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Someone had to say it. With all the discussion of how good the Sixers are going to be this year and how devastated Clippers fans are, the thing that's lost in the shuffle is if the rumored five-year, $82-million contract Philadelphia is about to give to Elton Brand is good value.

Elton Brand has had a very solid career numerically, he seems like a nice enough guy, and he fills a definite need for the 76ers. But here are the facts:

1. Brand is entering his 10th NBA season and will turn 30 during this coming campaign. Giving out fat five-year contracts to a guy on the wrong side of the big three-oh is a dicey proposition, especially if he's ...

2. ... coming off of a serious injury. Who knows how the achilles tear is going to affect his long-term explosiveness? It would have been nice to see him play more than eight games last year to make sure he's not...

3. ... already on the decline. After a career year in 2005-06 -- 24.7 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 blocks -- he posted 20.5, 9.3 and 2.2 in 2006-07. Numbers don't matter when you win, but this guy is ...

4. ... a career loser. Outside of that 2005-06 squad, no team with Brand on the roster has even gone .500. His teams, including last year (you can't give him a pass for missing the year with an injury), have averaged 30.3 wins per season. I know he's been stuck with the post-MJ Bulls and the Clippers, but making the playoffs once a decade means you're not a superstar. Period.

Even if Brand manages to regain a portion of his effectiveness and the 76ers do get better in the short run, they're not going to compete for a title without another serious move, L-Eastern Conference or not.

Mark my words: before the contract is up, Philly will be itching to unload it somewhere, and its size is going to preclude them from adding an important piece to the Andre Iguodala-Thaddeus Young-Louis Williams trio when those three are just reaching their prime.

Let's hope so. I use to really cheer for this dick knob. Now I despise him.

LOL it shouldn't be a surprise that players are getting overpaid. The Baron Davis signing was bad too; he'll be good for one season but then I don't think his knees will last the remaining 4 years of his contract.

BTW how did you center your text? I've never seen that done on RealGM before.

And 1 Amare wrote:BTW how did you center your text? I've never seen that done on RealGM before.

I highlighted the section I wanted indented and clicked the "List" button.

they sure did.

Well, if Brand signed with the Clippers for that amount I would've defended him.

But you could be right. Brand is turning 30 soon and being over-the-hill in basketball is just around the corner. Even if the Clippers had signed him, we'd probably be itching to get rid of his contract towards the end too. I think Brand has maybe 2 or 3 20/10 years left in him (assuming his injury is completely healed).

If you're asking me if they overpaid? Right now? No. In a few years...probably. But then again, doesn't the market dictate how much a player should be paid? Then the whole concept of being overpaid doesn't really exist. With Brand right now, it's risk/reward. The same goes for Baron Davis too.

enivel wrote:

And 1 Amare wrote:BTW how did you center your text? I've never seen that done on RealGM before.

I highlighted the section I wanted indented and clicked the "List" button.

ohh ok, thanks.

You can't overpay for a championship

Martin wrote:You can't overpay for a championship

True, but you can overpay for a 1st-round exit

Despite being a Lakers fan, I was hoping him to sign with the Clippers so we can have 4 fun matches of LA rivalries.
But now the Clippers just falls back down to the earth, again.

Seriously, after what he did to the Clippers (tell the office to sign a premier player, then leave), I somehow hopes he sucks in Philly.

Martin wrote:You can't overpay for a championship

The Sixers aren't even close to winning the ship next year.

Martin wrote:You can't overpay for a championship

You just gained a few playoff spots but championship? Brand is not KG+Allen and Iggy is not Paul Pierce.

andykeikei wrote:Despite being a Lakers fan, I was hoping him to sign with the Clippers so we can have 4 fun matches of LA rivalries.
But now the Clippers just falls back down to the earth, again.

Seriously, after what he did to the Clippers (tell the office to sign a premier player, then leave), I somehow hopes he sucks in Philly.

Honestly, couldn't agree more. This is worse than what Boozer did in Cleveland. Seriously though, I'm still laughing at the Clipps and the Sixers. I honestly think the Warriors won in this whole fiasco. Maggette fits nicely in their system, and they didn't overpay Baron to play one year and blow his knee out.

mr_sunshine wrote:

andykeikei wrote:Despite being a Lakers fan, I was hoping him to sign with the Clippers so we can have 4 fun matches of LA rivalries.
But now the Clippers just falls back down to the earth, again.

Seriously, after what he did to the Clippers (tell the office to sign a premier player, then leave), I somehow hopes he sucks in Philly.

Honestly, couldn't agree more. This is worse than what Boozer did in Cleveland. Seriously though, I'm still laughing at the Clipps and the Sixers. I honestly think the Warriors won in this whole fiasco. Maggette fits nicely in their system, and they didn't overpay Baron to play one year and blow his knee out.

You should take a look at the Warriors forum. They are planning a chant of "sell the team" after the Maggette signing.

if the warriors lose baron on a 5yr/65mil deal and turn around and give magz 5yr/50mil and turiaf 4yr/17mil, warriors winning the whole fiasco is the LAST description that comes to mind.

dcash4 wrote:if the warriors lose baron on a 5yr/65mil deal and turn around and give magz 5yr/50mil and turiaf 4yr/17mil, warriors winning the whole fiasco is the LAST description that comes to mind.

That was what I was thinking...

dcash4 wrote:if the warriors lose baron on a 5yr/65mil deal and turn around and give magz 5yr/50mil and turiaf 4yr/17mil, warriors winning the whole fiasco is the LAST description that comes to mind.

Yeah, I agree on that!
But somebody on the Warriors board said ESPN is reporting of a 5yr/35mil deal for Maggete, that would be a fair deal IMO. Though I am not sure why they sign him despite having Al Harrington, S. Jackson, B. Wright and A. Randolph. All of them can play SF and yet they sign another one.

if its 5 yr/35 mil, what the hell is magz thinking going to a lottery team like the warriors? does he even care about winning? for 35 mil, there are A LOT better choices so i don't buy it.

andykeikei wrote:Despite being a Lakers fan, I was hoping him to sign with the Clippers so we can have 4 fun matches of LA rivalries.
But now the Clippers just falls back down to the earth, again.

Seriously, after what he did to the Clippers (tell the office to sign a premier player, then leave), I somehow hopes he sucks in Philly.

I think there is a big chance that BD will not sign with the Clippers now.
I think Odom to the Warriors, for a s&t-ed Davis makes sense for both teams. (and BD would love it too)

Lakers fans would probably be happy that Brand left, it that happens

dcash4 wrote:if its 5 yr/35 mil, what the hell is magz thinking going to a lottery team like the warriors? does he even care about winning? for 35 mil, there are A LOT better choices so i don't buy it.

True too. May be he just doesn't like to play D, so no Boston or SA