Elton Brand and Corey Maggette opt out
Yesterday Mutoni mentioned a rumored return of Maggette to Orlando, as well as the fact that the with the free agent pool open, the trade waters are a flowin’. Well, now the two Duke buddies who became Clippers are opting out together. This works out well for Donald Sterling. He doesn’t want to pay his quality veterans, and now they don’t want him to pay them. Then again… Elton Brand had this to say:
When reached by phone, Brand said he is aiming to re-sign with the Clippers. He is a two-time All-Star who has been with the team since 2001-02 but played in only eight games last season while recuperating from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.
Now, the Clippers must decide whether they are willing to offer him a new maximum contract that could command $120 million over six years.
“It means I’m a free agent, but my intentions are to stay with the Clippers,” said Brand, who was owed $16.44 million if he remained in his former contract. “That’s always been my intention.”
Referring to the Clippers as “we,” Brand said he would like to see them be aggressive in this free-agent market.
“I think with the pieces we have, we can do some damage,” he said, adding their focus should be on signing a proven point guard.
“We’re definitely playoff contenders with the pieces we have,” Brand said. “There are guys like a Beno Udrih or someone like that, solid at the point guard spot, because we don’t really know Shaun [Livingston’s] situation and Brevin [Knight] is the only point guard we have on the roster right now, but I think we’re fine.”
Wait a second… he wants to stay? Okay then, Donald Sterling, $120 mill to a guy coming off a ruptured achilles, make it happen.
Of course the rest of the story talks about how Elton watched the Celtics win the title, and he might want to play for a decent team for a change. Hmmmm… players will be changing teams.
26 Responses to “Elton Brand and Corey Maggette opt out”
Jul.1 at 11:48 am
TADOne says:
Looks like Al Thornton will get a ton of shots next year. Gordon also.
Jul.1 at 11:51 am
H to the izzo says:
Such an ugly time of year.
Jul.1 at 11:54 am
its just alex says:
It would be a shame to see Elton go, he’s done a lot for that franchise.
Jul.1 at 11:55 am
Gerard Himself says:
there’s another rumor that they are willing to let Maggette walk, get Baron Davis and let Elron Brand return for slightly less money. The Warriors will then sign Gilbert Arenas.
Jul.1 at 11:56 am
DP says:
If Brand is serious, I’m sorry he feels that way. I’ve always felt like that.
Jul.1 at 11:56 am
Gerard Himself says:
I’m not making this up.
Jul.1 at 11:58 am
DP says:
Gilbert will remain with the Wiz now that Jamison is back in the mix, Gerard. Baron should come to LA Lakers not clippers. But being truthful, I wouldn’t mind seeing B-diddy in DET colors with Rip, Stuckey, and Tayshaun.
Jul.1 at 11:59 am
Rasheedionics says:
He should just go back to Chicago. How do you trade Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler and then Chandler for PJ Brown and then cut PJ Brown. So in the end it was Brand for nothing.
Jul.1 at 12:00 pm
Rasheedionics says:
Lakers only have a mid level exception to offer so we won’t see Baron Davis or another big name free agent in Lakers uniform next season.
Jul.1 at 12:02 pm
kracka says:
Beno Udrih the missing piece to the puzzle. How could Clippers management be so blind?
Hey guys be aggressive after I get my 120 over six!!!!!
Jul.1 at 12:04 pm
Diesel says:
Brand back to Chicago for Gooden and Hinrich. Lets make it happen.
Jul.1 at 12:10 pm
Gerard Himself says:
kracka: I thought the problem is that Udrih seeks a 5 year deal, and the Clippers don’t want to do that. If the Kings have any sense, they should try to do everything to keep Udrih.
Jul.1 at 12:15 pm
DP says:
Gilbert and Monta would really cause some hell for like half the league.
Jul.1 at 12:18 pm
DP says:
Speaking of the Kings, these guys better let Jason Thompson do his thug thizzle. If they don’t play him significantly this year then they just wasted another draft because they already have Spencer Hawes. If they are looking to get rid of either of the two…Lakers would be happy to take them on.
Jul.1 at 1:18 pm
Tom says:
love to see the clips do a sign and trade with brand for marion…….Brand would be amazing in Miami
Jul.1 at 2:44 pm
Diesel says:
How can anyone think Udrih as your starting point is in any way a good idea??!! This is the same guy that couldn’t stay in front of any point gaurd in the west last year. Udrih solves absolutely no probelms for any team.
Jul.1 at 4:47 pm
Teddy-the-Bear says:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ He said for now, since the only point guard they have now is Brevin Knight, since they don’t know the situation on Livingston. Duh, if Livingston is healthy then play him.
Jul.1 at 6:42 pm
Gerard Himself says:
Uhm, Diesel, have you seen this guy for the Kings? And the numbers he put up? Did you stop watching games in 2007?
Anyway, the Kings are keeping him, just read it on Balls Don’t Lie.
Jul.1 at 8:37 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’d love to see Elton wind up on a playoff team, and that doesn’t seem likely if he stays a Clipper.
Jul.1 at 8:49 pm
Dacre says:
Who would have ever thought a player that saw court time for 8 games could have bargaining power to command a 120 million dollar contract…. that would have meant that, Elton was worth 15 milliond dollars PER GAME last year… yeah?????? NO. And then he has the audacity to question Shaun’s comeback ability from major injury? I would put them in the same basket… PROVE IT TO ME AS A TEAM OWNER THAT YOUR GOING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE PLAYOFFS….then you get the $$$.
Jul.1 at 11:48 pm
Dacre says:
Maggette should head to New Orleans….that would make for a WESTERN CONF Finals match up with Suns or Lakers.
Jul.2 at 1:30 am
Matthew Kimel says:
You think Brand will re-sign with LA since Davis is headed there?
Jul.2 at 1:56 am
tagz says:
EB should go back to the Chi. hey, even better, he should go to Sacto and play with Ron-Ron again. Now that would be sick!!!!
Jul.2 at 5:20 am
Gerard Himself says:
Russ, same here. And now that they might get Baron Davis, if they can keep Elton, do they have a shot in the ultra competitive WC? (if they both stay healthy, that is) I mean, the Blazers are going to hurt some teams out there this year, and teams like the Warriors and Nuggets will have problem getting into that 8th spot. And then the Clippers? I don’t know if they’ll make it, even with Brand and Davis.
Jul.2 at 6:44 am
LAN says:
They will be back. THEY HAV B DIDDY!
Jul.2 at 8:33 am
Gerard Himself says:
without Brand that means nothing. They need to resign Brand. Right now.