Brand reportedly heads to Philly

The 76ers on Tuesday night reached a verbal agreement to sign Los Angeles Clippers unrestricted free agent Elton Brand.

That means they have the low-post presence they have desperately needed.

That means they have a rugged 6-foot-8 forward who has averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a nine-season career.

Their agreement with Brand and agent David Falk was expected to be for five years with a value in the range of $80 million but could not be tendered until at least 12:01 this morning.

The arrival of Brand will create a major buzz in the area. But medical reports notwithstanding, the Sixers also have to hope he never becomes their Achilles' heel.

Brand, 29, is coming back from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles' tendon; he returned to play the final eight games of last season with the Clippers, starting six times.

WARRIORS TO INK MAGGETTE TO 5-YEAR DEAL: The Golden State Warriors will sign high-scoring free agent Corey Maggette to a five-year contract worth around $50 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be announced until today at the earliest, confirmed Maggette will leave the Los Angeles Clippers for a lucrative long-term deal with the fast-paced Warriors, who outbid several suitors for the former Duke star. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the deal.

Maggette, a 6-6 swingman who led Los Angeles in scoring last season, should fit splendidly into Golden State coach Don Nelson's pell-mell style of play. He averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season for the moribund Clippers, finishing slightly off his career highs in all three categories.

Maggette has been with the Clippers since 2000, longer than any other player. But Maggette and teammate Elton Brand opted out of the final years of their contracts last week, with Maggette turning down $7 million for next season.

The 28-year-old Maggette will trade places on the California coast with Baron Davis, who spurned the Warriors last week for his hometown Clippers. Davis, who was considered the Warriors' team leader until his abrupt decision to opt out of a $17 million deal for next season, accepted a smaller salary in Los Angeles for a long-term contract and the chance to team up with Brand and perhaps Maggette.

Instead, Davis looks to be stuck on another rebuilding Clippers roster. The club is expected to lose Brand as well, amid reports he has agreed to a long-term deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Warriors also made a play for the power forward, likely driving up Brand's price.

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