Scorched Earth: Boozer vs Brand

Point forward · Post #1 » by **Point forward** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 12:07 pm

Two elite PFs who jumped ship under weird cirumstances. From a fan POV, what was the worse kick in the jaw: what Boozer did to CLE or what Brand did to LAC?

Bank Shot · Post #2 » by **Bank Shot** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 1:49 pm

Boozer screwed over a blind guy. Tough to beat that.

JordansBulls · Post #3 » by **JordansBulls** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:04 pm

Give me Boozer.

Malinhion · Post #4 » by **Malinhion** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:12 pm

Boozer was the perfect player to complement the league's "next Jordan" and he jumped ship, dooming that team to mediocrity for years and serving the penance by basically missing the next two whole seasons with injury problems.

Brand was injured the whole year before he left, collected his fat paycheck, opted out, and went to a team that needs him and has more cap room. But at least the Clippers were able to sign another star in the wake of Brand, got a high draft pick because he was injured, and they've got another decently productive frontcourt player.

Neither player could have made as much money in their prior situations.

I say Boozer is worse. The Cavs are still reeling from their cap blunders in a scramble to put a #2 option next to James. Now it may never happen. The Clippers actually have a nice young squad out there.

Post #5 » by **dockingsched** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:13 pm

the clippers offered brand 81 mil, just one less than the sixers. at least boozer had a real reason to leave.

cucad8 · Post #6 » by **cucad8** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:21 pm

I chose Brand. Leaving for money is one thing, and veryone wants more, apparently, but he also seemingly convinced a friend to come join him down in LA, only to bolt. So he screwed not only the team and fans, but a friend as well. I don't know if they are really good friends or what, I am not a fan of either GS or LAC, so don't know a lot, just what I have read, so take that for what it's worth. Just seems worse to me.

HarlemHeat37 · Post #7 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:51 pm

Brand was one of my favorite players until yesterday..truly a low-class move..

NetsForce · Post #8 » by **NetsForce** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:57 pm

Brand cuz he jumped to anutha confrince cuz he culdnt handull the compitshion.

Malinhion · Post #9 » by **Malinhion** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:07 pm

HarlemHeat37 wrote:Brand was one of my favorite players until yesterday..truly a low-class move..

What's low class is the way that the Clippers FO has treated Brand.

They only extended his prior contract after he was tendered an offer sheet by another team, and then they matched. They could have made a move to clear a little cap room and offer Brand a better deal, but they basically expected him to resign for less on the last big contract of his career. They didn't offer him the max number of years, either, so that benefit was out the window. They lorded the Baron agreement over him like he was supposed to take a pay cut.

Bottom line is he went to a team with a better chance to succeed. Considering their track record I don't have much faith in the ability of the Clippers to get the right pieces around those two stars anyhow. Sure, they look like there's promise now, but there's no telling who Sterling will refuse to resign because of money, or what logical free agents they'll balk on.

Yangsing · Post #10 » by **Yangsing** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:53 pm

Boozer. One of the main reasons to despise Utah.

cucad8 · Post #11 » by **cucad8** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 9:09 pm

They did offer the max number of years, though. They couldn't offer any more than Philly or GS could, after they renounced his rights to bring him the help he asked for.

conleyorbust · Post #12 » by **conleyorbust** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:09 pm

Boozer, Brand was sort of a d-bag but the fact that the Clips told him he could "take it or leave it" when they proved they could put another $10m or so on the table is more than enough to make the karma balance out.

This sucks, obviously, for Clippers fans and Baron Davis but if you go and pull a stunt like that I'm not sure you can expect loyalty.

hoops4life · Post #13 » by **hoops4life** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:23 pm

Yangsing wrote:Boozer. One of the main reasons to despise Utah.

I don't see how Utah is the bad guy in this situation. They see that Boozer is a FA and they offered him what he thought he was worth.

I don't think either are a bad guy. Both had their reasons. Both were getting screwed over by their teams.

RoyceDa59 · Post #14 » by **RoyceDa59** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:31 pm

I am already tired of people hating on Elton Brand for signing with the Sixers. The Clippers are notorious for being the utmost worst franchise in the NBA, maybe in all of major league sports. The West is much, much tougher than the East and many of the great teams in the West are up and coming (Lakers, Hornets, Jazz, Blazers.. not to mention the Spurs, Mavs, Rockets, Warriors) and it would be extremely tough, even with Baron Davis, for the Clippers to make a serious run at a title. They would have had a solid line up, but they still would become lost in the mix of 50 win Western conference playoff teams. Philadelphia has one of the best young cores in the NBA and Brand is the perfect fit into their system. He provides them with post scoring, rebounding, defense, passing, leadership, shot blocking and grit. He has a chance, while still in his prime, to actually compete for a championship. Philadelphia will be good next season, really good. Possible the 2nd best team in the East, with a legitimate chance to make it to the finals. The same cannot be said for the Clippers (with Brand). EB is 28 years old and this contract is the biggest decision of his career... of his legacy. I cannot and do not blame the man for jumping ship and going to a franchise with a higher probability of being successful. He lend more than half of his NBA career to the lowly Clippers and its time he looks out for himself. Lets face it, Brand has much more opportunity to leave a legacy as a HOFer behind in Philly than he does in Clipper land. I think he made the right decision, and it's time people cut the guy some slack. He's a great all round player with leadership and a good attitude. He did what was right for his career and for his legacy. I respect him for making a tough, risky decision, and I do not think he burned the Clippers one bit. As a Free Agent it is your right to sign with which ever team you desire, and all he did was activate that right. Leave Brand alone, he's a class act and a great basketball player. I wish him and the Sixers the best of luck (even tho they just easily leapfrogged the Raps and will most likely be one of our biggest rivals for the next half decade). Elton, if you're reading this, don't feel bad, you've made the right decision.

Yangsing · Post #15 » by **Yangsing** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:33 pm

It's the other way around. It's not that Utah paid him the money, it's that Boozer plays for them.

Boozer and Brand's situations aren't even close.

Cevap · Post #16 » by **Cevap** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:49 pm

Boozer's...

Brand had a player option which he exercised and took the best deal in his opinion...

Boozer bitched and cried to the cavs for them to let him out of the contract that had a year and 700k left on it. They did it, he left....

HarlemHeat37 · Post #17 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 11:07 pm

Malinhion wrote:
HarlemHeat37 wrote:Brand was one of my favorite players until yesterday..truly a low-class move..

What's low class is the way that the Clippers FO has treated Brand.

They only extended his prior contract after he was tendered an offer sheet by another team, and then they matched. They could have made a move to clear a little cap room and offer Brand a better deal, but they basically expected him to resign for less on the last big contract of his career. They didn't offer him the max number of years, either, so that benefit was out the window. They lorded the Baron agreement over him like he was supposed to take a pay cut.

Bottom line is he went to a team with a better chance to succeed. Considering their track record I don't have much faith in the ability of the Clippers to get the right pieces around those two stars anyhow. Sure, they look like there's promise now, but there's no telling who Sterling will refuse to resign because of money, or what logical free agents they'll balk on.

I didn't know those details..makes me change my thoughts on this..I thought it was a similar contract, with Brand pushing the Clips to get Baron, resulting in him taking a slight pay cut..the way you say it is different though..

carrottop12 · Post #18 » by **carrottop12** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 11:22 pm

Boozer said, "I'm not being paid enough, and you are only going to offer me 40 mil for 6 years, playing for a coach that I hate."

And the Jazz said, "we will pay you 12 mil per year on team that will make you the #1 option..."

Real tough move for Boozer. What a scum bag taking more money.

And Brand just exercised his options to get the most money. Good for him.

Basically, in a league where these teams can trade you to any city at any time whether you like it or not, loyalty isn't the name of the game.

Captain_Morgan · Post #19 » by **Captain_Morgan** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:50 am

HarlemHeat37 wrote:Brand was one of my favorite players until yesterday..truly a low-class move..

It was not a low class move. It was a smart move. You get more money and you get to be on a better team.. Anyone would have done it... Brand had the right to sign with other team. It was the right move.

Post #20 » by **dockingsched** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:10 am

it was actually similar money and a worse team.

Boozer vs Brand: more scorched earth?