Earlier today I presented the doom and gloom scenario. The EB signing is being held up by the possible 6th year. The Clippers are getting thrifty at the worst possible time in the worst possible way.

But let's flip that on it's ear. Let's say the hold up is something good.

What if EB the First, DTS, MDSr., EB the Second, Agent Falk really knows what he's doing here? What I'm asking is, how could this situation get better?

Step one: You make it clear what's going to happen. BD and EB are going to sign with the Clippers. You are going to lose your franchise star for nothing.
Step two: You let that painfully sink in. Let it just simmer and marinate for a few days. You let them thrash around in Free Agency and watch others pass them by.
Step three: You step back to the team losing its star and you offer to soften the blow.
Step four: You find another team that wants something else that you have. Like, for example, a 20ppg wing due a big payday and realizing he will have to play ball in order to get it.

What I am saying is, the hold up here may be because the Clippers are on the verge of something even better than we dare to imagine.

Golden State receives thier choice of Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups or Richard Hamilton.
Detroit receives Corey Maggette and Brevin Knight (salary matching purposes).
Los Angeles Clippers receive Baron Davis.

The cash here is pretty close to working. You sign Maggette to the very maximum possible without him becoming a BYC player ($8.4M to start with 10.5% raises = 5yrs/51.8M). (Yes he could go a 6th year.) This will be more than he is likely to receive as a free agent. You sign Davis to the maximum amount possible (over 12M to start) without being too much for the Clippers to take on. This will be more than he would be paid by signing with the Clippers as a free agent. Because Davis is making more than Maggette, Golden State will be able to take on any of those three contracts.

If anyone feels like this trade is particularly unreasonable for any team, feel free to concoct a similar one. Detroit is reportedly looking for a swingman. Golden State could choose between an all-star big with a large expiring contract or two proven backcourt winners with reasonable deals.

But we only care about one thing. Where would this leave the Clippers? They get their man, Baron Davis. They would retain Elton Brand's Bird rights since they are not signing any free agents. They would retain Shaun Livingston's Bird rights since they are not signing any free agents. They would retain their mid-level and bi-annual exemptions since they are not signing any free agents.

In short, they get their cake and eat it too.