Originally Posted by Showtime87

Apparently, you either don't understand what I said or you simply don't bother to read my posts entirely. The point for Memphis was not to get talent in return, it was to cut payroll - that's it. They wouldn't want impact players like Maggette, Cassell or Brand because they might actually help the team win games, which is NOT what they want. They were already a lottery team with Gasol, moving him was a way of:
A) cutting payroll for the future and
B) improving their chances of a higher draft pick next summer. What would be the point of trading for impact players who will improve your team when you have no intention of re-signing them in the offseason?

As far as Brand goes, I'm not talking at all about his personality or demeanor. I'm simply referring to the solid, consistent production he's given this team since he got here in 2001. You must be as short-sighted as all those fans and coaches who have consistently snubbed him over the years in terms of all-star consideration. All he has done is average 20 pts, 10 rebs, 2.5 ast, 2 blks and 1 steal per game over the course of his career. Not to mention his MVP caliber season, the year HE led the Clippers to the brink of the WCF! But I guess you think they would've been there with or without him, right? Just because he's hurt this year, don't completely write the guy off! I don't know if you're just assuming that his production will drop off because of the injury, or if you're just not paying attention to how good he actually is, but there aren't many players in this league who have done what he has over the last 8 seasons. This franchise was nowhere before Brand got here and you think they're going to be championship contenders with him gone? By the way, if you're seriously expecting a championship anytime soon, you've got a lot of disappointment coming. This team has never seriously contended for a title (oh yeah, besides the year Elton almost got them there) and they probably won't in the next couple of seasons. But without a player like Elton Brand to anchor the frontcourt and run the offense through, they're going to be in terrible shape. Even Donald Sterling knows that much!