Sixers getting in position to lure Brand from West Coast

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

It suddenly appears that the biggest threat to the Los Angeles Clippers re-signing franchise forward Elton Brand can be found far east of Oakland.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday night that the Philadelphia 76ers are again "actively involved" in the Brand hunt -- and a very serious threat to tempt him away from L.A. -- after initially fearing that they couldn't compete financially with the Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

In the face of a longstanding leaguewide consensus that Brand would return to Hollywood to form a new partnership with Clipper-to-be Baron Davis, sources say that the Sixers are growing increasingly confident in their ability to create additional salary-cap space by finding a new home via trade for swingman Rodney Carney and center Calvin Booth ... and then make a sufficiently rich offer Brand would struggle to refuse.

Dealing away Carney and Booth -- with Minnesota and Memphis quickly emerging as possible destinations -- would shed nearly $3 million from the Sixers' payroll next season as long as the trade doesn't require new GM Ed Stefanski to take any salary back.

Multiple front-office sources said late Monday that the Sixers are closing in on a deal with the Timberwolves in which the Wolves would absorb the contracts of both Carney and Booth with a $5.2 million trade exception created by Minnesota's trade of Mark Blount to Miami last October. It was not immediately known what financial and/or draft considerations might be included in the trade from either side.

The Sixers are already expecting to have at least $11 million in salary-cap space to spend when the league announces next season's cap figure to all 30 teams Tuesday night. Depending on how closely the cap ceiling for the 2008-09 season comes to the widely projected estimate of $58-to-59 million -- and if the Sixers can finalize a trade to part with Carney and Booth -- it's conceivable that Philadelphia could possess the financial flexibility to start a five-year offer to Brand at a first-year salary in the $15 million range.

With much of the league's other significant free-agent business seemingly on hold while the Brand saga plays out, sources maintain that the Sixers also remain highly interested in Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith. Yet it appears that Philadelphia will give itself every opportunity to emerge as the unlikely winner of the Brand sweepstakes before deciding whether to sign Smith to an offer sheet that the Hawks would have seven days to match.

If Philadelphia can indeed manufacture a first-year salary of at least $15 million, that could exceed what can be offered by the Clippers, who must balance their obvious No. 1 priority -- retaining Brand -- with the cap space they'll need to formally sign Davis to the five-year, $65 million deal which the former Golden State point guard verbally agreed to last week.

It's possible that the Warriors, depending on where the cap is set, could still outbid both L.A. and Philadelphia for Brand thanks to Davis' defection. If next season's salary cap is announced at $59 million or thereabouts, as expected, Golden State should have the wherewithal to offer Brand a five-year deal worth just over $95 million.

Sources close to the process told ESPN.com on Monday that the Warriors continue to have dialogue with the Brand camp and have not abandoned hope of luring the 29-year-old to Northern California.

Yet separate sources suggested Monday that Brand -- if he's ultimately drawn away from his Face of the Franchise status with the Clippers -- would be more inclined to jump to Philadelphia than to Golden State, given the Sixers' residence in a conference with far fewer contenders than the West and the opportunity to join an emerging Philly nucleus (Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and the considerable wingspan of center Samuel Dalembert) that won many admirers as last season progressed.

It's believed that the Clippers can still assemble a five-year offer to Brand worth $80-to-85 million and give Davis his estimated $65 million over five years by simply renouncing their rights to free agents Corey Maggette and Shaun Livingston, renouncing several other free agents with modest salaries (Quinton Ross, Nick Fazekas, Marcus Williams, Paul Davis, Dan Dickau, Boniface N'Dong, James Singleton and Smush Parker) and perhaps waiving forward Josh Powell.

The Clippers also have the ability, as ESPN.com reported Monday, to put Brand on a very short list with Staples Center co-tenant Kobe Bryant as the only players in the league with an active no-trade clause in their contract. To be eligible for a no-trade clause in the NBA, a player must have at least eight seasons of service time, including four with his current team, and must be entering into a new contract as opposed to merely extending a previous contract.

Provided that Clippers owner Donald Sterling does all he can financially to keep the two-time All-Star, it is bound to be recorded as one of the bigger free-agent surprises in recent memory should Brand elect to leave behind his well-chronicled love of Hollywood and one-of-a-kind pride in being a Clipper to head back to the Eastern Conference for the first time since the Chicago Bulls traded him to the Clippers on draft night in 2001.

That's largely because Brand and agent David Falk, in announcing Brand's unexpected decision to opt out of the final season of his previous contract to become an unrestricted free agent, explained the forfeiture of next season's $16.4 million by saying that they hoped to give L.A. more payroll flexibility to strengthen the team around Brand.

Brand told ESPN.com on June 30 that his "intention is to stay" with the Clippers, while Falk spoke optimistically of Brand signing a deal to "finish his career with the Clippers" if the team could make another significant personnel acquisition or two. On the first day of free agency, in what easily ranks as the biggest free-agent coup in Clippers history, L.A. reached a verbal agreement with Davis. ESPN.com reported two days later that Davis was the player Brand asked Clippers management to chase.

But Clippers officials, already said to be privately shaken by Golden State's substantial offer to Brand, will have much more serious cause for concern if the Sixers can shed a salary or two this week to increase their available cap space.

Sources said that Carney going to Memphis would be a possibility because the Grizzlies have ample cap room of their own to absorb Carney as well as a natural interest in a player likely to have some gate appeal after experiencing collegiate success at Memphis.

But a deal with Minnesota would obviously be preferable for the Sixers, enabling them to shed two contracts and throw a megadeal at Brand after talking up what they could achieve in the summer of 2008 ever since dealing Allen Iverson to Denver in December 2006.

I don't know why we would do this...player wise. We don't need either of them. The only thing I can think of is that we would be trying to get Brand to the East and out of our faces. Get a pick out of the deal?

---

24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence?
-Stephen Wright

Kilkenny:

I don't know why we would do this...player wise. We don't need either of them. The only thing I can think of is that we would be trying to get Brand to the East and out of our faces. Get a pick out of the deal?

I agree. How would this help the Wolves? Booth is worthless. I don't know anything about Carney, but it doesn't look like he's anything special. The only thing I can think of is some salary thing that Blount's trade exception doesn't help with the cap,while having these 2 players contracts would.help the Wolves free cap space for next offseason.

---

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. - George Carlin

I don't see why we'd we do this either.  Carney hasn't shown anything special yet and Booth is a waste of a roster spot.  I'd assume we would buy out Booth.

We should pursue a 1st round pick or no deal otherwise why take on all that extra salary?

---

Open, frank, and uncensored philosophical, political, religious discussions and more --

http://www.gatheringreborn.com

I guess maybe they like another freak athlete with considerably raw skills on the wing (Brewer, now Carney) to work the fast break off of Love's outlet passing? That, or theoretically trying to get some depth at SG to set up a possible McCants trade (for a big or maybe PG?), or maybe even just to get a SG over 6'4''...

I honestly should just stop trying...attmpting to analyze this FO using any form logic/common sense prove's less possible with each passing day.

---

Behold, the unrelenting power that results from the fusion of CHEESE and STEAK

The Yahoo article says that we also get a Philly future 1st.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AmjFvejh4mop_ARC6ZhjmJu8vLYF?slug=aw-phillytrade070608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Philadelphia 76ers forwards Rodney Carney and Calvin Booth have been told that they’ve been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a package that could free as much as $3 million in additional salary cap space for the Sixers to offer Elton Brand or Josh Smith, league sources said.

Philadelphia has reached an agreement in principle to send Carney, Booth and a future No. 1 draft pick to Minnesota for its $5-million plus trade exception born of a past Mark Blount deal, sources said.

 

For those that are keeping track, McHale's MIA trade gets even awesomer:

Mark Blount + Ricky Davis

for

Doleac (exp) + Simien (exp) + Walker (part of Mike Miller) + Booth (exp) + Carney (2 yr at $2 mil) + MIA 1st + PHI 1st?

Philly people are disheartened, because Carney was finally starting to get it at the end of last season, overcoming his biggest flaw - consistency.  Still, if this deal indicates that they will be able to get a superstar in Elton Brand (who I had heard earlier was in Philly), their objections will soon be forgotten.

I think Booth can be a space-filler that allows Al to play a little more PF, so that's good, and he's an expiring, $1 mil deal anyway.  I'm willing to take a look at Carney -- I think he was a #15 pick two years ago.

This makes Craig Smith, and McCants, even more likely to be on the move.

Seriously, makes no sense for the Wolves. 

---

"I cannot answer that until someone answers for me..."

"We must protect the oil companies rights..."

Sarah Palin

It looks like Carney has some upside...young, athletic. Booth to fill some space at the Center position...maybe it's more about taking a chance on Carney's potential and getting a future first round pick..

This helps us strategically too, reducing the strength of two teams ahead of us in the West.

GSW dropped by losing out on Baron Davis, and LAC drops if they paid all that money to Baron and can't pair him with Brand. We may be opening the door for POR, but maybe we can squeeze in too.  Getting Brand out of the Western Conference is not a bad thing.

Gnu2308:

Seriously, makes no sense for the Wolves. 

No sense ? Another 1st round chip plus a talented ATHLETIC (STILL ONE OF OUR BIGGEST FAULTS) YOUNG player in Carney. I like it. Booth does nothing for me, but, if he's a low priced one year bit...I'm fine with it, it essentially will do nothing to hurt our salary cap space for the future, while giving us a look at a talented young player.

I loved Carney coming out of college 2 years ago...

FINALLY GETTING A GUY FROM MEMPHIS

 

---

You CAN'T run the draw on 3rd and long Sonya...

I'll preface this by saying Mo Cheeks' daughter may or may not be my girlfriend.

Carney apparently was opening a lot of eyes toward the end of the year and was really starting to impress with his defense and rebounding instincts, two reputed weaknesses in his game. Also, his jumper was developing a little more consistency from 20 ft in. 3 still needs a lot of work. But ceiling is still a very nice starter in the league a couple years down the road. By no means ever an all-star (except maybe the dunk contest haha), but a good component.

They're reluctant to give him up but understand the exemption is extremely vital toward their ability to pay Brand or Smith more than their respective teams are willing to offer (I guess Atlanta has a threshold beyond which it is extremely unlikely to match for Smith).

The first will be lottery-protected (which almost certainly won't matter if they get either one of those guys).

---How many first round picks is TOO many?

Oh, and Booth, obviously, is borderline rigor mortis.

 

---

Behold, the unrelenting power that results from the fusion of CHEESE and STEAK

I dont know how anyone could rip this trade.  If it doesnt work out, it doesnt work out, but Carney is still a mid first round pick thats only been in the league a couple years.  He could pan out.  This could trigger some more moves...he could replace McCants if hes dealt or if we lose Gomes.  Or he could just be another young guy added to the mix. The first rounder is nice.  This deal gives some options and now with all those first rounders, they can deal one away if the right trade is proposed.  We all know how much McHale loves dealing first rounders.

---

"I've never believed the final score is the deciding factor in a basketball game."-Ex-Cavs coach Randy Wittman after a loss to Phoenix (1/22/00)

Props to McHale for this one!  I have been hard on him, but this is a GREAT deal.  Carney was coming on strong last year, and he gets a filler C for one year, and a first from a team that really has little shot of being all that great, I love it!  I am pumped to get Carney.

 

---

"OK gang, you know the rules, no humping, no licking, no sniffing hineys."

TaintyChzSteak:

I'll preface this by saying Mo Cheeks' daughter may or may not be my girlfriend.

Carney apparently was opening a lot of eyes toward the end of the year and was really starting to impress with his defense and rebounding instincts, two reputed weaknesses in his game. Also, his jumper was developing a little more consistency from 20 ft in. 3 still needs a lot of work. But ceiling is still a very nice starter in the league a couple years down the road. By no means ever an all-star (except maybe the dunk contest haha), but a good component.

They're reluctant to give him up but understand the exemption is extremely vital toward their ability to pay Brand or Smith more than their respective teams are willing to offer (I guess Atlanta has a threshold beyond which it is extremely unlikely to match for Smith).

The first will be lottery-protected (which almost certainly won't matter if they get either one of those guys).

---How many first round picks is TOO many?

Oh, and Booth, obviously, is borderline rigor mortis.

 

 

I like your take.

In reference to the first round picks...I guess the more we can collect, the more mobility we may have in the draft. So even if we do end up winning a decent amount of games and hurt our own standing in the draft, we can still package firsts and move up.

Anyone know what year the pick we may be getting from Philly is?

 

TaintyChzSteak:

I'll preface this by saying Mo Cheeks' daughter may or may not be my girlfriend.

Carney apparently was opening a lot of eyes toward the end of the year and was really starting to impress with his defense and rebounding instincts, two reputed weaknesses in his game. Also, his jumper was developing a little more consistency from 20 ft in. 3 still needs a lot of work. But ceiling is still a very nice starter in the league a couple years down the road. By no means ever an all-star (except maybe the dunk contest haha), but a good component.

They're reluctant to give him up but understand the exemption is extremely vital toward their ability to pay Brand or Smith more than their respective teams are willing to offer (I guess Atlanta has a threshold beyond which it is extremely unlikely to match for Smith).

The first will be lottery-protected (which almost certainly won't matter if they get either one of those guys).

---How many first round picks is TOO many?

Oh, and Booth, obviously, is borderline rigor mortis.

 

Never say those words... you can always package them together to move up. That would be a GREAT problem to have.

Booth would never suit up for the Wolves... it'd be similar to a Wayne Simien situation.

---

www.thesportsbank.net --- great midwest sports web site

"Tactic - TAMPA" - P.A. on Tuesday April 22nd, the day we got Jared Allen

DumbnDumber:

Props to McHale for this one!  I have been hard on him, but this is a GREAT deal.  Carney was coming on strong last year, and he gets a filler C for one year, and a first from a team that really has little shot of being all that great, I love it!  I am pumped to get Carney.

 

Not saying they'll be great, but considering they were the 7th seed with a very young nucleus who took a road playoff game from Detroit, and are looking at adding either arguably a top-5 NBA PF or a young, tremendously gifted PF who was 2nd in the league in blocks despite being only 6'9'' (seriously imagine how many shots they would block with Smith AND Big Sam) when PF is by far their biggest weakness...I cannot fathom them being anything less top-5 team in the East barring injury. Think about Brand- when has he ever played with a true distributing floor general like 'Dre? That could be dynamite.

BTW Lew Williams is the truth wait a year or two and he will be another Monta Ellis part deux

---

Behold, the unrelenting power that results from the fusion of CHEESE and STEAK

Jaxx:

Anyone know what year the pick we may be getting from Philly is?

I was hoping someone wouldn't ask this question.

The specific year hasn't been mentioned, and I'll point out that the pick is only mentioned in the yahoo story, not the ESPN one.  I agree with Tainty that if we are getting the Philly pick, it may have protections, but with Elton Brand on an Eastern Conference team, it most likely is in the 20's anyway.

Another option would be for PHI to pass on the complicated protected pick they got from Utah in the Kyle Korver trade, and it's payment is based on the protected NYK pick that Utah has?  Not hard enough? 

In 2009, the New York pick to Utah is top-22 protected. The Utah pick to Philadelphia is also top-22 protected. If both picks end up outside the protection, Philadelphia gets the better one.

In 2010, the New York pick to Utah is unprotected. The Utah pick to Philadelphia is top-15 protected. Assuming both picks are still outstanding and Utah's pick falls outside its protection, Philadelphia gets the worse one.

(The Utah pick to Philadelphia is also protected for 2011-2013...if it still hasn't been transferred by that point, the Sixers get Utah's 2014 second rounder and cash instead.)

HeHateMe:

TaintyChzSteak:

I'll preface this by saying Mo Cheeks' daughter may or may not be my girlfriend.

Carney apparently was opening a lot of eyes toward the end of the year and was really starting to impress with his defense and rebounding instincts, two reputed weaknesses in his game. Also, his jumper was developing a little more consistency from 20 ft in. 3 still needs a lot of work. But ceiling is still a very nice starter in the league a couple years down the road. By no means ever an all-star (except maybe the dunk contest haha), but a good component.

They're reluctant to give him up but understand the exemption is extremely vital toward their ability to pay Brand or Smith more than their respective teams are willing to offer (I guess Atlanta has a threshold beyond which it is extremely unlikely to match for Smith).

The first will be lottery-protected (which almost certainly won't matter if they get either one of those guys).

---How many first round picks is TOO many?

Oh, and Booth, obviously, is borderline rigor mortis.

 

Never say those words... you can always package them together to move up. That would be a GREAT problem to have.

Booth would never suit up for the Wolves... it'd be similar to a Wayne Simien situation.

Absolutely agree, I was just thinking if for some reason they were mostly low picks in a draft widely considered about half as deep as this years was and we couldn't package them, we'd almost half to sell at least one off for- you guessed it- cash considerations...

---

Behold, the unrelenting power that results from the fusion of CHEESE and STEAK

This doesn't yet address the PG needs.

 

TaintyChzSteak:

I'll preface this by saying Mo Cheeks' daughter may or may not be my girlfriend.

Either way, I have to say that's one of the best opening lines I've ever read.

TaintyChzSteak:

DumbnDumber:

Props to McHale for this one!  I have been hard on him, but this is a GREAT deal.  Carney was coming on strong last year, and he gets a filler C for one year, and a first from a team that really has little shot of being all that great, I love it!  I am pumped to get Carney.

 

Not saying they'll be great, but considering they were the 7th seed with a very young nucleus who took a road playoff game from Detroit, and are looking at adding either arguably a top-5 NBA PF or a young, tremendously gifted PF who was 2nd in the league in blocks despite being only 6'9'' (seriously imagine how many shots they would block with Smith AND Big Sam) when PF is by far their biggest weakness...I cannot fathom them being anything less top-5 team in the East barring injury. Think about Brand- when has he ever played with a true distributing floor general like 'Dre? That could be dynamite.

BTW Lew Williams is the truth wait a year or two and he will be another Monta Ellis part deux

When I say "not all that great", I mean 4th seed in the East max.  That would put them like 12th in the West or something.  Anyways, the other implied meaning of my statement means we get the pick next year assuming its lottery protected, and it won't be all that bad of a pick.  Does this make more sense now?  I guess I could have explained that more.

---

"OK gang, you know the rules, no humping, no licking, no sniffing hineys."

It would add some more rebuilding/tradeable assets to the Wolves' pile in exchange for basically nothing, so I can see why they want to do the deal.

But part of me wants the Wolves to tell Philly to go f*ck themselves for screwing the Wolves over with the AI deal. 

---

Hired goons?

Anyone else think this coincides with the FO thinking they are going to lose 1 or more of their RFA's?  My guess is one or more of them got an offer that we don't want to match.

This actually helps us not break the bank to match one of our RFA's which would potentially screw us in 2010 when we want to make a play at a major FA.