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Reports: Brand to 76ers, Stewart leaving JGR

Sports Digest

July 9, 2008

The Philadelphia 76ers have apparently won the Elton Brand free-agent sweepstakes.

NBA front office sources told ESPN.com last night that Brand had informed the Sixers that he would accept a five-year deal worth an estimated $82million and spurn what was presumed to be a slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to play with Clipper-to-be Baron Davis.

The Sixers could not formally sign Brand before midnight, with today serving as the first day NBA teams can officially complete signings and trades after the lifting of a leaguewide moratorium that began July 1.

But Philadelphia has secured Brand's verbal commitment, sources said, after first reaching an agreement in principle with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a trade that, according to sources, will send forward Rodney Carney, center Calvin Booth and a future first-round pick to the Wolves without the Sixers having to take back any salary. The Associated Press reported that Philadelphia will receive a future second-round pick in return.

Sports Digest Recent columns

•More NBAThe Warriors conceded defeat in the chase for Brand by quickly moving on and reaching a verbal agreement to sign unrestricted free-agent swingman Corey Maggette away from the Clippers to a five-year contract worth around $50 million, a source told the AP. ... The Magic will sign swingman Mickael Pietrus to a multiyear deal, Florida Today reported on its Web site. Pietrus averaged 7.2 points in 66 games last season for the Warriors. ... First-round draft pick O.J. Mayo signed a multiyear contract with the Grizzlies. Memphis got the rights to Mayo, the No.3 selection, in an eight-player trade just hours after the NBA draft ended. The Grizzlies also announced the signing of Darrell Arthur, the 27th selection. ... Also signing first-round picks were the Knicks (Danilo Gallinari), Bucks (Joe Alexander), Bobcats (D.J. Augustin, Alexis Ajinca) and Kings (Jason Thompson). ... The Raptors signed guard Hassan Adams to a two-year deal.

•Auto racingTwo-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has been granted a release from the final year of his driving contract with Joe Gibbs Racing after 10 seasons with the team, sources close to Stewart told ESPN.com last night. Stewart will formally announce his departure from the team today. Tomorrow at Chicagoland Speedway, Stewart will formally announce a move to Haas/CNC Racing as co-owner and driver, sources close to Stewart said. Haas/CNC will be renamed Stewart Haas Racing in 2009. Sources told ESPN.com the deal will make Stewart the highest-paid driver in NASCAR. ... Martin Truex's bid to make the Chase for the Championship took a severe hit when NASCAR penalized his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team 150 points for bringing an illegal car to Daytona, Fla. Truex's car failed its initial inspection last week at Daytona because it failed to fit NASCAR's roof template.

•WNBATaj McWilliams-Franklin scored 12 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the host Washington Mystics rally for a 50-48 victory over the Indiana Fever.

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Reports: Brand to 76ers, Stewart leaving JGR

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