Truth was inconvenient for Elton Brand

Watching him cuddle up to his new friends in Philadelphia on Wednesday, the sad confusion streaming out of his mouth in short, awkward bursts, you just wanted Elton Brand to tell the truth.

The truth is, he just didn't want to be a Clipper.

The organization folks thought he liked them. He barely tolerated them.

The Clipper Nation thought he loved them. He barely noticed them.

Coach Mike Dunleavy thought Brand enjoyed playing for him. Wrong again.

Even the Hollywood hotshots thought he had become one of them. That was his best acting job yet.

The truth is, Brand probably wanted to leave from the moment the Clippers matched the Miami Heat's offer five years ago, forcing him to stay.

He wanted to play in an offense that better suited him, in an area of the country closer to his New York home, for fans that were more like his collegiate Cameron Crazies.

Heck, he had already sold his Los Angeles house and ended this season living in an apartment.

The question is, why didn't he just say this?

Why didn't he just tell the Clippers he was leaving before they went through the charade of spending millions to buy him a point guard accompaniment?

Why on earth would he tell Dunleavy he would take less money if it enabled them to sign Baron Davis?

Why would he do this to Baron Davis?

"My intention is to stay," Brand said last week.

Why did he lie?

"Right now, [opting out of his contract] it's just trying to solidify my future and work things out with the Clippers," he said.

Why did he lie?

His agent, a faded power broker named David Falk, said Brand opted out because he was just trying to, "afford the team roster flexibility."

Of course, we know why he lied.

Falk hasn't been relevant in the NBA since Michael Jordan had hair, and he is using Brand as a springboard in his attempt to return to power.