Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy is not showing any visible concern that his two top players, forward Elton Brand and swingman Corey Maggette, can opt out of the final year of their respective contracts this month.
Although Maggette continues to work out at least five days a week at the Clippers’ interim Spectrum South practice site, he has not budged off his declaration made last fall that he intended to opt out.
Brand, however, has not publically stated what his intentions are but said recently that a decision would be made fairly soon. He, too, has been working out regularly at Spectrum South.
As for Dunleavy, he believes that although Maggette certainly will opt out, that the Clippers would be able to sign him to a new multi-year deal. Maggette is due to be paid $7 million in 2008-2009.
Dunleavy said Monday that he does not know whether Brand will opt out but the Clippers’ coach is confident that Brand also will be in a Clippers’ uniform next season. Brand is due to make $16,440,000 in 2008-2009.
Dunleavy believes that because a number of teams have very little, if any cap space to work with, that the option for potential free agents are limited this summer. Next year, however, potentially could be a much more lucrative free-agent market.
“There’s not a lot of teams with money out there and guys are going to find that out,” Dunleavy said. “There are going to be a lot of guys not happy with what they’re going to be offered.”
