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But here's what hasn't been known: Two sources report that the Warriors, flush with cap space now that they're not responsible for Davis' $17.8 million option, reached out with an offer to Clippers free-agent big man Elton Brand in an attempt to limit any potential PR damage from the loss of Davis. "Baron is very popular," one of the sources says, "and if they can't replace him with Gilbert, Elton is the next-best option."

On one hand, the loss of Davis creates a vast amount of cap space for Golden State and more flexibility to build on its young roster. On the other hand, cap space does not sell tickets, and the Warriors are lacking a point guard. Brand, one of the NBA's most personable players, would mitigate the loss of Davis. Further, coach Don Nelson might not be eager to preside over a rebuilding project in what is likely his final year as the team's coach, so the Warriors would need to add veteran help.

Golden State would be a long shot to sign Brand, who has said he wants to remain a Clipper. One of Brand's goals in opting out of the final year of his contract -- besides the obvious goal of longer-term financial security -- was to help force the improvement of the Clippers' roster. With Davis on board, the Clippers have accomplished that, and Brand could sign a new contract with the Clippers quickly.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vi ... p?t=430104

How much more are the Warriors offering compared to what the Clippers can offer? That's the important part. If it's not really that much more, no way does Brand leave the Clippers, Davis and Kaman.

From what I understand, EB practically facilitated this Davis deal. No way is he gonna leave what he is (vicariously) the architect of. After watching KG, RayRay and P2 run amuck in the Finals, EB gushed about what can happen when max-contract type players sacrifice a few mil in order to play together. I don't think the Warriors offering a couple million more will woo him away from this team.

That's what I think. I could be wrong. But I doubt it.

Not even in their wildest dreams. haahaa SUCKERS!

I think JJ hit it right on the spot.

I think you guys are right. But on the Warriors board they are saying that some sources have reported this may be an attempt to force the Clippers to sign and trade for B-Davis, so they at least get something (though presumably not very much) back in return.

if brand wanted a big contract on a team that really wasn't going to be competitive he could have signed with the clippers without worrying about davis. he could have also played out the last yr of his contract. this offer gives the warriors no leverage at all.

I believe it was reported that GS can offer $20 million more over the same 5 year period that LAC were offering Brand. The Clippers can offer a 6th year though, and GS cannot. I am not 100% if this is accurate, but it makes for a very interesting story. I believe Brand stays if he semi-orchestrated this, but $20 million isn't a small amount.

the clippers could always offer brand A LOT more than the warriors. if it was about the money the clippers would throw out more than the warriors without hesitation. unfortunately for the warriors, brand showed he prefers talent around him evidenced by the clippers pursuing davis under the assumption that brand was completely comfortable to take a pay cut. if brand doesn't tell the clips that he's taking a pay cut, the clips don't pursue davis in the first place.

There is something like a 24 million dollar cap hold for Brand. Your team has to renounce Brand in order to fit Baron. When Brand gets renounced Clippers are signing him as an unrestricted free agent and have no special negotiating rights like bigger yearly increases or an extra year. You have to shed more salary, release a cap hold like your rookies or get a sign and trade with GS where the starting dollars for Baron can be smaller but there are bigger annual increases.

It's not like the Clippers didn't know the Warriors would have a ton of cap space after losing Baron, and that they would make a run at Brand. I'm pretty certain the Clippers have all their bases covered and won't embarras themselves.

they decided to spend their money too late

The Clippers aren't going to have to go through hoops to re-sign EB. I am certain almost everything has been pre-arranged, Davis would not have signed with the Clippers without Brand staying. To Davis-

Clippers with Brand > Warriors > Clippers without Brand

The Clippers are going to have to spend a lot more money than they're used to, but Davis is a marquee player, an easy decision for Sterling.

If EB wants more money, he can just wait for another year (16mil next year) and sign a bigger contract next year somewhere else. Remember this is the EB that missed 74 games previous season and he dare to opt out (that only proofs there is something pre-arranged before his opt out like the previous poster mentioned)

Jaykoolzboy wrote:If EB wants more money, he can just wait for another year (16mil next year) and sign a bigger contract next year somewhere else. Remember this is the EB that missed 74 games previous season and he dare to opt out (that only proofs there is something pre-arranged before his opt out like the previous poster mentioned)

You mean not opt out. Too late for that.

Could someone explain this, since the clippers have the bird rights for brand, can't they match exactly what the warriors offered him since the cap space doesnt matter since Brand is their own FA??

I think Elton will take the paycut to play in LA, but the Warriors can offer him a ton more in money for sure.

It would be a mess if EB left

magicfan4life05 wrote:Could someone explain this, since the clippers have the bird rights for brand, can't they match exactly what the warriors offered him since the cap space doesnt matter since Brand is their own FA??

Yes, with Brand's bird rights, the Clippers can match or offer more than any other team. As long as the Clippers actually had the money to sign Davis after renouncing the rights of Maggette and Livingston, then LA will still have Brand's Bird Rights. The Clippers won't have Brand's bird rights if the Clippers didn't have enough cap space to sign Davis, since they would have to renounce Brand in that case.

Either way, I think Brand's going to take a paycut to play with the Clippers. There really doesn't seem to be much the Warriors can do unless Brand's heart take a 180.

loflin3hree5ive wrote:

magicfan4life05 wrote:Could someone explain this, since the clippers have the bird rights for brand, can't they match exactly what the warriors offered him since the cap space doesnt matter since Brand is their own FA??

Yes, with Brand's bird rights, the Clippers can match or offer more than any other team. As long as the Clippers actually had the money to sign Davis after renouncing the rights of Maggette and Livingston, then LA will still have Brand's Bird Rights. The Clippers won't have Brand's bird rights if the Clippers didn't have enough cap space to sign Davis, since they would have to renounce Brand in that case.

Either way, I think Brand's going to take a paycut to play with the Clippers. There really doesn't seem to be much the Warriors can do unless Brand's heart take a 180.

ok so what you're saying is the clippers do not have brand's "bird rights" because they had to renounce his rights and maggette's rights to open up the capspace to sign davis. Then they were going to resign Brand with the remaining space, is this correct?

However, if they already had enough money to sign davis, they only had to renounce maggette and NOT brand, which means they kept his bird rights.