PHILADELPHIA - Elton Brand signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, instantly giving them the low post presence they need to become contenders in the Eastern Conference. The power forward's arrival represents a huge move for the Sixers, who have worked quickly to become a threat in the East.

In this Oct. 1, 2007 file photo, Los Angeles Clippers' Elton Brand fields questions during media day in Los Angeles. Brand was expected to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday July 9, 2008, and the power forward instantly gives them the low post presence they sorely needed to become contenders in the East. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

He should immediately improve the emerging Sixers with his 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game average over nine seasons.

Brand played in only eight games last season because of an Achilles' tendon injury.

Last week, Brand opted out of his contract with the Clippers, but Los Angeles was expected to make a strong push to re-sign him. Instead, he spurned the Clippers and agreed to a five-year deal with Philadelphia worth a reported $82 million.

Philadelphia targeted a big man this summer and had Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith in town last week for a visit, but he left without being presented with an offer sheet. Smith will look elsewhere, or possibly stay in Atlanta.

The 76ers were able to sign Brand to a big deal because they sent forward Rodney Carney and a future No. 1 pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a trade that cleared an additional $2 million in salary cap space.

That meant the Sixers — who entered the summer already $11 million under the cap — could offer a starting salary in the $14 million range. Brand had $16.4 million left on deal he signed in 2003.

Brand was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft out of Duke and spent two seasons with the Bulls before he was traded to the Clippers. Brand, a two-time All-Star, tried to leave Los Angeles once before as a restricted free agent. He signed an offer sheet with Miami, but returned to the Clippers once the deal was matched.

The Sixers had been pointing toward this summer ever since they traded former MVP Allen Iverson in 2006 and decided to rebuild. They started clearing contracts — notably last season's trade of Kyle Korver to Utah — to have enough cash under the cap to pursue a franchise-shifting free agent. Once Brand surprisingly spurned the Clippers, the 76ers had their man.

Brand joins a Sixers team that is no longer the lottery-bound loser it was a year ago. Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert and the blossoming Thaddeus Young turned the 76ers into a surprise playoff team, even stretching Detroit to six games in a first-round series. Coach Maurice Cheeks had his team playing hard every game and he earned an extension from president Ed Stefanski.

The Sixers got only 5.2 points out of last year's power forward, Reggie Evans.

Now, Philadelphia has made a move that shows it not only expects to make the playoffs — it can be a contender. The Sixers still need a legitimate outside shooter to fill the role vacated by Korver.

Their starting lineup now looks like this: Miller and Iguodala in the backcourt; Young, Brand and Dalembert in the frontcourt. Willie Green, Lou Williams and Evans become the top reserves.

Brand's defection is another embarrassing blow for the Clippers. Baron Davis opted out of the final season of his contract with Golden State to become a free agent and is on the verge of signing a long-term deal with Los Angeles. The Clippers planned on Brand and Davis to lead them back to the playoffs.

Instead, Davis looks to be stuck on another rebuilding Clippers roster. Brand appears to have moved on to a contender.