Worth reading, I guess. My own thoughts on both Kaman/Germany and Brand/Warriors are well documented. To worry about injury is misguided - why would we want Al Thornton to play in Summer League in Vegas, but not want Kaman to play in the Olympics? Where is the Plaschke column berating Kobe for playing this summer? If it's about nationalism, then be honest and make it about nationalism. If it's about injury-avoidance, then listen to Kaman himself - Elton Brand missed all of last season due to an injury he suffered working out. We can wrap these guys in bubble-wrap over the summer, or we can have them work out and play basketball. I think the answer is fairly obvious.

As for Brand, Plaschke delivered this same message in a video last week. He's right, Elton would not be who we think he is were he to take the money and leave for the Warriors. But he's not going to. Nor is trying to shame him into 'honoring his word' the right approach in my opinion. Elton will be a Clipper for the foreseeable future, no thanks to Bill Plaschke.