaving us for a team like miami which people are saying is not likely. our team shows so much promise and we have for the past couple of years. its just too bad that we have horrible luck with injuries.

[cinnamon]

Well, one thing I believe totally about Elton Brand is that he is a straightforward guy.
There's not a sleazy molecule in his being.
So if he says he's not a quitter and he believes he owes it to his coach and the Clipper fans to come back and play as a Clipper again, then I certainly expect him back for at least one more season.
At that point, if he's unhappy with the way the team is going, then he may look elsewhere. Let's just hope that at that point the team is doing well enough to satisfy him and us.