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Brand on 950 ESPN

The hosts attempted to woo Brand to the Sixers in the 5 minute interview.

I don't think Elton was really feeling it. I can hear in his voice he doesn't want to leave the Clippers (and I'm 99% certain he won't).

Elton sounded like he was willing to have David Falk look into his free agent options this offseason. If the options are too limited, I'd expect him to return for his final contract year. He explained he was willing to relocate to an East coast team while living in LA during the offseason, if he was in the right situation.

"Its like an infomercial for the East" --EB

Props to those hosts for campaigning for their city, but really guys? The fourth or fifth reference was a little much. EB doesn't sound convinced that he's going anywhere though.

The interesting part is why was EB showing up on a Philly station?

I would love to see him on the Sixers, but my guess is that Faulk put him up to it in order to put some pressure on the Clips to get him signed to an extension.

Sounds to me like EB expects to be a Clipper, but he's having to keep his options open, and just prepare himself for anything that may occur. I fully expect him to be a Clipper next season and during the future.

This interview only convinces me that EB will remain a Clipper at least for another season.

I do also question why EB went on a Philly sports radio station.

thanumba2clippersfan wrote:I do also question why EB went on a Philly sports radio station.

Like tk76, I'm assuming it's David Falk. Brand was in New York over the weekend and attended the Celtic game with Falk as well.

My Master Plan:

In chronological order

1) Elton & Corey Opt Out
2) Trade #7 Overall & Tim Thomas to Philly for the #16 pick (puts us far under the cap)
3) Sign Gilbert Arenas
4) Sign Brand with his Bird Rights that we still own
5) Sign and trade Corey for bench help

Kaman
Brand
Thornton
Mobley
Arenas

Bobcats fan, I know it would be hard to really know or not, but do you think Brand would go to Charlotte? Went to college close by, New coach of Larry Brown( not sure if that hurts or helps), Starting 5 of Okafor,Brand,Wallace, Richardson, Felton would be a definite playoff team in the East.

Thoughts or Opinions

Charlotte would have to start by finding a way to make some cap space to sign Elton in the first place.

A sign and trade would have to include either Okafor, Wallace or J-Rich just to make salaries match, so the Bobcats roster you listed wouldn't look quite the same if Charlotte found a way to get Elton.

We have 18mil in cap space plus expirings, so I dont think that is too much of an issue. How would an, Okafor, Morrison/May (or both), and a filler or next year expiring?

I'm hoping Maggs & Brand both leave. I want Gilbert Areans, we just have to get creative with getting rid of Cuttino Mobley & Tim Thomas. I personally would love for us to trade for a 1 year rental with Rasheed Wallace then go after Carlos Boozer the next year.

PG - Gilbert Arenas
SG - Eric Gordon
SF - Al Thornton
PF - Rasheed Wallace (Year after that, Carlos Boozer.)
C - Chris Kaman

Then just build up the bench the next two years. Clippers would be contending after that.

dustinzb wrote:We have 18mil in cap space plus expirings, so I dont think that is too much of an issue. How would an, Okafor, Morrison/May (or both), and a filler or next year expiring?

They have 18M -13M cap hold for Okafor+ 5M (same as a mid level exemption) I don't think the Bobcats much capspace unless they lose Okafor. He counts about 13M against the cap (his caop hold) until you resign him. If he resigns for less than that then you can free up a few million, but they will only have 8 men on the roster.

Their draft picks will count for a few million, as will other players they sign to replace their expiring players.

All in all, they have about the same cap space as a team that is over the cap, since 6M ends up being about the same as the mid level exemption- which you can't use if you are over the cap. the only advantage they have is that they can take more salary back in a trade- which a team over the cap cannot do.

Now if the Bobcats lose Okafor, or sign him to a one year QO, then they will have significant cap space.

In contrast, the Sixers have 21M-10M cap hold for Iguodala and Lou Williams.

If Shawn Marion opts out (he until next Tuesday to decide) the Heat will have approximately $16.3 million in cap space. Coincidentally, that's about the amount a max contract for Brand can start at.

And yes, Miami is the only team that's ever signed Brand to a non-rookie-scale contract.

Lucky for you guys, it's about a 5% chance Marion will opt out. He will expire next year though.

HeatSince88 wrote:And yes, Miami is the only team that's ever signed Brand to a non-rookie-scale contract.

Lucky for you guys, it's about a 5% chance Marion will opt out. He will expire next year though.

If the Heat trade out of the #2 spot and Michael Beasley to draft a guard or center with a later pick, they would be sending a message that they are willing to bid on Brand after next season.

HeatSince88 wrote:If Shawn Marion opts out (he until next Tuesday to decide) the Heat will have approximately $16.3 million in cap space. Coincidentally, that's about the amount a max contract for Brand can start at.

And yes, Miami is the only team that's ever signed Brand to a non-rookie-scale contract.

Lucky for you guys, it's about a 5% chance Marion will opt out. He will expire next year though.

Lucky for us, Miami won 15 games last year. Any more wins and Elton might actually want to go there.

loflin3hree5ive wrote:

HeatSince88 wrote:If Shawn Marion opts out (he until next Tuesday to decide) the Heat will have approximately $16.3 million in cap space. Coincidentally, that's about the amount a max contract for Brand can start at.

And yes, Miami is the only team that's ever signed Brand to a non-rookie-scale contract.

Lucky for you guys, it's about a 5% chance Marion will opt out. He will expire next year though.

Lucky for us, Miami won 15 games last year. Any more wins and Elton might actually want to go there.

Miami will win a lot more than 15 games next year if Wade remains relatively healthy.

loflin3hree5ive wrote:Lucky for us, Miami won 15 games last year. Any more wins and Elton might actually want to go there.

Miami won 23 games in 2002-03.

Brand signed with Miami that offseason.

Any other thoughtless statements?