 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Even Tuesday afternoon, when he orchestrated a trade with Minnesota to acquire $2.8 million of salary-cap space, he remained nervous, anxious. Even that evening, when he reached a verbal agreement with Elton Brand and agent David Falk, he couldn't allow himself to feel comfortable. Better, maybe, but hardly comfortable.
He ran all the scenarios through his head. What if the NBA saw a glitch in the deal with the Timberwolves and some, or all, of that precious cap space were to disappear? What if there were something in the contract with Brand that didn't meet league specifications and Brand began looking around for options?
What if Brand, who had been offered significantly more money by Golden State, decided to take it? Or if the Los Angeles Clippers, Brand's employers the last seven seasons, hurried in with a fresh, more lucrative package?
Not to worry. At 11:45 yesterday morning, Brand signed on the dotted line for a 5-year, $82 million deal.
He was a Sixer. He was/is the rugged, low-post piece they had been missing.
He had his reasons.
"Golden State did offer more [a reported $90 million], and working with David [Falk], I'm sure it could have even gotten higher," said Brand, 29. "I coined a term - David, Ed and I-'Philly Max.'
"They gave everything they could. Another team I passed on didn't come close to that. Just having the fact they believed in me and wanted to give me everything they could, even though it was less, that [hit] home with me. Made me say, 'Hey, that's the kind of people I want to work for, work with.' "
As it got close, the buzz spread through the Sixers' players.
"Andre Iguodala said, 'If it's right [about] the guy you've got, this is very, very exciting,' " Stefanski said. "Willie Green told [assistant GM] Tony DiLeo, 'I'm going to run to the gym right now.' "
Brand knows there is controversy and consternation in Los Angeles. He believes it is terribly misplaced.
"Whatever they're feeling today, it will definitely change tomorrow, once they know the facts," he said. "[They'll know] Elton is who he was, it's not basically on him as it was perceived through so-called leaks."
He said there was never any "underground handshake" with Baron Davis, who left the Warriors to sign with the Clippers. He said he never had a deal with the Clippers. Falk said the Clippers made an initial offer ($70 million) and, through coach Mike Dunleavy, explained "the owner [Donald Sterling] really wasn't comfortable making the offer, and that if Elton turned the offer down the owner would be just as happy."
"They basically told us the owner was unavailable to discuss the offer any further and that it was basically either accept it or don't," Falk said.
Brand and Falk chose not to accept, then looked around for alternatives. And there was Stefanski, who had been courting Atlanta's restricted free agent Josh Smith, taking the young forward on a whirlwind tour of the Wachovia Center and the city, even to lunch with Mayor Nutter. The Sixers didn't have enough money to make Brand an acceptable offer. Falk suggested they find a way to raise the ante. They did.
When free agency began, the Sixers had about $11.5 million in cap space. When they presented their best offer to Brand, the salary started at slightly more than $14 million.
"Today, the Clippers announced an offer of $82 million," Falk said. "Why didn't they offer $82 million on June 30, and they could have pre-empted the whole deal."
Falk scoffed at reports that, because the Clippers had renounced Brand, they could not have offered more than 5 years.
"He was their player," Falk said. "They could have given their own player a sixth year. They could have gotten close to $100 million. It's all a matter that you have a chance to make a statement with your first offer. They elected to make an offer of $70 million, which wasn't enough to close the deal . . . Some people say timing is everything."
Through all of this, Stefanski had to protect himself. If he had simply waited for Brand, he knew there was a chance he could end up with nothing. When opportunity knocked, Stefanski all but kicked the door in.
"At the beginning, [the Clippers] gave us an ultimatum," Brand said. "David got on the job. He's a very strong-willed person. He said, 'Elton, you've done enough. I'll present you with all the offers when I've seen them all.'
"When it got close, when the [Clippers'] owner became available, when they wanted to [improve] the deal, it was kind of too late. We had a commitment."
Eddie Stefanski, at least for a moment, could rest. *
|
|
|
|
|
|
REGIONAL SCOREBOARD
Latest Sports Blogs
TOP STORIES
today's poll
express headlines
Promotions
photo GALLERY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
email this
print this
reprint or license this
Buy tickets online
.jpg)
