Our Brand, Ross, Maggette unrestricted free agents 2008

If Brand can opt out, our the Clippers sure that he will resign. What if he goes to San Antonio. I read that he is unrestricted, so is Maggette. If we resign Maggette, do will still have his cap space to sign Gilbert Arenas or some other high caliber player. Since he is a free agent, and we have his bird rights, does that mean can sign somebody else big time first, then extend Maggette. The next group of free agents is impressive. Artest, Garnett, Brand, Jaminson, Baron Davis, Maggette, and restricted like Ben Gordon, Deng. Can we sign one of these players and sign Maggette too. Can't they extend Maggette now, this summer so that he doesn't bolt. Otherwise they should have traded him for a pick or another player.

What do you think?

I think they need to extend Ross and Brand for sure. Maggette if they can. I believe they would only be unrestricted FA if they opt out of their contract. Maggette has a player option, maybe Brand does too?? Ross will be unrestricted though, in 2008. Smart move by the Clips to keep him, cuz if he doesnt produce they will lose him to FA, if he does though, they have the option to pay him to stay.

Well I don't think at this point Brand has hinted at opting out but things could change of course. Maggette is more iffy, so it's probably a good idea to extend him before or during the season. Same goes for Ross!

Brand will resign, and Ross will likely stay as well.. but Maggette wont be a Clippers after this coming season, i dont think he even really wants to.. he'll either get traded this coming season or wait til the end of the season to be a free agent.. plus we have Mr. Thornton who will i guarantee be an allstar in a few years and probably will cut Maggette's minutes a bit so he wont be happy about that. and Glibert Arenas situation? he's just opting out to test the market which will make the Wizards pay him most likely max.. the Wizards will be dumb to let him go

Brand has the player option next summer just like Corey does.

Most likely, Corey will opt out next summer. His contract is way under market right now, so he could get a lot more. Of course, it is possible that he opts out and resigns with the Clippers. That happens alot.

Brand's contract is less under market, so he could sign an extension by October, or wait for unrestricted free agency in two years. But alot depends on how they do this year. I think if LAC makes the playoffs, he will not opt out in 2009. But if they falter, he might opt out and look elsewhere.

As others on this site have said, this is season is KEY to creating player loyalty.

Yeah I think Brand has a lot of loyalty to the club and the fans- it'd be very difficult for me to imagine him not re-signing with the Clippers. I also think there's a good chance to re-sign Maggette too- a lot of it having to do with how much Donald Sterling admires his play. I think the Corey and Dunleavy have patched up their problems (for now) so that feud they had hopefully won't have any negative impact towards his decision to stay.

If we make the playoffs and keep Elton and Corey and Q-Ross would be nice too...I smell dynasty (as long as we find a long term solution at PG...and I think that can be Darren Collison or Jared Jordan if he turns out to be Stockton 2.0)

Keeping Elton should be the Clippers #1 priority. Without Elton, the Clippers aren't a (playoff) team. Resigning Q-Ross should be easy enough. He's a great role player, and doesn't raise a lot of eyebrows -- which is good, since it shouldn't be hard to retain him.

Corey is a different matter. Depending on how happy Corey is and how much Thorton develops, Corey could either still be a vital part of the team or trade bait. It really depends on what type of player we get out of him -- and in the trade case, which player we can get for him.

I couldnt imagine the Clippers not having Elton Brand. He has become "THE CLIPPERS". Without him, who does the Clippers have that would be dependable? The Clippers need to shine this season. Put aside all the miscommunications, throw away all doubts...it's time to show who is the New Team in LA.

So the biggest priority is signing Elton Brand. PERIOD! No Excuses!

IF Sterling ends up paying a major luxury tax to resign Elton Brand so be it! The Clippers have lost players that coulda been vital to succeeding...especially Brent Barry who has won 2 championship already even tho he was never a starter for the Spurs, he has proven to be a great off the bench team player!

I wouldnt mind getting rid of Aaron Williams, Tim Thomas & Yaroslav Korolev if it means to make the Clippers better.

GO CLIPPERS!

The only problem with this JLemmen is that the Clips draft pick in 2008 will be too late to get Collison ... because of their success in 2007-8!

I agree with David and Clips84 ... EB is the face of this team and it would be weird if he moved on. I'm glad to support a team whose identity is someone like Brand instead of "the player formerly known as #8"!!!!

C84 I agree with your player pruning. Williams basically occupied space and that was all. There's only 50-50 San will be around 08-09. Otherwise we are in a bit of a quandry. Brand in a must and so is Q. CM is odd goods. Even though EB is the rock of our team the only player the fans scream for is CM. He's a bigger part of our IMAGE than EB. Can we win without him? Yeah. Can he be replaced Yeah. Crunch time don't expect Thornton to get big minutes and again guys, he's not a sure thing, he's a rookie. He ain't been there and CM has. As far as great players, we have to win to attract them and to win we need good players and good players cost. Anyway if everybody (including SF) shows up we've got a solid team.

I hope everything works out good for the Clippers Franchise

Sorry to be the party pooper, but we really have to consider the fact that we may lose Brand. You know what creates player loyalty? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ or Winning or the potential to win. Plain and simple. Loyalty to what? He's loyal to the game, he's been a class act since day 1, and he will always be respected no matter what. He will opt out because he can get more, but the question is, will he sign an extension. If he doesn't sign an extension by mid-season he'll opt out. Who wouldn't opt out when they knew they could get an extra half a million or million everyone on teh buzz would.

Thus the real question is not about money, because we'll have the $$$ but will be winning and have the pieces in place to continue to win if he has an extension?

Unfortunately under the eyes of Brand the answer would have to be no. Why?

Maggette will opt out because of Dunleavey drama, Cassell is a free agent and will go to the Spurs trying for a title, Livingston may never play again, and that leaves Kaman, Mobley, Thornton, Ross and Tim Thomas*%6#???

Brand mentioned rings in his interview. He wants one, worse case scenario is he goes... to the frickin Lakers*&%5%!!!-hit%&##!!! Yeah, so we have to trade to get something for him. I've been posting this everywhere. Sometimes you have to face the music and stop living in denial.

You've already given up, hey...That's sad man. I know this is just basketball, but I hope you dont take that mentality with everything you do in life.

Ok...I've probably been overly excessive with my retorts to your posts...but I disagree with a lot of what you've posted and if people can't argue in a non-violent way...there's something wrong. I hope you continue to post your opinions during the season.

Very true, things would definitely go awry if I exhibited this attitude towards my peers and patients. I'm in Med school, and on that note I shall get off this darn computer and get to bed. Hey, I have some free time. A few more weeks until my life is no longer blogging, taling or thinking B-ball.