L.A. Clippers Sign Baron Davis: Look to Contend with the Lakers

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, Baron Davis will be a Los Angeles Clipper as of Jul. 9, when the moratorium on signing free agents ends.  The report states that Davis has agreed to a five-year $65 million dollar contract.

More than likely that means that Corey Maggette, who, like Baron Davis, opted out of his contract on Tuesday will not be back in a Clipper uniform next season.

The Clippers are not expected to match any offers that Maggette may get from other teams.  Instead, they will save that extra cap space to try and resign Elton Brand who also opted out of his contract yesterday. 

Brand said that he wanted to resign with the Clippers but opted out in order to keep his options open.  He will have to take a slight salary cut if he decides to rejoin the Clippers. 

However, now that they have Davis, Brand, who spent most of this season rehabilitating from knee surgery, will decide to remain with the club.

Clippers fans, no doubt, are ecstatic over the move.  They seem to think this will definitely make the Clippers a contender. 

Some have even suggested that the Clippers will be able to compete head-to-head with the Lakers and challenge the Western Conference Champions for the title next season.

Here in Los Angeles, I am hearing statements like "contenders," and "high point totals every night," and "a lot of fun, a lot of tickets."

It looks good on paper, but how will this team mesh on the court still remains to be seen. 

Davis, Brand, Kaman, Thorton, and Cutino Mobley, Brevin Knight, or the rehabbing Sean Livingston.  Could they truly mesh and become contenders? And how about their latest draft pick, Eric Gordon?

Being guard heavy and Livingston an unknown quantity, look for the Clippers to pass on Livingston and possibly free up more cap space to insure that Brand comes back.