Elton Brand Going Back East?

The Fig Cap: "Hmm, should I go back East?"

Now that the NBA Salary Cap has been set for the 2008-09 season, many teams are now able to sign free agents, with Elton Brand, originally from New York, being target number one. Word has come out that the Philadelphia 76ers have received a verbal agreement from Brand to join the team for five years and about $80 million. Ex-teammate from both the Los Angeles Clippers and Duke University Blue Devils, Corey Maggette, will be heading to the Golden State Warriors, another team in contention with the Sixers and Clippers for the services of Brand. It's kind of obvious the Bay Area team did not get the ex-Clipper that they truly coveted.

What is the Clips and Warriors' loss is obviously the Sixers' gain. It isn't out of the question to say that Philly now instantly become Eastern Conference contenders. With the steady direction of Andre Miller, the athleticism and overall game of Andre Iguodala, board and block capabilities of Samuel Dalembert, and an up-and-coming Thaddeus Young, Brand's presence will make the nucleus of a team that had a great run during the second half of last season even better. He'll bring instant toughness and leadership. Does that remind you of anyone that did the same thing last year and helped his team to an NBA championship? Yes, I'm talking about Kevin Garnett.

However, it remains to be seen if Brand will have that particular effect on the Sixers that KG had on the Boston Celtics, but nothing is out of the realm of possibility, which makes the NBA so exciting to watch and follow!

Stay tuned for the official word coming out of, not only Philly, but league-wide as the signing moratorium is lifted tomorrow.

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