It’s all fair in love and war… or in this case, love and basketball.
A day after the news broke that Baron Davis agreed to sign with the Clippers, his old team turned around and offered a max contract to the Clippers’ best player (and supposed Davis running-mate) Elton Brand.
Since the Clippers have agreed to terms with Davis, it was believed that the most they could offer Brand something in the neighborhood of a six-year deal worth $81 million. The LA Times is reporting that the Warriors offered a five-year deal worth $100 million.
So what will Brand do? Well, he recently implied that he liked what the Celtics did when a few stars checked their egos at the door and came together for a common purpose. But none of those guys had to take a major paycut or turn down an extra $6.5 million per season. My guess is that if Brand was lobbying Davis prior to the Clippers/Davis agreement, that he’ll take less money and stay in L.A. If not, all bets are off. If you put Brand on the Warriors, they’re certainly a playoff-caliber team. One could argue that Brand would have a better supporting cast in Oakland with the likes of Monta Ellis and Steven Jackson roaming the perimeter along with Andris Biedrins and Brandan Wright in the middle (assuming the team successfully re-signs both Biedrins and Ellis).
So will Brand put his money where is mouth is and take a pay cut to play with another star?
What was looking like a pretty boring free agency period has suddenly become quite interesting.
