RealGM

Sorry to bother you, but I was curious about Elton Brand's availability this off-season and wondered what type of package you think it would take in order to land him. I have always thought that he is one of the most under the radar power forwards in the game, but his production when healthy is right there with the NBA elite. I think his well-rounded game would be the perfect compliment to LeBron and significantly upgrade the Cavs roster.

Again, I'm not certain of the availability of Brand, but I have gotten the distinct (perhaps false) impression that the Clippers are going to go into rebuilding mode, thereby putting Brand out there for offers. Would you consider a deal along the lines of the following?

Clippers Trade
Elton Brand
Cuttino Mobley
Tim Thomas

Cavs Trade
Anderson Varejao
Sasha Pavlovic
Joe Smith
Wally Szczerbiak
Eric Snow
2008 First Round Pick
2010 First Round Pick
2009 Second Round Pick

My reasoning behind the trade is simple. If the Clippers truly are entering a rebuilding phase, the expiring contracts of Szczerbiak, Snow, and Smith will clear quite a bit of cap space in addition to dumping the bad contracts of Mobley and Thomas. Varejao and Pavlovic can be young and valuable contributors to the team both now and in the future. The three picks give the Clippers the chance to fill out the roster around future additions.

Would you pull the trigger or do you feel that the deal is still lacking? If so, what could possibly make it better?

If the Clippers wanted to get Elton Brand off the books, they would just let him walk after next year. There is really no point for the Clippers to trade a good player with an expiring contract for junk with expiring contracts. It just doesn't accomplish anything, at all.

Also, the Clippers aren't rebuilding. Nor is there any way the Cavs have enough to trade for Brand even if he were available, unless you're interested trading Lebron for our entire team.

Subliminal Criminal wrote: If the Clippers truly are entering a rebuilding phase

That's your problem. With all respect, that trade is crap, and the Clippers are not rebuilding. There is a strong difference between entering a rebuilding stage and coming of a freakishly injury-plagued season. We still have our sights on contending with a healthy roster, so this proposed trade is .

If EB wanted to leave I'd rather he just leave if this is what the alternative is. Clips are not in rebuilding mode right now. The fact of the matter is we don't even know how the team is going to perform when healthy. We have to see how everything plays out before we even consider throwing in the towel.

(sign and trade or not)

HELLS TO THE NO

EB was never on the block. Now Maggz, TT and CAT can GTFOH!

I have to agree with everyone else, this trade does not accomplish anything from the Clipps perspective.