Was Heat's courting Brand a ruse?

 

 

By Chris Perkins, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, July 20, 2003

 

 

 

They're the two favorite words of any conspiracy theorist, "What if ... "

 

So here's one of the latest theories making its way around NBA circles:

 

What if all this Elton Brand pursuit the Heat conducted -- signing him to a six-year, $82 million offer sheet -- was just a means to an end?

 

What if the Heat's intent all along was not to capture Brand, the Los Angeles Clippers' wide body All-Star power forward, but to capture Lamar Odom, the Clippers' versatile angular swingman?

 

It makes sense.

 

The Heat had to figure the Clippers would match Brand's offer, which they did on Saturday.

 

Heat coach Pat Riley has had interest in Odom, a restricted free agent, for years.

 

What if the Heat made its late offer to Brand to tie up the Clippers' money and then sneak in the back door with Odom?

 

As far as anyone knows the Heat hasn't talked to Odom, but as far as anyone knows the Heat really wanted Brand.

 

For a conspiracy theorist, this is juicy stuff.

 

Did the Heat talk to Brand early in the free agency process and then bring him to town on Tuesday with the intent of signing him to an offer sheet on Wednesday?

 

Or did the Heat recognize the Clippers had other things going among guards Andre Miller and Eric Piatkowski, forward Corey Maggette and center Michael Olowokandi, and decide to put pressure on the Clippers through Brand with the intent of landing Odom?

 

What if the Heat recognized tightwad Clippers owner Donald Sterling had his hands full with the offer sheets signed by Miller and Maggette, and decided the best way it could land Odom was to force Sterling to make hard choices?

 

The Clippers said they'd match the Brand offer. They'll probably let Miller go to Denver. Then they'll have to make a choice on allowing Maggette to go to Utah.

 

The conspiracy theorists contend Sterling will be so fed up with committing money to Brand and Maggette, he won't bother to match an offer to Odom.

 

This whole theory could be a bunch of hooey. Or it could be a stroke of genius by the Heat.

 

Either way it's interesting.

 

The problem is the fate of the Heat's off-season success or failure could rest with Sterling.

 

Signing Brand isn't an option, and if Odom re-signs with the Clippers the off-season could be a huge disappointment. And it could set the Heat up for another miserable season.

 

Golden State's Gilbert Arenas isn't thought to be considering the Heat, and neither is any of the other quickly-disappearing prizes on the market.

 

But even if the Heat comes up empty, look at it this way -- the Heat has already been granted two huge gifts this off-season in Alonzo Mourning and guard Anthony Carter. Mourning is gone, and the possibility of being handcuffed if he were too ill to play. It was also a fairly clean break, save for Mourning's failed play at public sympathy when he said he was "disappointed" the Heat hadn't offered a contract.

 

Carter is gone, too, and his $4.1 million gift bumped the Heat's spending money up to $12 million, which led to extending an offer sheet to Brand, and might lead to one for Odom.

 

That was pretty good timing for the rebuilding Heat.

 

The conspiracy theorists will say it all leads to the Heat's pursuit of Odom.

 

chris_perkins@pbpost.com

 

I have heard this before.....if we get Odom, then this was very smart, although i have a question....can Odom play Power forward??, cause he played SF for the clippers, but i know he is versaitle, we have Caron at SF and i would think he is safe there, maybe they would trade EJ and put Odom at SG...what do you guys think would happen, where would he fit....i think if he can play PF then we would have a really small line up but one that could score a lot of points and run the floor real well with wade at PG , Jones at SG, Caron at SF, odom at PF and grant at C...thoughts??

I think he's too small for a PF. You've already got Grant who's undersized at center. Good teams would pound this team to death inside. Maybe if they get Odom they'll trade Eddie Jones this year or next & go after a PF or Center.

I'm not a real fan of Odom and I would rather go after Miller.

I think Odom is a great player. But you guys are fools to think that they wanted Odom more then Brand. Brand is a 20/10 player. Nuff Said.

I think Odom is a great player. But you guys are fools to think that they wanted Odom more then Brand. Brand is a 20/10 player. Nuff Said.

Exactly right. I would much rather have Brand than Odom.

 

And why do some of you think Brian Grant is going to get killed or something at Center? He's an amazing defensive player. He'll probably do pretty darn good, as does Ben Wallace. He might get killed at C when we play the West, but hey...

Quit Hatting on me lol.....

 

man i was a BIG Lamar ODOM fan when he got caught with the Kreppie... he has been a good boy since and i am very sad by that he is the reaosn i have this name...... and i even bought this mans jersey with the clippers 2 years ago...

 

he is actually very good Tripple double Canidate he could run Point if you want or PF what eva i think we get him we would be a playoff caliber team