Breaking news is that Los Angeles Clippers star Elton Brand has surprised those paying attention by opting out of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent. With a weak group of teams sporting any kind of real cap room this year, it seemed natural that Brand was going to stick it out in LA. The Clippers might have continued to stink, but at least Elton would be collecting a maximum salary.
While the power forward is telling people he still might end up with L.A.’s second best team once all is said and done, I’ve got some advice for him.
Don’t!
Elton Brand isn’t LeBron James, but he has been a pretty darn good baller during his NBA. His reward? Toiling for a cursed franchise. Look, I love an underdog. Few things in sports please me more than seeing a beaten down team or individual turn things around. But, there are the exceptions.
The Clippers are THE exception. They’ve had a few brief shining moments (Billy Crystal was a big fan!) and Brand has been around for one or two of them. But, given their ownership and front office, they FOREVER are destined to be a team closer to the top of the division than the top. Trust me, I know. I’ve seen it before with the Nets.
So, my advice to Elton Brand…. Just bolt!
Sure, there’s not a lot of teams with cap room and sure the ones that do/may have cap room all are horrible (Philadelphia, Memphis, etc). It’s guaranteed that if Brand leaves the Clips he won’t be making as much with his new team as he could with the losing organization he’s been with for so long. But, you know what? At least, there’d be hope. Hope that a sagging franchise could right itself. After all Philly had a good stretch for part of last season. Maybe Brand could be part of extending that run into a full season.
Or perhaps Brand can push the Clips for a sign and trade deal. Maybe that’s his best hope. Miami has been interested and I hear that Pat Riley fella knows a thing or two about turning around losing teams…
Where ever he goes. However he gets there. It won’t be as bad as L.A. For sure!
Life is short and a power forward’s career is shorter. Brand is 29. It’s time for him to run to daylight!
1 Comment
July 9, 2008 at 3:21 am
[...] Click below to read the post I wrote a few days ago which delivered Elton to Philly: http://fullcontactsports.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/elton-has-left-the-building-and-he-should-just-kee... [...]