June 25, 2009, at 12:06 pm
Real GM is reporting that the Sixers are shopping Elton Brand. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Brand was over the hill when the Sixers signed him, is it shocking their having buyers remorse?
The Sixers are locked into a lot of long term contracts. Marreese Speights was a pleasant surprise in limited action last year and according to John Hollinger, his PER (basketball OPS) was actually among the highest in the league. His emergence makes Brand, who has four years and $65 million renaming on his contract, expendable.
So what team is going to take on a $65 million commitment to an injury plagued, but very talented player?
Enter the Knicks stage right.
What if the Knicks traded: Eddy Curry and Jared Jefferies for Elton Brand and the 17th overall pick.
While you might immediately scoff at such a trade as “Isiah Thomas-esque” look at the Knicks situation. Curry and Jefferies contracts extend into the 2010, The Summer of LeBron. They account for about 18 million in cap space while Brand would only account for 16 million.
Obviously the Knicks are planning for the future, obviously the Knicks are banking on securing LeBron James. But, one question people aren’t asking…why would LeBron come here? If, and that’s a big if, he leaves Cleavland other teams besides the Knicks will have cap space. Miami, Chicago (with some creative management), L.A Clippers (if they can move Kaman) and Sacramento. These are all big market teams whose core players (a.k.a ability to win a championship) will be much much better than the Knicks. Why is LeBron coming here…to play with Wilson Chandler, Danillo Gallanri and whoever they get with the 8th pick?
While trading for Brand certainly is a giant risk for the Knicks it’s one worth taking.
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