With NBA free agents eligible to sign with teams officially on Wednesday, it’s the Elton Brand saga that is the most interesting, and there apparently is another team in play on trying to acquire the Clippers forward.
According to ESPN.com, the Philadelphia 76ers are maneuvering to get enough cap space to win the Brand sweepstakes that originally was thought to be between Brand returning to the Clippers or heading up the California coast to Golden State.
It’s possible that Philly could offer a five-year deal starting at $15 million per year, which would be higher than the Clippers would go and still be able to pay Baron Davis, whom they lured from Golden State. Those Warriors then made a counterstrike offer to Brand.
The Warriors initially proposed five years at about $90 million, while the Clippers offered about five years at $75 million. L.A.’s offer is less because of bringing in Davis, but it was reported that Brand was willing to take less to stay if the club signed Davis, even if it cost Brand some money. In addition, L.A. appears willing to offer the former Duke star a no-trade clause.“It makes sense for Elton to wait till the salary-cap numbers come out, because then he knows exactly what teams can offer and what his options are," says one league source. "He wants the max. He can put the Clippers in a situation that they have to give it to him."
The NBA salary cap will be announced Tuesday night, and if the Warriors can't lure Brand away, they would join the Sixers in the pursuit of the remaining top available players. Golden State would have all that money ticketed for Brand to play with, while the Sixers expect to have around $11.5 million to spend. It is thought Philly’s top target was Atlanta’s Josh Smith, who also could interest Golden State now.
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