Well that didn’t take long. According to several media outlets, including the Philadelphia Daily News, the Los Angeles Times, and ESPN.com, the Philadelphia 76ers have come to a verbal agreement with forward Elton Brand. The deal is reportedly worth $82 million over five years.
The deal cannot formally be announced until Wednesday when the NBA trade moratorium is lifted.
Earlier today it was announced that the Sixers traded Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, and a future No. 1 pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for cap room, essentially paving the way for the Sixers to take a serious shot at Brand.
According to ESPN.com,
Said one source close to the process: “Elton wants to go East.”
And the East wants Elton. Brand has averaged 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game over his nine year career. He would provide a seriously needed big man to the run and gun Sixers offense.
According to ESPN.com,
If Brand indeed goes through with his apparent intent to join the Sixers, such an outcome is bound to be …
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Since the dominating story in the NFL news cycle during the dog days of summer seems to be the impending return of Brett Favre from only 4 months of retirement, I explore the reasoning of his comeback and what could occur if he made his way to Philly and donned the NFL’s darker shade of green.
As of now, the Powers that Be in the NFL media circles are all but certain that Favre will announce his desire to return within the next two weeks. Peter King meticulously lists all the options available to both Favre and the Packers in his Sports Illustrated column. The possible outcomes consist of the Packers keeping Favre and benching an aggravated Aaron Rodgers, the Packers trading Favre to the suitor of their choice, or the Packers cutting Favre so that he can play wherever he wishes. I won’t examine all the details surrounding where Favre could or should play in 2008, but I will say that Green Bay’s best bet to avoid humiliation …
Yesterday the biggest news in baseball was CC Sabathia (he’s since dropped the ”..” in his name), being dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects. Today’s big news was Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin being dealt to the Chicago Cubs for Matt Murton and three prospects. With the trading deadline 24 days away, contending teams are already getting a jump start on landing an impact player for the remainder of the season.
With other contenders beginning to take shape for a second half run, we turn to the Phillies. A team while in first place, hasn’t been exactly playing good baseball (7-13 over their last 20 games). A team that has also been in the thick of trade rumors surrounding Sabathia, and mentioned as a destination for Harden. In typical Phillies fashion we’re involved in the rumors, but have fallen short.
Or have we?
This is the season I truly believed we would make a splash before the trading deadline. Even General Partner David Montgomery came out and told the people of Philadelphia …
This is not what I would call a good week for the Phillies, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. The Phils went 4-3 last week, again sweeping the Atlanta Braves in Turner Field before coming to Citizen’s Bank Park and dropping three of four to the Mets.
The Phils looked like the Fightins of old against the Braves, scoring 19 runs in three games, while only giving up seven. They continued their hot streak against the Mets, winning the first game 3-2. That’s when things fell apart.
The Phillies were winning on Saturday until a meltdown of catastrophic proportions occurred by the bullpen, starting with stalwart J.C. Romero, continuing with Tom Gordon, and ending with Rudy Seanez. The Phils ended up losing the game 4-9, but should have won it easily. Sunday was another game that they should have won, carrying the momentum of Jason Werth’s game tying home run in the ninth inning off Mets’ closer Billy Wagner into extra innings. Instead, they …
Dear National Sports Media (read: Our ESPN overlords),
We really enjoy what you do for us, really we do. If not for you we couldn’t check our fantasy stats when our girlfriends leave the room as we’re stuck watching America’s Got Talent (Don’t Hassle the Hoff). We wouldn’t know that the Cleveland Indians have only a 0.7% chance of making the playoffs (shouldn’t that have dropped when they dealt Sabathia). And we would have never been introduced to the smooth stylings of Stephen A. Smith. Hey, it’s a mixed bag. But with baseball in full swing, the NBA and NHL free-agent period underway and NFL training camp right around the corner, do you really need to manufacture stories about Brett Favre?
Brett Favre was a great player, just ask John Madden. And none of us are going to argue that he should go right into Canton. Hell, put his bust in there now, let him live there, whatever he wants to do. We also know that having …
Flyers’ captain Jason Smith signed a two-year, $5.2 million contract with the Ottawa Senators Monday.
The 14-year veteran was an unrestricted free agent.
According to Philly.com,
The Flyers had let Smith know that with the contracts of Randy Jones and newly acquired Steve Eminger, he would not fit into team’s budget for next season. Smith earned $1.9 million last season.
In 77 games for the Flyers last season, Smith had 204 blocked shots and 142 hits, tops on the team. He had one goal, nine assists, and 86 penalty minutes.
My response to this is, what the hell? The Flyers were very clear that they were not going to re-sign Smith, but I have to say I really don’t understand why. This guy was their captain last year, and an integral past of their success. Who is going to take his place? Is eventual captain Mike Richards’ time now?
The Sixers traded Rodney Carney, a future No. 1 pick, and Calvin Booth to the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday. The Sixers clear up some much needed cap space, giving them about $14 million to pursue a top flight free agent. It is not clear yet what the Sixers will get in return.
In his two years in the NBA, Carney averaged 6.2 points and two rebounds per game.
It is widely believed that the Sixers will offer all $14 million and a long term deal to big time forwards like Elton Brand or Josh Smith.
Smith was in town last week to work out for the Sixers, but they did not give the restricted free agent an offer sheet. Smith’s current team, the Atlanta Hawks, have publicly committed to matching any offer given to Smith.
Brand, on the other hand, has opted out of the last year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. He has said that he plans to stay in Los Angeles despite his decision, even if …
On Sunday night, Iron Pigs starter Les Walrond made history. The left-hander became the first pitcher in Lehigh Valley’s history to throw a complete game as the Iron Pigs beat the Louisville Bats 4-3. What’s more impressive is Walrond struck out 17, an International League season-high, and Iron Pigs team record.
With all the talk of the issues with the Phillies rotation, and who at Triple A might get the call to Philadelphia, Walrond is never a name you hear mentioned. You hear J.A. Happ, Travis Blackley, even Brian Mazzone, but no Walrond.
It begs the question, who is Les Walrond?
Walrond was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1998 draft. After spending five seasons in the Cardinals farm system where he went 31-35, Walrond was claimed by the Kansas City Royals. In late 2003, Walrond made his debut with the Royals, and appeared in 7 games, going 0-2 with a 10.19 ERA.
The following season he spent in the Royals system, then was signed …
