Basketball notes: After spurning Clippers, Brand lands with 76ers

Milwaukee's Bogut to sign $72.5 million extension tomorrow Elton Brand believed his career would end as an L.A. story. Forced by a contract ultimatum that Brand said he would not accept, the would-be movie mogul and two-time NBA All-Star instead opted to take his production east and see his name roll on the credits of Philadelphia's roster. Brand and the 76ers made it official yesterday on a five-year deal worth a reported $82 million, a shrewd move that promptly turned the emerging franchise into an Eastern Conference contender. "I'm prepared to do some big things this year," Brand said. For that kind of commitment, Brand should be ready. Last week, Brand opted out of his contract with the Clippers, but Los Angeles was expected to make a strong push to re-sign him. Instead, he spurned the Clippers once agent David Falk said... [read full story]