NBA: Mavs claim Elton Brand off amnesty waivers

The Dallas Mavericks claimed power forward Elton Brand off amnesty waivers, after the Philadelphia 76ers waived the 33-year-old big man, adding him to their revamped front court. According to multiple sources, the 2010-11 NBA champions secured Brand's services with a winning bid of $2.1 million, which means that the 76ers will have to pay the difference of the $18.1 million salary he was owed. The move is the latest in a roster revamp for the Mavericks, after they lost out on free agent point guards Deron Williams and Steve Nash. Earlier in the week, the team signed All-Star center Chris Kaman to a one-year deal, and then swung a trade with the Indiana Pacers, acquiring Darren Collison and Danhtay Jones for a Ian Mahinmi. The 76ers had used their one-shot amnesty clause on Brand earlier in the week, a provision in the league's collective bargaining agreement that allows a team to remove a player from their salary cap without luxury tax provisions, though they still have to pay the remainder of their salary. A player released in this way enters a special waiver wire process that only teams under the salary cap can participate in. Such teams can enter a bid for the player's services, with the highest bid winning out, and that amount being subtracted from the salary to be paid for by the team that used the amnesty clause. Philadelphia had let go of the veteran power forward in order to free up cap space. They were then able to re-sign center Spencer Hawes, swing a trade for Golden State Warriors shooter Dorell Wright, and ink free agents Nick Young and Kwame Brown. Brand averaged 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks last season with Philly. Interestingly enough, Kaman and Brand were teammates before with the Los Angeles Clippers, and were part of the last Clippers squad that went to the playoffs, prior to the current Chris Paul-Blake Griffin era. - AMD, GMA News