When Elton Brand spurned Los Angeles for Philadelphia 17 months ago, no party involved was left unscathed. Brand’s previously sterling reputation was sullied, management was again portrayed as horribly incompetent, and David Falk’s name suddenly became synonymous with Satan himself. At the time, there were no winners, only losers. Clippers fans are notoriously hardened (2 winning seasons in 25 years will do that for you) but even this was a bit too much to handle. The Clipper faithful had previously endured “star” players bolt via free agency, but none of this caliber. They saw a temporarily delusional Kobe Bryant “almost” cross the hall, but no one really believed him. They learned that Gilbert Arenas decided to go to Washington instead of L.A. because of a coin flip, which still hasn’t really sunk in yet. Point being, this particular fan base was not exactly weaned on sunshine and lollipops. Clippers fans instinctively expect the worst. That being said, no one was really prepared for the announcement that came on 7/8/08.
It was supposed to be different with Elton. He was everything as advertised: Consistent, heady, reliable. He was the blue-collar, lunch-pail type of player fans could really get behind, and they did. Much in the way the Spurs started to embody Tim Duncan’s traits over the years (Professional, efficient, horrifically boring), it was easy to see the Clippers resembling all the admirable traits of Elton. Over the span of seven years, Elton Brand basically legitimized a franchise that was in desperate need of such a thing. He was a player to be respected and in turn it became more respectable to be a Clipper fan. I distinctly remember a time frame where the announcement of Clipper fan-hood would usually result in a complementary comment in relation to Elton’s beastliness. He made it okay to follow the Clippers – as long as he was always out there busting his butt, you had someone to be proud of. There’s an attachment you naturally develop to players like him. So it was different when he left. It meant more.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of it all was that it was impossible to really make sense of “why” Elton left. The Baron Davis signing was supposed make Elton perfectly content. Just when it seemed like everything was lined up perfectly, Elton inexplicably bailed on the plan. The problem with digging for answers is that it often forces us to the conclusion we didn’t want to believe in the first place. It couldn’t have been about the small differential in money, because Elton isn’t that type of guy, right? Right?
The problem is, as much as fans would like to believe they know players on a personal level, they don’t. Dunleavy and company thought they knew Brand well enough too, but they didn’t. From Elton’s side, you never really know how you’ll react to millions of dollars being flashed in front of your face with a super agent manipulating your every move. Fans weren’t hurt because of something tangible like the loss of statistical production and a likely drop in wins, they were hurt because their built up image of Elton Brand was ruthlessly shattered in a days time. Seven years of built up beliefs about Brand’s loyalty, however uncorroborated, were gone in an instant.
On the court, it would eventually become completely obvious that the Clippers were a mentally defeated and talent deflated unit sans Brand. He’d go on to make the pain even worse in his first tilt against the Clippers by nailing his trademark 15 footer to put the game away for Philadelphia. However with the daggers still freshly planted in the Clippers back, Elton soon received a fork in his own. A torn labrum would require season ending shoulder surgery, his second major operation in two years. With Elton out of sight and out of mind, the recovery process rapidly advanced to it’s final stage for Clippers fans: Acceptance.
For Elton, things haven’t gone as swimmingly. Perhaps in a twisted form of karmic retribution, Philly fans by and large have turned on Elton and the signing, declaring him a bust just 51 games into his 5 year, 80 million dollar deal. There’s no shortage of ammunition against Brand; the stylistic differences and decreased athleticism are plain to see. It’s been accepted that Elton’s contract (signed right before the economy tanked) is way too pricey for a player of his production level. Ironically, the few million dollars in bonus money Elton accepted to go to Philadelphia are now working against him ten-fold. It’s hard to say how patient the Clippers would have been with Elton on a big deal coming off injuries, but at least they’d have a reason to stay loyal to one of the franchise’s all-time great players. Philadelphia holds no such obligation.
With Elton’s numbers severely declining in virtually every statistical category, Philadelphia head coach Eddie Jordan has moved him to the bench. Elton himself isn’t pleased, but it’s no secret that he simply doesn’t fit in with Philadelphia’s personnel or game plan. Every feed he gets feels forced, as if the rest of the Sixers are going out of their way to incorporate him into the game. It’s a far cry from the way Brand was utilized in his time in Los Angeles to say the least. The story isn’t finished, but this a fall from the elite for Elton, and it’s happened insanely fast in just 17 months.
Is it incorrect to say the perception of Elton has changed quite a bit around these parts during that span as well? It’s tough not to have some sympathy for Elton when he gets booed, or misses shots he used to make with scary consistency, or gets parked on the bench. He’s not the player he used to be, and that’s depressing to see, regardless of the circumstances. Will you be sympathetic, unforgiving, or devoid of any real feeling altogether when you see Elton on Saturday?
I know one thing: I’ll be nostalgic. As much as I’ll try to fight it, I’m sure I’ll crack a little smile once I see that funky jumper again. Memories.
30 Responses
Anything basketball related aside, the most difficult thing was that Elton was always such a stand up guy. And it’s not that he left but how. I’ve never been caught up in looking up to a player but man there’s just some stuff that you don’t expect. The way he went out, like a complete slime bag, even for a cynic like myself was disheartening.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I still hold Benedict Brand 100% accountable for what happened. If he really wanted to stay with the Clippers, he could have told his agent to Falk off.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Nice article DJ. I feel sympathy for Brand–who would’ve thought we’d be breathing a sigh of relief now because he’s gone.
In a side node…..Wizards are reportedly shopping Caron Butler…he makes ~10mil this year and next, and you can’t tell me he isn’t a perfect fit for us at the 3.
D.J. Foster Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Thanks Pez. Good scoop on Butler. I was daydreaming the other day watching a Wiz game about how Caron would fit in with the Clippers, and I think he would be an amazing fit. He’s not deadly from the perimeter, but his mid range game is filthy, he gets to the line and shoots a very high percentage, he rebounds pretty well and he’s a nasty defender to boot.
It will be interesting to see what they want in return for Caron
kenji Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
i’m thinking they’d want camby for a strong defensive presence as well as his expiring contract? i’d be more than willing to pull the trigger on that trade. if camby stays a clipper through this season, i’m confident he won’t be re-signing. i see him signing a smaller priced contract with a sure-fire championship contending team, especially at this point/end of his career.
not only would we get the quality 3man on the offensive AND defensive end, but it will make room for deandre jordan to get quality minutes and a chance to develop quicker. so why not send over camby? better than riding him out this year and losing him for nothing in return.
thoughs D.J.?
D.J. Foster Reply:
December 19th, 2009 at 12:07 am
I think that’s a no brainer for the Clips, but Washington doesn’t really have a need for Camby’s basketball talent. They know they’re not getting a ring this year, so the 3 month rental of Camby doesn’t matter them, it would only be about the money.
With that being said, they should be able to get a lot more back than just an expiring contract for Butler. Clips would have to throw some draft picks in there for Washington to even consider it.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 9:51 am
that video gave me the chills…. i was in that arena and it felt so good at the time. I remember everyone calling me asking me if i had extra tickets….
those were the days…..
dan Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I was at the game too. Watching the video just made me sad to see how so much has changed. Although we still have a chance this season, it could only be done if we win the games we are supposed to win and start winning against teams with winning records
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I used to feel some sort of “connection” with EB, however that connection has been long since severed since he left the Clippers so coldly. I don’t view him as a person anymore, just another player and in that sense my memories are long gone.
I will feel nothing when I see him on Saturday. Just another player in a 76ers uniform. He left the Clippers coldly why should the fans feel anything remotely fond or warm towards him?
chaderack Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I agree, Karma exist’s in this world and it has a work order for Brand. I am glad Brand is not with the Clips. Camby is waaaaay better than Brand this year and is 70 million dollars cheaper. I wish Brands shots get blocked, that he gets hammerd in the post and gets crossed over by Davis and Gordon! oh, and that his chair in the bench folds on him and falls back with the cameras on him.
GO CLIPPERS!!!!!!
Artie Brown Reply:
December 20th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Well said!!
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 10:31 am
The way he left the CLIPPERS was very cold and I waited for the day when he would fail in PHILLY, I knew it would happen. He deserves it. For us as a team we need to keep this unit together i think it takes a while to Jell as a team when you have so many new faces but i do think that we are jelling now. Lets wait and see when BLAKE G comes back..
GO CLIPPERS
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 11:01 am
This was a great blog post, that it inspired me to write one of my own. Hope you guys like
http://bcnbatalk.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/the-elton-brand-story/
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I don’t have one ounce of sympathy for Brand. In any case, he screwed us over. Whether it be him wanting to be close to his family or Falk having a vendetta against us. Either way, the decision was ultimately his.
We ended up getting lucky, because he never returned to his old form, but the fact that he purposely played his last 8 games just to show case his talent to get a contract across the country… completely unforgivable.
He should be ashamed of what he did to the ball club and fans who stood by him loyally as we watched our team get completely demolished for two straight years. His being a complete bust is the ultimate revenge for Clippers fans, and I show him the same loyalty he showed us. NONE.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I jsut can’t wait to see the Sixers play against the Clippers. The clippers should win by double figuers.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I used to hate the guy and have all those feelings of betrayal and dissapontment towards the guy. That is until i played ball with him at the local LA Fitness here. I mean we were talking trash and he was dishing me assists and it was like a fantasy camp or something. And after the game, I asked him why he left and he just smiled sheepishly. The point is he’s no different than you or me. He got caught up in the momemnt, the money, got some bad advice and a little bad luck but deep down he just seems like a regular dude. Not on no Superstar, i’m better than eveyrone type thing, but just a regular guy. So for me, I wish no ill will towards him. I wish him luck except when he plays the clips
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Someone earlier mentioned it’s unforgivable Brand came back those last 8 games to showcase his talent. There was nothing wrong with that at all, this is how dude earns his money. It was a raw deal that the team actually let him on the court, only to get burned when Brand ditched. Granted, his leaving COMPLETELY changed my view of him. He was my favorite player, now he’s a distant memory.
I’m not mad at all anymore, would anyone honestly trade what we have now for 5 years of Brand and Baron ball? No.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I feel no sympathy for FElton. For one he could of told us he wasn’t planning on coming back so we could have at least traded him, and it was not like he was getting that much more money in Phili, less then a million in difference if I recall correctly. What also hurt was at the press conference announcing his signing he said that he would finally be playing for true fans. I don’t feel bad at all for FElton because he didn’t feel bad about leaving us, even when we patiently waited for him to come back from his injury and only wanted the best for him. The image of the good guy who use to wear red white and blue for us is now gone.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
So he made a mistake and he’s paying for it. Let him be. He did give us one magical seson along with Sam-I-Am for which we should be greatful. His case does however illustrate the danger of acquiring the one player who is”…a perfict fit…” who turns out to be a bust after he comes in. We should remember that there is a reason the former club is letting him go or why he didn’t fit with them. Are there character issues ? Are there salary issues that will give you cap problems ? Why would Caron Butler even be available ?
FireDunleavy .com Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
How is he paying for it? It’s not he almost signed with the Lakers.
Would he work better in Dunleavy’s system? Maybe Would he have gotten injured last year? Who knows. And I don’t see Brand saying he wishes he was back with the Clippers.
I don’t think Brand would be starting over Griffin or Kaman now. Who knows how far he’s dropped physically
Lets also not forget Dunleavy breaking the rules by contacting the player instead of the agent:
“Once Mike Dunleavy pushed past David Falk and reached out to Elton Brand, appealed to his star’s sensibilities and sentimentality for his Clippers’ home, the belief was that the most cunning and cutthroat agent of them all decided to treat this end-around as an act of treason.”
Lexicon Devil Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
You are right. Dunleavy outsmarted himself. He thought he had an “inside” track to Elton and that he could bypass Falk even while Falk was negotiating with the team. Anyone who deals with agents for a living knows that is an absolute no no (not to mention a violation of the CBA). And ESPECIALLY with David Falk. I mean, how could that have gone wrong? As it’s turned out, we’re (hopefully) way better off with Blake, but don’t kid yourselves, what happened with Elton was completely Dunleavy’s fault.
ghost_ride Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Thank god he did bypass Faulk. W/ Elton resigned, EJ & Blake Griffin would’ve been a far away dream. Plus we’d have a past his prime injury prone post player as our “star”.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Wow, this was a great post that I feel captured the tough, contrasting emotions a lot of us Clipper fans felt when Elton left.
Great job!
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
It’s said to say…Brand deserves more Boos from us fans than cheering.
I’m booing him when he comes and play us at the end of the year.
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Elton made us who we are, gave us hope and never gave up when he played. As far as I’m concerned he’s the greatest clipper of all time and I blame dunleavy and the organization for letting him walk away for nothing
we had 2 great assets we could have traded into something better but instead we let them walk. At least Otis smith was smart enough to keep gortat in Orlando even though he had little minutes to give him. We let a max contract and a $10m player walk away without even trying to sign and trade
we failed as an organization. Don’t blame elton
Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Really great bit of writing, D.J.
I was bummed when Elton left, but I’m long past the anger thing. I don’t find any joy in watching him flounder in Philly. He moved on and so did I. If Elton had stayed, we probably wouldn’t have Blake today. I’m over it.
Now, the Shaun Livingston injury… that still makes me wanna’ cry.
Posted on December 19th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I can’t wait for blake to get healthy so he can dunk all over this fuckin team. BRAND YOU WERE MY HERO YOU BASTARD! *cries*
Posted on December 19th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
The biggest problem with EB was that the faithful thought him a superstar….and the truth is he was just a very good player…not even an all-star.
Posted on December 19th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
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Posted on December 21st, 2009 at 7:21 am
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