Maggette to GSW (ESPN news report)

[Gomesfan]

Now ESPN news is reporting Magette to Golden State. We will see tomorrow and they said GSW was willing to go over MLE.

[indeedproceed]

Big mistake by Maggette too...big mistake by GSW ownership.

Shoulda been Josh Smith, silly Golden State.

[Byrdman]

I bet we up our offer to Posey now.  Agreed IP, Josh Smith would have been insane in Nellieball.

[Gomesfan]

I agree , that dude is gonna be a star!

[Rondoholic]

Are we going to go after Matt Barnes at any point??  Has he signed a new deal anywhere?

[Cooldude5t5]

Big mistake by Maggette too...big mistake by GSW ownership.

Shoulda been Josh Smith, silly Golden State.

I agree Josh Smith was made for a Don Nelson system. The idea of him playing in that fast paced system is exciting. Josh Smith and AK47 are the best players for that system.

[Roy Hobbs]

I see this as a panic move by Golden State.  They're going to regret the contract when they're up against the salary cap after paying Ellis and Biedrins next season.  They would have been better off waiting until next season so they could have found a player who better fit their system.

This must mean Brand turned them down, because I don't think they had enough room to sign both Brand and Maggette.

[SShoreFan 2.0]

here's hoping danny didn't burn any bridges with Posey!!

[Donoghus]

I can't wait to see the terms of this deal.

I'm with Roy.  Panic move all the way and I have a feeling that it's more than the MLE. 

[johnnyrondo]

I think the Hawks are smiling wide right now. Josh Smith's suitors are disappearing and it becomes more likely he takes their qualifying offer or signs for a more modest deal with them.

[Chief]

$$$ can make you change your mind about playing for a winning team.

[furball]

I also agree with Roy here.  GS lost Baron Davis and was determined to spend his money one way or the other.  I don't think Maggette is going to help them become a top team.  They just had money burning a whole in their pocket. 

[Donoghus]

Text

The Golden State Warriors on Tuesday conceded defeat in the chase for Elton Brand's signature by quickly moving on to new targets and reaching a faster-than-expected verbal agreement to sign unrestricted free agent Corey Maggette, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Maggette decided against waiting to see if the Los Angeles Clippers would lose Brand to the Philadelphia 76ers -- which could have created an opportunity to stay with the Clippers -- to take a multiyear offer from the Warriors at a starting salary above the mid-level exception, which is expected to approach $6 million.

Corey Maggette
Maggette

Small Forward
Los Angeles Clippers

Profile
2008 Season Stats GM    PPG    RPG    APG    FG%    FT%
70    22.1    5.6    2.7    .458    .812

The Warriors and Clippers are two of the few teams with salary-cap space to spend on free agents above the mid-level, along with Memphis. Philadelphia was on that list before reaching a verbal agreement Tuesday to sign Brand away from the Clippers.

Golden State responded to the loss of Baron Davis to the Clippers by offering Brand a five-year deal worth an estimated $90 million, but the Warriors never came as close to luring Brand away from L.A. as the Sixers.

Maggette drew serious interest from several top contenders who are over the cap and only had the mid-level exception to offer, including Boston, San Antonio, Detroit, Utah, Cleveland and Orlando. It was presumed that Maggette was leaning toward signing with the Spurs if he couldn't secure an offer from a team with cap space.

The Clippers, sources said, expected to respond to the departures of Brand and Maggette by making a hard run at Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith, who was Philadelphia's No. 2 target behind Brand. If the Clippers elect to sign Smith to an offer sheet, Atlanta would have seven days to match.

So Smith to Los Angeles all of a sudden becomes a possibility.

[Donoghus]

Also,

Maggette getting above $6 million a year.  Good for him but bad for Golden State.

[JBcat]

From the Boston Globe....

Clippers free agent forward Corey Maggette has agreed to a five-year deal paying about $50 to sign with Golden State, according to The Los Angeles Times tonight. The Celtics were interested in Maggette, who averaged a Clipper-best 22 points per game last season. Free agents can sign tomorrow. With Maggette off the market, more pressure is on the champion Celtics to re-sign forward James Posey.-30-

I guess playing for a contender was not that important for him after all.