ESPN reports Brand to Sixers

[Gomesfan]

ESPN news just reported Brand to the Sixers, 5 or 6 years at 80million something.

[indeedproceed]

Terrible move by brand.

Good to see you posting again Budrow!

[Gomesfan]

Thanks been busy with the kids.....I also want in on Fantasy
      Di not miss a game of the Celts this year just like every year.

[johnnyrondo]

Here's the story...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3479059

I'm not sure if this is 100% a done deal.Also don't the Clips have a contract or two they could move to up there Brand offer?

[Donoghus]

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 and spurn what was presumed to be a slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to hook up with Clipper-to-be Baron Davis.

The Sixers cannot formally sign Brand before midnight, with Wednesday serving as the first day that NBA teams can officially complete signings and trades after the lifting of a leaguewide moratorium which began July 1.

But Philadelphia has secured Brand's verbal commitment, sources said, after first reaching an agreement in principle with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a trade that, according to sources, will send Sixers forward Rodney Carney, center Calvin Booth and a future first-round pick to the Wolves without Philadelphia having to take back any salary. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the Sixers will receive a future second-round pick in return.

That trade will shave nearly $3 million off the Sixers' payroll next season and increase what was already substantial salary-cap space, positioning them to sign Brand to a five-year deal believed to be starting in the $14-to-15 million range. Exact figures are expected to be available later Tuesday evening when the league reveals next season's salary-cap figure to its 30 teams and the media.

Said one source close to the process: "Elton wants to go East."

Another source had described Brand as leaning "70-30" in favor of going to the Sixers and didn't rule out the possibility that the Clippers could still increase their five-year offer beyond the latest estimate of roughly $75 million. The Clippers are also the only team in the running with the ability to offer a no-trade clause to Brand, something that only one other player in the league -- Staples Center co-tenant Kobe Bryant -- has in his contract.

Philadelphia's shedding of two salaries to set up a major free-agent signing is reminiscent of the move made by Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 1996, when then-Lakers personnel chief Jerry West sent Anthony Peeler and George Lynch to the then-Vancouver Grizzlies, creating the cap space that made it possible for L.A. to sign Shaquille O'Neal away from Orlando.

Getting Brand away from the Clippers might not quite have a Shaq-sized impact on the Sixers, but it would be an undeniable coup for Philadelphia on a variety of levels.

Brand is the proven power player Philadelphia clearly lacks on an otherwise promising roster that won many admirers as last season progressed. The Sixers extended Detroit to six games in a first-round series more competitive than many anticipated and, if they can formally secure Brand's signature, would be adding a two-time All-Star to veterans Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala, top youngsters Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young, and the considerable wingspan of Samuel Dalembert at center.

A move to the East would also come with on- and off-court benefits for Brand, sending him to a conference with far fewer title contenders and moving him closer to his East Coast-based family with Brand and his wife expecting their first child this fall.

If Brand indeed goes through with his apparent intent to join the Sixers, such an outcome is bound to be widely branded as a shocker after he and agent David Falk announced last week that Brand was opting out of the final year of his previous contract (worth $16.4 million) to give the Clippers more payroll flexibility to strengthen the team around Brand. Within 24 hours, L.A. responded on the first day of free agency by reaching a verbal agreement with Davis in what easily ranks as the biggest free-agent coup in Clippers history.

Brand told ESPN.com on June 30 that his "intention is to stay" with the Clippers, while Falk spoke optimistically of Brand signing a deal to "finish his career with the Clippers" if the team could make another significant personnel acquisition or two. ESPN.com reported late last week that Davis was the player Brand specifically asked Clippers management to chase in June.

During the ensuing week, while L.A. has been trying to convince its 29-year-old franchise forward to stay, Brand has also been weighing an offer from the Golden State Warriors believed to be worth more than what the Clippers or Sixers can offer him. After Davis informed the Warriors that he was leaving the Bay Area to sign a five-year deal worth an estimated $65 million with his hometown Clippers, Golden State responded by presenting Brand with a five-year offer worth an estimated $90 million.

[orrzor]

So do we all agree that Brand, Davis, Gordon would be better than Brand, Iggy, Dalembert, Miller? To me it seems clear cut and it seems like Brand went back on his word to the Clippers too.

[Roy Hobbs]

Terrible move by brand.

Why so?  I think Philly has a pretty legit team if this goes through.

I think it's going to make people question Brand's integrity, though.  If he gave L.A. his word, this is a really crappy thing to do.

[Roy Hobbs]

So do we all agree that Brand, Davis, Gordon would be better than Brand, Iggy, Dalembert, Miller? To me it seems clear cut and it seems like Brand went back on his word to the Clippers too.

I don't think it's clear cut at all.  Plus, the path to the playoffs is much, much easier in the East, and will be for the foreseeable future.  Philly has a very good starting lineup right now.

As said above, though, it was a lousy thing to do on Brand's part.

[StartOrien]

I like Josh Smith for the Sixers better than Brand. Those legs would make me nervous.

[Donoghus]

If you want to win (or at least make the playoffs), the Eastern Conference is the appealing place right now.  Bran saw this and found a decent nucleus to work with in Philly.  From a competitive standpoint, smart move by Brand.  From a ethical standpoint, probably not.

[Brickowski]

Excellent move by Brand.  Who would want to play fo the Clippers? They suck.  Philly has an up-and-coming young team. Stephanski has done an excellent job there.  They've drafted well, and are now utilizing the cap space freed up by the Iverson trade to improve even more.

[rondofan1255]

I'm going to be relieved when this is all said and done, and supposedly one-way-or-another allowed Maggette to get a better offer than the MLE.

The Spurs sure won't be happy with this, as they were maybe the "frontrunners."

[acieEarl]

Does Philly still have room to sign Iguodala? That team really needs a shooting guard like Ray Allen. Either way should be tougher next year.

[GLS]

Not quite a Carlos Boozer-esq move on Brand's part, but.......

[furball]

I think this is a great move by the Sixers.  Watching them play last season I kept saying they really needed a powerforward that could score and they would be a good team.  Now they have that.  Assuming they resign Iggy, they should be a very good team next season.