Sources say Brand will spurn Clippers, sign with 76ers

[HMFFL]

The Philadelphia 76ers have apparently won the Elton Brand free-agent sweepstakes.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that Brand has informed the Sixers that he will accept a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million

Link

[JoshB914]

Oh those "insiders" at ESPN. LA Times reports the story and a little later ESPN finally "breaks" the news.

[saloonyk8]

Wow.

The bad:
1.) The Sixers are in the East and they just jumped to one of the top 4 teams for years to come. I think with JO likely to have injury issues, Philly should be just behind Detroit and Boston for the next few years. They're pretty young and stacked: Dalembert/Brand/Young/Iggy/Miller with Williams off the bench.

2.) Warriors may pursue Smith hardcore now and they have LOTS of cap space.

3.) I feel bad for the Clippers. They pulled an amazing move in getting Davis...this has to be a big shock. Brand seems like a total punk for doing this to them...also consider he told them Davis was the one he wanted and opted out so the Clippers could add talent to the roster. And they lost Maggette to the Warriors.

4.) Baron Davis just got screwed.

The good:
1.) Sixers can't sign Smith.

Hawks need to get in gear, resign Smith and pull a blockbuster with Bibby/Marvin.

Question: Can the Warriors still offer Smith a ton of money since they just signed Maggette???

[td00]

There goes the Smoove offer from Philly right out the door........very interesting what happens with the ASG now.

[High 5]

Now we gotta worry about the Clippers?

[JoshB914]

saloony I don't think GSW are interested in Smith. Especially considering they just locked up Magette to full MLE.

[evildallas]

saloony I don't think GSW are interested in Smith. Especially considering they just locked up Magette to full MLE.

He wasn't an MLE signing. The word is 5 yrs for 50M.

[MikeRice]

1. I think this is really good for us. The Clippers will definitely try to make a play for Smith now but if they could only round up 70 million dollars for the face of the franchise in Brand I doubt they can/will offer a much less proven Smith more. The Warriors might still have pretty solid cap room even after Maggette, but of all the big money teams I think the least Smith --> Warriors rumors have surfaced.

2. How hopeless are the Clippers right now? As Hawks fans we have seen some pretty dark days in recent years (Isaiah Rider/wasn't Bob Sura one of our primetime players after the Sheed deal?) but I have never seen the life get sucked out of a fanbase quite like this. The sad thing is I feel like they were really on the right track and did everything right this offseason until Brand 'Boozered' them. They already have to share an arena with the Lakers, is it time to just pack up the bags move to Seattle and start over?

[Harry10]

it is amazing how nobody is going after Okafor or Biedrins

[conleyorbust]

it is amazing how nobody is going after Okafor or Biedrins

Clippers might go after Oka instead of Smith if they feel he's more attainable. They might offer Smith first and if we match they move on to Okafor.

[Skyhawk1]

I doubt GS would throw much money at Smith. He doesn't seem to be the missing piece for them at all. I guess the Hawks are in good shape now regarding both Joshes. They both have had their options narrowed down significantly in the last couple of days with the signings around the league. I still think we got to keep Smith's salary under 11M/season and J. Chill at the MLE. Otherwise you got to look at a S&T possibility.

[Rod700]

Announcing it soon.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... y_evening/