In a sweeping and shocking turn of events, the Philadelphia 76ers emerged Tuesday as the winners in landing coveted free-agent forward Elton Brand, prying him away from the Clippers.
Brand reached a verbal agreement with the 76ers on Tuesday for five years and about $82 million, spurning a comparable offer from the Clippers, according to multiple NBA sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on player movements.
In a day of wheeling and dealing, the Golden State Warriors also reached a verbal agreement with Corey Maggette, the Clippers' leading scorer last season, for a five-year deal worth about $50 million, Maggette said.
Deals can be announced starting today with the lifting of the NBA's moratorium and the salary cap penciled in at $58.68 million.
In turn, the Clippers will now have an abundant amount of salary cap space and are expected to turn their pursuits toward Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, whom they are expected to meet with in Los Angeles today, and Charlotte Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor.
Both, however, are less experienced than Brand and are restricted free agents, meaning any contract offer can be matched by their current teams.
The defections are not expected to affect the Clippers' acquisition of free-agent point guard Baron Davis, who agreed to a five-year, $65-million contract after opting out from his contract with the Warriors last week.
"It doesn't affect it," said Todd Ramasar, Davis' agent, who added his client was disappointed he won't be playing alongside Brand. "Baron made a commitment to the Clippers."
So, apparently, did Brand before suddenly changing his mind.
Last week, Brand reportedly had neared a verbal agreement with the Clippers for five years and $70 million.
Brand and David Falk, his agent, had said earlier that the player's decision to opt out of the final year of his Clippers contract would be made with the notion of freeing up cap space for the Clippers to land a proven point guard. Brand and Falk have not been reached for comment since then.
Enter Davis.
And exit Brand, who also reportedly received a hefty contract offer from the Golden State Warriors for five years and $90 million.
The Clippers upped their offer to Brand on Tuesday, agreeing to renounce their rights to several players and bumping it up to five years and $81 million.
