Sixers Sign Elton Brand

Well that didn't take long. According to several media outlets, including the Philadelphia Daily News, the Los Angeles Times, and ESPN.com, the Philadelphia 76ers have come to a verbal agreement with forward Elton Brand. The deal is reportedly worth $82 million over five years. The deal cannot formally be announced until Wednesday when the NBA trade moratorium is lifted. Earlier today it was announced that the Sixers traded Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, and a future No. 1 pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for cap room, essentially paving the way for the Sixers to take a serious shot at Brand. According to ESPN.com, Said one source close to the process: "Elton wants to go East." And the East wants Elton. Brand has averaged 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game over his nine year career. He would provide a seriously needed big man to the run and gun Sixers offense. According to ESPN.com, If Brand indeed goes through with his apparent intent to join the Sixers, such an outcome is bound to be widely branded as a shocker after he and agent David Falk announced last week that Brand was opting out of the final year of his previous contract (worth $16.4 million) to give the Clippers more payroll flexibility to strengthen the team around Brand. The Clippers immediately responded by signing Baron Davis away from the Golden State Warriors, who have reportedly reached an agreement with Brand's teammate Corey Maggette. It appears that Davis has been left holding the bag in LA. Brand had reportedly asked the Clippers brass to pursue Davis as one of the players that he wanted them to put around him. That being said, I'm done feeling bad for Davis and am now feeling really good for me. This is the biggest free agent signing in Philadelphia in years. Lets go Sixers.