Clippers deserve better than what Elton Brand and Chris Kaman are giving

Typically for the Clippers, at the end of what should have been a gorgeous summer week, we have been left with two gloomy thoughts.

Elton Brand as a Golden State Warrior.

Chris Kaman as a German.

The poor Sterlings just can't seem to get any Gluck, their best player threatening to walk away from his reputation while their most promising player takes complete leave of his senses.

"It's always something," said Coach Mike Dunleavy.

In this case, two somethings, both of which should be nothings.

Brand should not sign with the Golden State Warriors, not even for $20 million more than the Clippers' offer, not if he is true to his image and his word.

Kaman should not play for the German national team, even though his grandparents were German, because stronger loyalties should lie with his health and his $52-million Clippers contract.

After the celebrated agreement with Baron Davis, neither of these things should even be an issue.

Shouldn't the rest of the fellas be excited about the arrival of a star?

Isn't this how the Boston Celtics just won a championship?

What happened with the Clippers last week is like Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett showing up in Boston last summer . . . at which point, Paul Pierce threatens to leave for more money, while Kendrick Perkins announces he's going to play overseas for a country to which he has only a remote association.

This is not how titles are built.

Let's start with Kaman, one of my favorite athletes in any sport, a great guy who works hard, walks straight and is coming off a career-best season though he played a career-low 56 games.

No, he has never been to Germany other than changing planes there. And no, he doesn't speak any more than about two words of the language.

But last year when a writer told him he could play for Germany, he became interested. Then, after a barrage of phone calls from Dirk Nowitzki, he became hooked.

"At first it was a joke, but when I realized I had a chance to be in the Olympics while getting ready for next season, why not?" he said in a phone interview from his parents' Michigan home. "I've always started the NBA season slow. Playing competitive basketball will change that."

The Clippers worry, however, that competitive will become caustic and Kaman will get hurt.

Remember, he sat out 26 of the team's last 43 games last season because of lower back and ankle problems, the worst injury stretch of his career.

And, remember, Kaman is in the second-year of a $52.5-million contract that should inspire his full attention.