Word is he's available. Donald Sterling hates the fact that he's the highest paid Clipper of all time, but the team hasn't made the playoffs. He hasn't been a winner yet in his career, but then again neither has Reef, and neither had Andre Miller until this season. I rate Elton as the 4th best PF in the league, behind TD, KG and just behind JO, and he is EXACTLY what this team needs - physical, low post scorer, great defender/shot blocker and a super rebounder (including an incredible career average of over 4 offensive boards a game). Chris Wilcox is waiting in the wings, and Quentin Richardson is unlikely to re-sign in Los Angeles if he gets offered money elsewhere, which he almost certainly will. Ray Allen for Elton Brand? Maybe a few pieces either side to make it all work by the salary cap, but that's the crux of the deal I think would benefit Seattle hugely and make them a playoff team, especially if these rumours about Elton being available are true. Thoughts?
Have been thinking about this for a bit now, and one thing sticks out to me like a sore thumb. Ray Allen, as has been well documented around the league, wants a big extension THIS summer. Donald Sterling is notoriously tight with his money. Would he do this? You would think trading for Ray would mean signing him to an extension on arrival, or taking him after we had already re-upped him.
I'd do a Allen / Brand trade from a Sonics standpoint. Brand is exactly what the Sonics need, and he's worth giving up Allen for. Brand has 5 years remaining on his contract, so he'd be staying a while. Flip Murray would get more minutes, which is a good move. With a few fillers the trade could work, but the Sonics may have to give a first rounder, the Clippers may be a bit hesitant to do it. But I think it'd be beneficial for both teams, espeicially if Q leaves the Clippers.
I think this trade would be superb..For many of the reasons you guys have pointed out....We really need a banger in the post someone who is willing to get dirty and can play intense defense..Brand is a good guy..And a great player..He doesn't have a bad attitude or big ego...And he does what he is told..I really like our chances at getting him to...Q-Rich looks ike hes out of L.A..And then we could do the trade.That way they get back a shoting guard who can give you 20 5 and 5...And we get what we want..Plus it gives flip more room on offense..And possibly average 17-20 points per night...This trade helps both teams..If nate wants us to go somewhere next season he better highly consider this as our first choice!
Elton Brand is one of my favorite players in the league and I would love to have him play for the Sonics. Giving up Ray is a steep price but having Brand would be much more beneficial since we already have guys that can score. If we do this, would we still trade Rashard or Radman?
NOOOOOO.....lol I'm a Clippers fan, Ray Allen will not help us win, if we had the right sense and right coaching, Elton Brand and Maggette should be the inside outside punch. Wilcox can't replicate what Brand does, and Kaman is just developing, if Brand were to go our frontcourt would go from extremely promising to young and full of potential with no backups (Ely could be leaving too). From the Sonics view, yes, from the Clippers no way would I ever do it, you're right that Brand is the 4th best PF, and I don't think its worth it. For a guy that owns the team to not realize that a lot of the losing was due to injuries and the lack of a solid PG is pretty bad. This would not benefit the Clippers, we'll have 2 backcourt scorers, no inside presence whatsoever, and probably a decent PG with Gordon or Devin Harris, what are we making the Milwaukee Bucks back in the day all over again.
Well he won't neccesarily rot away since he's the 6th man and getting 20+ minutes, but Brand there does hold him back. The thing is I don't feel he can be as good as Brand, he's not as good a rebounder, and his defensive presence isn't even close. He was a great shot blocker in college due to his atheleticism, but that hasn't surfaced at all in the NBA, he's not blocking shots, playing 39 minutes a game I can't even see him averaging 1 block a game. His offensive game is improving but it still needs a lot of polishing, and he's just not the same player Brand is. If Wilcox was starting and playing let's say 37 minutes a game all I see from him is 14-15 points, 7-8 rebounds, and something like 0.8 blocks and steals.
I would do it if i were the Sonics, Brand is so underrated it is funny, he is teh 4th best in the league, and you can argue that he is the 3rd best, better than JO. I dont think Sterling will do this though because of the extension Allen wants. I dont see why he would want to trade away Brand either, the Clippers look like they would take the next step in the middle of the season, but then again they do every year.
People are acting like the Clippers get hosed in this deal...but they get Ray Allen who is arguably one of the best pure shooters in the game. Sure the Clips will downgrade at PF by trading Brand but they improve greatly at the 2 guard. It seems like a pretty fair deal to me.
Except in this league what has been winning, big men, we don't want to build out team solely around the perimeter, with Brand gone like I said our inside presence goes from decent and having potential to basically garbage. I like Kaman and Wilcox, but neither of them can do what Brand is doing for the team, he alone is keeping our frontcourt <font size="1">(excluding the SF, just PF and C postions)</font> respectable. Ray Allen means another perimeter scorer in addition to Maggette, I love Ray, he's such a good shooter and he's a great player, but like they say never trade a big for a small when the talent level is the same, especially when it's your best big man.
Lets not forget one thing...the Clippers are most likely going to take a run at Kobe...so as of right now, I would think they would to hold off in acquiring any players until they are certain they can't land Kobe... As a Clipper fan, I would not like this deal. Allen is a great player, but an inside presence is hard to find. I'm really feeling the clippers rotation between Brand, Kamen, and Wilcox.
Let me get one thing straight, if I was a Clippers fan I don't like this either, but I am working on two pretences. 1) Rumours about Sterling making Brand available. If these weren't around, I probably wouldn't even post about something like this. 2) The Clippers have a lot of young frontcourt help, but are thin in the backcourt, which gets even thinner if Q leaves like some expect he will. We say big men win you games in this league, but the only year the Clips have even looked like getting CLOSE to the post-season was when Odom and Olowokandi were around, although both weren't healthy for the whole season. Who knows though, it's fun to dream. I can see exactly why Clips fans would object, and Ray's contract situation probably prevents a deal like this happening.
Yea the best year for the Clippers was when we went 39-43 in 2001-2002, and Odom only played I think 29 games that year, but Brand and Kandi both played 80 games a piece, and McInnis was leading the team, good ol' McInnis.
