The Warriors strike back

Money talks they say....

• The Golden State Warriors are making their best effort to disrupt the plans of the LA Clippers. One day after it was announced that the Clippers had reached a five-year $65m agreement with ex-Warrior Baron Davis, it's being reported that Golden State has countered that deal by offering un-contracted Clipper Elton Brand a five-year deal worth around $90m. Brand and Davis are close friends who together share a movie making business and you figure that they were planning on playing together, but this monster offer to Brand might just scuttle things. This one probably has a few more twists and turns to play out as the Warriors apparently have offered Gilbert Arenas a $100m contract.
• Restricted free agent and much sort after F Josh Smith met with officials from the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in Philly. Smith is an Atlanta-area native and he was a key reason behind the Hawks making their first playoff appearance in five years this season, but he has clashed with Atlanta's coaching staff and management in the past. Atlanta still hold the key in any negotiations though as they have the right to match any offer Smith receives, but they could choose to let him walk as they are already in deep with large contracts to Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby and they want to keep swingman Josh Childress.
• A sad day for Seattle Supersonics fans. After 41 years, the Sonics are done with the city of Seattle and are moving to Oklahoma. I doubt it will be too long before we see another NBA team in the city, but for now, it's all over. It's amazing that the bickering over who was going to pay for either a new stadium or renovating the old one has caused the end of the Sonics.
• In some unremarkable news, Desagana Diop has verbally agreed to return to the Dallas Mavericks in a five-year deal worth about $6m a season. $6m ! A season ! Five seasons ! I wonder if Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will now also try to swing a deal with the Nets and offer Jason Kidd for Devin Harris !

There will be more updates throughout the day