Baron Davis News

"Waiting at the podium, in a crisp black suit, white canvas tennis shoes and with a beaming, bright smile was two-time All-Star point guard Baron Davis, a Los Angeles native, introduced as the newest Clipper at a news conference Thursday afternoon at Staples Center."

"The Warriors' wall of silence shattered Wednesday with Chris Mullin saying he was neither blindsided nor bitter about Baron Davis' swift defection to the Clippers. Rather, the Warriors' vice president characterized the breakup between Golden State and its former franchise player as simply inevitable. "It was really just time for a change, and that's what happened," Mullin said by phone from New York. "You forget, we've been talking for a while about different scenarios, everything under the sun. "By the time that (opt-out) happened, I think he was set on going, and we were set on going in a different direction as well. Baron was with us for 3 1/2 years. It didn't all happen in one ..."

"Point guard Baron Davis signed his five-year, $65-million contract with the Clippers on Wednesday night, the same day the Philadelphia 76ers officially announced their union with Elton Brand. Davis, a two-time All-Star, gives the team what it needed heading into the off-season, a proven point guard. Now, they turn to fill the void left by Brand at power forward. To that end, Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy went to dinner with Atlanta Hawks restricted free-agent forward Josh Smith and Brian Dyke, one of his agents."

"Baron Davis is at the altar, ready to cement his marriage to the Clippers. He's just waiting for Elton Brand to join him. In his first public comments concerning his soon-to-be-team, Davis said Thursday it was "time to come home." He agreed to join the Clippers, he said, in part because of the lure of playing alongside an All-Star in Brand, who became a free agent when he opted out of his Clippers contract Monday."

"Admit it, you thought the shaken owner would crumble.You thought Donald Sterling would look around the smoking remains of his once-lavish Clippers team -- two best players leaving, coach steaming, star guard limping -- and he would quit. No more money. No more effort. No more Mr. Rich Guy.Admit it, you thought that this summer, the Clippers were going back to Square One.Instead, on the most glorious July Tuesday in franchise history, they have leaped to Seed Seven.Baron Davis? Are you kidding me?One of the toughest point guards in a point-guard league, bought for $65 million by a team desperately in need of a point guard?One of the coolest Los Angeles kids, with connections from ..."

"In a move that shakes the landscape of an already deep Western Conference, the Clippers reached agreement on a contract with All-Star point guard Baron Davis on Tuesday, according to Davis' agent.The deal is expected to be signed for five years and $65 million once the NBA's moratorium period ends next week."

"Baron Davis is coming home. Davis has agreed in principle to a deal with the Clippers, a source within the organization confirmed. Davis surprisingly opted out of his contract with Golden State on Monday, even though he had one year remaining on his contract worth $17.8 million. Davis was in San Francisco on Tuesday for the premier of "Made in America," a documentary he produced on gang life in Los Angeles. Speaking to reporters, he didn't exactly confirm the report that he agreed to a deal with the Clippers, but made it known he'll be back in Los Angeles."

"Baron Davis has made a career of disrupting defenses with a rare combination of quickness, guile and brute force. He just unleashed the same arsenal on the free-agent market. Davis shocked the Golden State Warriors on Monday by opting out of his contract. He then sent tremors through the league by agreeing to join the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Multiple news media outlets reported that Davis was prepared to sign a five-year contract worth about $65 million. No deals can be consummated or announced until July 9, when the league's annual moratorium on trades and signings ends. But Davis's agent, Todd Ramasar, told The Los Angeles Times that a deal had been reached."

"Baron Davis' agent, Todd Ramasar, told The Times that they have a verbal agreement to sign with the Clippers. Davis is expected to sign a contract in the five-year, $50-million range. "From a basketball standpoint it's always been about winning for Baron," Ramasar said. "This presented a good opportunity to do that to pair him with Chris Kaman and Elton Brand is expected back." The Clippers can't announce any deals until July 9 when next year's salary cap is determined."

"What promised to be a tumultuous offseason for the Warriors was kicked into overdrive Monday when point guard Baron Davis left $17.8 million on the table and opted out of the final year of his contract, becoming an unrestricted free agent and throwing Golden State's immediate plans into confusion. Davis has maintained for months that he wants to remain a Warrior and was telling members of the organization last week that he would not opt out, but with mere hours to spare the man most responsible for breaking Golden State's 12-season playoff drought reversed course dramatically. "I'm surprised, because 17 million is a lot of money for a year of basketball, but that's his ..."

"The temptation to curse Baron Davis' name and burn his agent in effigy may feel overwhelming, but they made the most rational move possible Monday night. As a business decision, and as basketball insurance, opting out of the last year of his Warriors' contract was an uncontested layup for Davis. Although he can't expect to make the $17.8 million that the Warriors owed him next season, he will make up for it with long-term security. At the very least, Davis can expect to get a three-year deal as a free agent, and given the precarious state of his knees, he would have needed a gambler's heart to stick with what he had. Remember, there was only a very limited pretense about Davis' ..."

"It's time for Baron Davis and the Warriors to call each other's bluff. Golden State's franchise point guard shocked his coaches and teammates by exercising his early-termination clause Monday night, forgoing the final year and $17.8 million left on his contract. As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, Davis was an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with whomever he wants. It's a surprising turn of events that ranks as both a power move and a huge risk for Davis, who is essentially forcing the Warriors back to the negotiating table after failing to secure a long-term extension."

"As the hours tick down to a draft that will start the ball rolling on the Warriors' potentially franchise-changing offseason, they can be sure of one thing: Star point guard Baron Davis will remain under contract for 2008-09. But that doesn't guarantee he'll be wearing a Golden State uniform when the season begins. A team source said that Davis has told teammates he will not exercise the opt-out provision in his contract before its June 30 expiration date, meaning that he will play out the final year of the deal at a salary of $17.8 million...It's possible that Davis, who wants to stay in the Bay Area but was disappointed with the lowball offers from the Warriors, will ask to be dealt. ..."

"The Warriors can count on having Baron Davis under contract when free agency begins next week. Todd Ramasar, Davis' agent, said Tuesday that he doesn't expect his client to opt out of his contract before Monday's deadline. "It doesn't seem likely," Ramasar said. "The market could change anytime, but it's unlikely." The decision makes financial sense for Davis, who is due $17.8 million next season, an amount he would not be able to recoup as a free agent. But combined with stalled talks for a contract extension, it also casts his long-term future with the Warriors in doubt."

"It's barely June, and already Baron Davis has had a lousy summer. First, he watched from the bench as the Warriors' bid for a postseason berth crapped out in Phoenix. Then his agent failed to interest the team in a contract extension. Sure, Davis has spent some quality hangin' time recently with Adam Sandler, and there's no doubt he'll wind up courtside during at least one NBA Finals game in the coming fortnight. But then Don Nelson returned from his Maui holiday with three proclamations:"

"There is little doubt that the Knicks will shop for a point guard this summer, but at least one has come shopping for them. According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the Warriors' Baron Davis has made inquiries into the interest of certain teams around the league, including the Knicks... According to the source, his representation, after a preliminary discussion with the Warriors, has put out feelers to gauge the interest of teams in need of an upgrade at point guard."