Link <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Elton Brand reportedly sent a number of text messages to members of the Clippers regarding his excitement about the upcoming NBA season prior to leaving the team for the 76ers, according to The Los Angeles Times. The report came from NBA sources that requested anonymity because they are not allowed to discuss player movements. The text messages from Brand to his former teammates reportedly came shortly after news broke that Baron Davis had agreed to join the Clippers.</div>
Yeah I guess he wanted to stay and then the Clippers told him either take their deal or leave. (a bunch of bastards, their front office is)
Mike Dunleavey gave a very candid interview on ESPN radio today. He said there was a gentlemen's agreement between Brand and himself. Brand told Dunleavy he wants $75M (15M per year) and the Clippers to pursue some quality free agents. Dunleavy said he'd talk to Sterling and Sterling gave Dunleavy the green light to give Brand what he wants and sign Baron Davis. According to Dunleavy, David Falk got upset he wasn't involved in the talks between Dunleavy and Brand, and worked to get Brand a deal somewhere else. Falk wanted the Clippers to give Brand a $120M deal and said if they don't sign him for that amount this year, he's going to cost them $150M next year. It's really amusing what went down, and both parties are to blame. I think Dunleavy should've spoke with Brand face to face and not let the situation with Falk get ugly. At the end of the day Dunleavy's job was to keep Brand and team him up with Baron Davis. It sucks that Falk dictated to his client what Falk wanted out of the deal and Brand has lost A LOT of respect from the LA media and LA fans. Dunleavy might be able to salvage something if he can steal Josh Smith or Okafor away, but right now there's a huge gap to fill at PF for this team.
The way agents have ruined sports is not talked about enough IMO. They're the greedy vultures whispering in their clients ear they deserve more and freaking idiot GM's are the real morons because they fork over huge sums for mediocre players in an attempt to keep their jobs.
