I was wrong. That's the first thing I'll say. I felt that there wouldn't be that many big moves on the NBA free agent market. My, how things change so quickly. The Clippers have pretty much nothing now.
Elton Brand to Philadelphia 5 years at $82M - Talk about surprise. I thought that Elton would have taken the money to stay in LA and play with the Baron and crew. He ends up not too far from his hometown and $82M richer. At the end of the day, the folks in LA may hate Brand, but you know what,...this was the best move for him if he wanted to win. They have a great starting lineup with a good point guard (Miller), a big body at center (Dalembert), a good wing (Iggy), and a decent bench to boot. They can definitely do something in the East. If Brand is healthy, I think you can start looking at the Sixers as the 4th best team in the East. A lot closer to a title than that crew in LA.
Baron Davis to ??? - Since it was a verbal agreement, does the Baron still take the money and play in LA, or does he back out of the deal and look for something else? My thinking is that no one else is going to pay the Baron that $65M that he got, so I'm pretty sure that Baron is waiting anxiously to sign those papers at midnight tonight.
Corey Maggette to Golden State for 5 years at $50M - Talk about being on the cheap. Yes that's a lot of money but Maggette is a better player than the $10M a year guys. Aforementioned Iguodala turned down $57M, Deng and Gordon (Chicago) turned down $50M+ deals, even the Baron got $65M and he is on his way out of the league in 3 to 4 years. Maggette wanted the pay day, because he would have taken a gig with the Celtics or the Spurs (a pay cut in both situations) if he wanted to win a ring. Make your money Corey. Welcome to more losing.
Mickael Pietrus to Orlando for 5 years at $25M+ (somewhere close) - I like this signing. A defensive stopper who can score a little. More of a slasher on D, but a bigger body for that Orlando backcourt.
Next Moves:
Well, the Josh's in Atlanta are still available and with the Sixers tapped out from the Brand deal, and the Warriors half way tapped out with Maggette's deal, it looks like the Josh's stay in Atlanta. No one out there who can throw money at either of them. Golden State might make a run at Josh Smith because he would put up crazy numbers in Golden State running and gunning.
We'll see what else happens.
2 comments:
Brand is a bitch!!! He fucked his boy for the cash and a small chance to get past the first round next year. Now he has to hope that Philly matches any qualifying offer made to A.I. Jr. It would serve his bitch ass right to have A.I. roll out to the west. As strange as it may sound, the Clippers would have had a decent squad had he kept his word and stayed. They would have easily been the 4-5th seed: Denver is dysfunctional, Golden State just lost the glue for that team, Dallas has drug problems and a 7 footer that's softer than the Charmin I use to wipe my ass, and Houston can't keep their players out of the emergency room. I've never wished ill on anyone, especially in a sport I love dearly, but my only hope is that Philly is home watching the Clippes in the playoffs this season. Poetic Justice....you DAMN RIGHT!!!!
Watch the language,......Brand got paid and he got the deal his agent wanted him to get. If the Sixers don't match on Iguodola,...then they are in a lot of trouble. But in the East this Sixers team is closer to a title than that Clippers team out West with the Suns, Spurs, Blazers, Hornets, Lakers, Jazz, and a few more. I mean right there, they'd have a hard time being 5th or 6th in the West.
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