The highly anticipated Hollywood marriage hooking up Elton Brand and Baron Davis is over before it started.
The Philadelphia 76ers swiftly and stunningly managed to break it up after a week of bliss in theory only by convincing Brand to jump to the Eastern Conference and spurn what was widely presumed to be his slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to play alongside Davis.
NBA front-office sources said that Brand has verbally agreed to sign a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million with the Sixers, who feared as recently as late last week that they wouldn't be able to compete financially for Brand with the Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
But Philadelphia first reached an agreement in principle Monday 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. It's a trade that will shave nearly $3 million off the Sixers' payroll next season and increase what was already substantial salary-cap space, positioning Philadelphia to secure a verbal commitment from Brand on a five-year agreement believed to be starting in the $14-to-15 million range.
Plus Brand's former teammate, Corey Maggette agrees to terms with Warriors!
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.
Sources told The Associated Press that the deal is for five years and worth around $50 million.
I guess that Baron Davis going to the Clippers started this entire turn of events!
Sixers will be better but Elton Brand is not enough for them to get by the NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS with their BIG 3!
