Domino! Brand May Change Everything

by Jeff Clark on Jul 8, 2008 7:34 PM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

It is looking more and more like Elton Brand will be headed East to join the 76ers. That unexpected move could knock down a number of dominos and open doors that looked closed just a few days ago. Some off the top of my head:

Sixers become contenders in the East. Will compete with the Celtics on the court and off (for win-now trades and free agents over the next few years).
LA Clippers now stuck with a high priced point guard and no franchise big man to pair him with. Do they get in the Josh Smith running? Do they have a choice?
Warriors still stuck with nothing after losing Baron Davis.
That's two teams with a lot of extra cash to use. May decide to give more than the MLE to Maggette.
The Hawks have said all along that they'll match any offer for Josh Smith but can they afford to? Here's a guess that they'll sign and trade him to one of these teams with cap space and take back some kind of minor compensation in exchange for playing nice and giving Smith an extra year on his deal.
If all else fails, one of these teams under the cap can toss a second rounder at New Jersey for Vince Carter or Detroit for Rasheed Wallace.

What else? It seems like a lot could happen in the next two days. Can't wait to see it play out.

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Philly a contender just for adding Brand? I think Brand is a great player, but why would him going to Philly suddenly make Philly contenders when no other team Brand has been a contender? With Brand they still wouldn’t get past the second round, and that doesn’t spell contender in my book. Also Davis hasn’t signed a contract with the Clips yet, can’t he still back out if Brand goes elsewhere?

by bdm860 on Jul 8, 2008 7:42 PM EDT reply actions

I agree, I am not impressed with a team with the core of Dalembert, Brand, Igudala, ?, and Miller. It is definitely a playoff team. But they are far from knocking off the Celtics with that roster.

by KungPoweChicken on Jul 8, 2008 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

Last year the coaches and players basically said we have the team that can control our own destiny. We play our game our way. We don’t care what the other team has or does. I don’t think it matters what player signs with any other team (Brand with Philly). If we play hard and with intensity and focus we can win again as long as we have the players that can do that.

by TrueGreen on Jul 8, 2008 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Well, we can’t just sit back and do nothing now…maybe Danny ups the offer to Posey.

by MaxwellSmart on Jul 8, 2008 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

Wait, so can Baron Davis jilt the Clippers?

No need to panic or anything, but the 76ers will be good if this happens. They were already good. And we’re the last team who should claim some player can’t make a team a contender because his previous teams were never contenders. We have a few guys who, until this season, fit that description as well.

by JudsonMerrill on Jul 8, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

Marc Stein reporting that Maggette is signing with the Golden State Warrior’s as well. I think Philly is maybe 5 or 6 in the East with a chance to do some damage in the playoffs.

by Byrdman on Jul 8, 2008 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t know if it makes the Sixers legit Finals contenders, but it makes them players in the East at least. I like Iggy more than most people and if he has a big man and point guard to help him, I think they’ll do fine. I’m also more of a Dalembert fan than most, but then again, I don’t watch them much, so what do I know?

by Jeff Clark on Jul 8, 2008 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

Too bad, Maggatte would have looked good in green. Time for Danny to step and get Posey signed. We need one or the other, $5.8M, 4yrs, getter done.

by docextension on Jul 8, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

danny-wyc and the boys i hope will spend some. prime the pump- sometimes, you gotta spend some to make some. remember the duck boats.

by nazzbo on Jul 8, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions

sixers have a hole at sg. could old friend sam cassell or eddie wind up there? I wouldn’t be shocked if they did but the sixers would need to trade someone to clear salary room. why haven’t we tried to dump scalabrine for crying out loud? we could use that money. maybe the clips want him- or golden state. anyhow with maggette gone we NEED to re sign Pose. do it now danny!

by Red2 on Jul 8, 2008 9:32 PM EDT reply actions