<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Scratch Philadelphia from the list of NBA teams pursuing Hawks restricted free agent forward Josh Smith. The Sixers received a verbal agreement on a five-year, $82-million contract from veteran power forward Elton Brand Tuesday night, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, thus ending their pursuit of Smith. Smith was in Philadelphia last week for a visit and was wined and dined by the Sixers, but left town without a verbal agreement to sign an offer sheet. The NBA's moratorium on signing free agents ended Tuesday at midnight and Wednesday is the first day teams can sign free agents. Suddenly, the threat of having to match a huge, front-loaded offer for Smith is gone for the Hawks. Brand, the two-time All-Star and former No. 1 pick in the draft, had to decide which to pick among lucrative offers from the Los Angeles Clippers, his former team, the Golden State Warriors and the Sixers. With Brand out of the picture, the Clippers are suddenly in the market for a power forward to replace him. Smith is currently in Los Angeles on "business," according to his agent, Brian Dyke, who is with him. Dyke declined to comment on the specifics of their business and also declined to comment on Smith's immediate plans now that the Sixers appear to have moved on.</div> Atlanta Journal-Constitution Everyone wants Smith, but I'm 99% sure, Sund will keep him around. He's the corner stone of this franchise right now and he needs to stay.
