Elton Brand interested in "moving across the hall"

[pooteeweet]

Hey guys, new to the site. I'm not going to pretend to be an insider, but I know someone who knows Elton Brand somewhat and he told me that Brand told him that "he really wants to move across the hall." Further, it was his understanding that the Lakers were trying to make something happen. Take with a huge grain of salt, of course. Brand wouldn't help this year, but he would be quite the boon next year. I'm really skeptical that either side would make a move, but it's fun to imagine Brand at PF for the Lakers.

[El Hardee]

Aside from Kobe and Bynum, I dont think we have the pieces to make it happen.

[TruSkool]

doubt it.

[djericho]

nice to dream but don't see how it's done unless its a sign and trade w/ kwame plus filler, or brand takes a GIGANTIC pay cut...

[CDB]

I would love to have Brand on the Lakers but I doubt that Lakers have a lot to get Brand.

[tkb]

EB is the perfect fit next to Bynum and Bryant, but I won't get my hopes up before I see him holding a Laker jersey up at a press conference.

Rebounding beast, excellent shotblocker, automatic mid range jumper, good post defender. He'd be perfect.

[That Nicka]

Talk about a dream come true... I dont think its too far fetched... Brand has his business and home in LA so why would he want to leave? At the same time the Clippers suck and his PG Sam Cassell wants out, Mobley is getting old and Maggette might leave..... Why wouldnt he want to play for LA's better team????????

I dunno what other teams could offer for him but this summer, Lamar Odom becomes a 14.5 mil expiring... Nothing better than cap space when you are rebuilding....

[KobeFan]

It would take odom & vladimir (both players who've already played for the clippers) + couple first rounders + either one of ariza/farmar

and that trade makes no sense for the clppers.

Can you imagine Kobe, Brand, & Bynum. That would be siiick.

[That Nicka]

If Brand wants to be gone there is nothing they can do... Clippers would be better off taking Odom and a first round pick then letting him walk for nothing... They can sign and trade him for about 16 mil a year and get Odom back

[RJM]

That would be nice, seeing as a rebuilt Brand is a risk I don't mind taking over Odom. Perhaps a sign-and-trade with them involving Odom and/or Brown to make the salaries match would work. Has Brand's value gone down with this injury?

[DEEP3CL]

Brand can opt out this summer which he certainly will, so save all the "we don't have the pieces" or " may the Clips can do a sign and trade crap".

Bottom line is he can opt out and take what the Lakers can give him with the expiring contracts they have ending this summer.

This idea is not so "out there" as many people think.

[J Rob]

That would be a dream.

When we first started talking about this "defensive power forward" two months, he was at the top of my list of perfect fit.

[That Nicka]

Fisher/Farmar
Kobe/Ariza
Luke/Radmad
Brand/Turiaf
Bynum/Kwame

At least 3 Championships... Who would stop us???

[KobeFan]

Brand = Max contract or close to it.

The only expiring contracts with significance is Kwame Browns. $9-12 million a season is not going to land us Brand.

[tkb]

Brand can opt out this summer which he certainly will, so save all the "we don't have the pieces" or " may the Clips can do a sign and trade crap".

Bottom line is he can opt out and take what the Lakers can give him with the expiring contracts they have ending this summer.

This idea is not so "out there" as many people think.

Lakers only have the MLE to offer free agents next summer, unless we do some major salary dumps, which we won't.

We can't offer Kwame's 9 million to a free agent for instance, because we're over the cap even after Kwame's deal comes off the books.

So in essence, either Brand has to take a MAJOR salary cut, or the Clippers will have to be involved with a trade.

[TyCobb]

Trade Odom and Mihm to the Wizards for Jamison. Let Jamison walk at the end of the year. Sign Brand.

[That Nicka]

I think the Lakers have a very realistic chance of landing one of Jermaine O'Neal or Elton Brand this summer through sign and trade...

Elton Brand: like I said, Why wouldnt he wanna play for LA's better team? His business is here, his home is here... Cassell wants out.. Mobley is old... Maggette may leave...

JO: will probably opt out because the Pacers suck and their style of play doesnt fit his game... He has also expressed his desire to play in LA in the past


Im sure The Clippers OR Pacers would like Lamar Odom and a first round pick for their franchise player instead of letting them walk for nothing... We can get one of them for 16mil a year straight up for Odom in a sign and trade

[J Rob]

Brand = Max contract or close to it.

The only expiring contracts with significance is Kwame Browns. $9-12 million a season is not going to land us Brand.

We don't even have 9-12 million unfortunately.

Outside of the MLE, we don't have any money to offer a free agent.

So like tkb said, unless Brand wants Vlad's contract, we have to sign and trade with the Clips.

[That Nicka]

Trade Odom and Mihm to the Wizards for Jamison. Let Jamison walk at the end of the year. Sign Brand.

but why would Wizards do it? they are in the playoffs right now without their best player and Jamison is a more consistent scorer than Odom

[dockingsched]

i think you are seriously underestimating the risk that both those players would be taking by opting out of those huge contracts. i don't see any chance that JO opts out of his monstrous deal. i don't see any reason for the clippers to facilitate a brand to lakers deal when they would be better off using their capspace elsewhere. i doubt brand is prepared to take that pay cut, and if he is then better for the clips and lakers.