Brand, Davis, Maggette in New Places but Don't Improve Their Situations

After the clock struck midnight, three old faces landed in three new places and very little changed.

Baron Davis reached a verbal agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers, Corey Maggette is a Golden State Warrior, and Elton Brand, the top free agent this off-season, will be a Philadelphia 76er. 

The Clippers, in less than 24 hours, went from a legitimate playoff contender back to the drawing board.  They have a healthy amount of cap space left with the absence of Elton Brand, but great free agents to use it on.

Sure, there is Josh Smith, a long-limbed, high-flyer with no jump shot (sound familiar Clip fans? Darius Miles, maybe.).  But the Clippers would be better off packing it up this offseason and making a major move via trade or next year in free agency.

The Warriors acquired Maggette—a natural small forward.  Unless he makes the move to shooting guard, Maggette will be a high paid back up to Stephen Jackson.  If he makes it to the starting lineup, the Warriors starting five will consist of three small forwards (Maggette, Jackson, Al Harrington), a shooting guard (Monta Ellis), and a center if Andris Biedrins starts. 

The addition does not address any absence on the team unless the Warriors plan to trade one of their veterans for more complimentary pieces.

And then there were 76. 

The 76ers tipped the scales out of everyone's favor by snatching Elton Brand from the Clippers' grasp.  For an extra $20 million and the use of frequent flyer miles, Brand earned himself a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

While the Sixers are a more solid team now—at least on paper—they have not climbed up the ladder very much and will probably only move up a seed or two.  Fourth seed would give them home court advantage, but they won't beat the Boston Celtics or Detroit Pistons in a seven-game series.

The top three free agents are now on teams where they won't make much of an impact.  Davis and Maggette would have been in a better position to win if they had stayed where they were.

However, there is plenty of time left in the offseason for free agent signings and trades and each of the three teams is a piece or two away from being legitimate contenders.