Sources: Clippers Pursuing Davis

[loflin3hree5ive]

The Los Angeles Clippers are making a hard run at signing free agent Baron Davis, multiple league sources said late Monday night.

Hours before the midnight deadline, the Golden State Warriors point guard opted out of the $17.8 million owed him in the final season of his six-year contract. Davis could still re-sign with the Warriors, but the possibility of returning to Southern California, where he grew up and played at UCLA, must intrigue him.

Davis’ decision stunned league executives and agents late Monday.

“He has to have some kind of a deal somewhere,” an Eastern Conference general manager said. “You just don’t opt out of that kind of money.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-barondavisfreeagent063008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[jflipclip]

I just came back home... read that Brand opts out (ugh), but then read that BD also opted out (ooh), and now this (OMG).

Make it happen DTS, make it happen.

[loflin3hree5ive]

I'm a little relieved to see that Baylor and co. are on it. Baylor doesn't seem to believe in no-brainers sometimes.

[Sid the Squid]

Baron on a fat contract eats head coaches for breakfast...I wonder how Dun tastes scrambled?

[mkwest]

All I know is Sterling better not let his affection for Maggette get in the way of this being a possibility.

[ClipperDomination]

We can only wait and hope, for once.

[JJ LoDuca]

This is a big deal. I thought the idea of obtaining B. Diddy was just that of an optimistic fan, but now to read this and see that there's a legit possibility.... The thought of EB and Baron running the show in LA means big, big things for the "other" LA team.

[GuyverX]

Hopefully both Brand and Davis are talking to each other right now and are intrigued about playing alongside one another and Kaman.

[ClipperDomination]

^ Brand and Davis are really close friends, and from what I've heard would love to play with each other. So that helps!

[Vlade4life]

It would be awesome if you guys could sign both, good luck with that.

[darobster17]

Warriors fan here...So Clipper fans, what's the most realistic deal for both sides. If I had to guess what the W's front office might want in return...It's some deal involving Mobley, Maggette and possibly Eric Gordon or future unprotected 1st round pick.

Here's a deal that works according to Realgm. We deal BD for Mobley and Maggette. I think any deal involving the W's and Clippers could involve a third team to take Maggette and or possibly Harrington contract. What do you guys think?

[illastrate]

Baron on a fat contract eats head coaches for breakfast...I wonder how Dun tastes scrambled?

Let's see, we can either:

A) Give all that money to a mid-level player in Corey Maggette
B) Have Brevin Knight as our starting PG on opening night
C) Pray that Shaun Livingston miraculously saves us
D) Give Baron that "fat" contract and reap the benefits of being a playoff team

Hmm, I think I've made my decision.

[dockingsched]

realistically, how much money will the clippers be able to offer baron davis? looks like they'll probably only be around 9-10 mil in capspace. anyone crunched the numbers with brand's expected salary and possible salary cap?

[illastrate]

Warriors fan here...So Clipper fans, what's the most realistic deal for both sides. If I had to guess what the W's front office might want in return...It's some deal involving Mobley, Maggette and possibly Eric Gordon or future unprotected 1st round pick.

Here's a deal that works according to Realgm. We deal BD for Mobley and Maggette. I think any deal involving the W's and Clippers could involve a third team to take Maggette and or possibly Harrington contract. What do you guys think?

You would probably know better than I, what are the chances of GS doing a S&T with Baron? Of course, from a Clippers' standpoint, we'd love to outright sign the guy without any S&T, but if we must, I would say a Mobley/Maggette for BD/future pick is feasible.

[mkwest]

^ Brand and Davis are really close friends, and from what I've heard would love to play with each other. So that helps!

That's really good to know.

[darobster17]

Personally I don't like sending a player like BD to a team within the same conference, albeit a very competitive conference but the chances of a S&T increases once Brand's agent and Davis' agent work the #''s that Donald Sterling will live with. Baron apparently wants a 5yr contract in the neighborhood worth 75million..give or take with incentives.

Bottom line...we'll see which owner is the more of a cheapskate...w/ill your owner part with Eric Gordon to land Baron Davis because I think Eric Gordon is perfect running mate for Monta Ellis. He totally reminds me of Mitch Ritchmond/Ben Gordon type of player.

[CLiPPzWeRD42]

I think with Baron opting out being such a surprise to the league, it looks good for us.. The Clippers FO is ALWAYS so secretive about their deals.. They could've been chatting about this deal, behind closed doors, for weeks..

EB is such a great person.. If it is true that he's willing to take a pay cut to stick with the CLIPPERS, to help make them contenders, then we are truly blessed to have this dude on our team.. He is the only player, of his caliber, to ever WANT to negotiate like this with the CLIPPERS!!!

You better get this done EGB!

[mj_shoefanatic]

Baron/Elton tandem makes us an instant playoff team

[asdfgh]

Personally I don't like sending a player like BD to a team within the same conference, albeit a very competitive conference but the chances of a S&T increases once Brand's agent and Davis' agent work the #''s that Donald Sterling will live with. Baron apparently wants a 5yr contract in the neighborhood worth 75million..give or take with incentives.

Bottom line...we'll see which owner is the more of a cheapskate...w/ill your owner part with Eric Gordon to land Baron Davis because I think Eric Gordon is perfect running mate for Monta Ellis. He totally reminds me of Mitch Ritchmond/Ben Gordon type of player.

The Clippers have enough capspace to sign Davis to a max deal without doing a sign and trade.
Their salary cap is down to 30 mil. now that Brand and Maggette opted out of their contracts and Livingston became a UFA. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a wink-wink deal with those 3 players in order to bring Davis.

[killbuckner]

asdfgh- the Clippers would have to renounce the bird rights to Brand in order to sign Baron to a max contract. Brand counts as a max contract until they sign him to something else or renounce him, so there is no benefit to waiting until after they Sign baron to sign Brand. Every dollar that Brand signs for below the max salary gives them more room to make an offer to Davis.