by Denise Dawson

Created on: July 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Elton Brand Right or Wrong?

Who knows what truly happened between the Los Angeles Clippers and Elton Brand? What we do know is that Elton Brand is no longer a Clipper and that next season he will be in a Philadelphia Seventy Sixer uniform.

Last week the Clipper organization along with its fans went through a roller coaster of emotions. For the first time in the franchises' history they were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when the news broke that they had acquired Baron Davis from the Golden State Warriors. The good news didn't stop there, the fans were ecstatic to hear that they would also be able to retain their Franchise Player, Elton Brand.

The good feeling was short lived when in a stunning turn of events the light that once appeared to be getting brighter by the day suddenly turned pitch black, again. Much to the "Clipper Nation's" surprise their beloved "EB" as he is known here in L.A. opted out of his contract and left them behind.

In the corrupt world that is the NBA's business world this situation is no different than any other daily transaction. Today's athlete, unlike the athlete of old, see their professional careers more like a business rather than an honor to be a pro-athlete.

No one is really sure who is in the right and who is in the wrong. If we are to believe Brand and his agent David Falk, the Clippers Organization took advantage of his client for years and they were just fed up with the situation.

However, as the saying goes there are always two sides to every story. If we are to believe the Clippers side, Brand was offered a deal which basically matched the seventy-sixers $81 million dollar offer. Coach Mike Dunleavy added that he and Brand had communicated via text message just before Brand made his decision. Dunleavy went on to say that he had asked Brand if he was ok with how the contract read, Brand said that he needed some of the verbiage to be changed. Dunleavy had the new contract ready by 9am the next morning, He, again text messaged Brand with the details. After that according to Dunleavy he never heard back from Brand.

In a press conference shortly after Brand's decision Dunleavy showed up, phone in hand promptly displaying the text messages between he and Brand. Dunleavy then began reading from them, angrily.
If you believe Brand's camp they totally dismiss what Dunleavy and the Clippers claim and instead say that the Clippers only offered $75 million and at one point per David Falk, even told him that they needed to take it or leave it.

We will probably never truly know the specifics of what went on, but what we do know is that the Clippers, Elton Brand, and
David Falk all seem to be lacking integrity and loyalty.

It is sad to see someone like E.B. leave the organization that he put on the map with his blue collar work ethic and his heart. The true victims in the cut throat world that is the business of the NBA are the fans. My sympathies go out to the "Clipper Nation".

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