Grizzlies sign Smith to offer sheet

[SacKings7]

The Memphis Grizzlies have sent a contract offer worth $58 million to Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith today, according to multiple NBA sources.
As the only team left with significant room under the salary cap, the Griz have shifted out of a summer holding pattern and targeted the versatile 6-9, 235-pound forward.
Atlanta has seven days to match, per league rules, once Smith receives the offer sheet.
Smith's numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks last season, helping the Hawks make the playoffs.
The Hawks have said they would match any contract offer to the 22-year-old Smith, but are on the hook next season with big contracts for Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson.
Should the Griz land Smith he is expected to play power forward alongside Rudy Gay at small forward, O.J. Mayo at shooting guard and Mike Conley at point guard.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/aug/08/griz-sign-hawks-smith-offer-sheet/

Pretty sure Atlanta will match that, but a good move (finally) from the Grizzlies

 

[Dime Dropper]

Wow, I know the Hawks will match, but could you imagine if they didn't?! As stated above, a line-up 1 through 4 of Conley, Mayo, Gay and Smith? That's both extremely young and extremely talented. Definitely a step in the right direction if the Hawks don't match it.

 

[NME]

Seems like a futile move. I can't imagine the Hawks won't match. It's right about what they've always known they'd have to pay, but they were trying to lowball.

 

[FakeInjury]

not really a high enough offer...to steal him this season...bad number good move...if he realy meant that much to the griz...whats another 10 million over 5 years...with crazy encentives

 

[Yoda]

Wow, I know the Hawks will match, but could you imagine if they didn't?! As stated above, a line-up 1 through 4 of Conley, Mayo, Gay and Smith? That's both extremely young and extremely talented. Definitely a step in the right direction if the Hawks don't match it.

and everyones trendy signing last year, Darko.

 

[Sluggah]

if this is all he's expecting...i hope we're throwing ourselves into the ring

 

[VF21]

if this is all he's expecting...i hope we're throwing ourselves into the ring

With what? We don't have any room to offer anything to anybody. And no matter what we COULD offer, the Hawks would surely match it.

 

[FakeInjury]

I agree. There is no reason we can't go over the cap and increase the offer. Other than going over the cap. But seriously, he plays the 4 and we already have enough 4's. And if you think he is a SF, remember, he has no outside shot.

 

[NME]

I agree. There is no reason we can't go over the cap and increase the offer. Other than going over the cap.

Wha-huh?

 

[Bricklayer]

Uh...
a) we have no money to offer anybody -- could not offer anything more thean the MLE, and spent that on BEno

b) this is actually maybe an example of the "lowballing" restricted free agents that Childress and Krtstic were whining about. An idiotic trend that NBA teams have been adopting of late. Helped destroy the Bulls and Bucks last season. This sort of number here -- if you are the Hawks you absolutely KNOW that Josh Smith is worth that kind of money. So just ****ing pay it fools. You don't throw your employee out on the market and say, hey! Look around! Flirt with other teams! Get the best offer you can! And then we will make you come back anyway! Just duh. Its like telling your fiancee hey, go look around, see what the most expensive engagement ring is that you can convince another man to give you, and then I'll match it and we can get married! XOXO!

 

[NME]

Its like telling your fiancee hey, go look around, see what the most expensive engagement ring is that you can convince another man to give you, and then I'll match it and we can get married! XOXO!

As an aside, Josh Smith is very intriguing with his athleticism and across-the-board numbers, but it's going to be interesting to see how he develops over the next few years. It seems to me that if he's going to live up to this sort of contract, he's going to have to develop more in either his PF or SF skills. If you tell me a SF can get me 8 boards and 3 blocks, I'm sold, but unfortunately he has one of the league's worst jumpshots, poor ballhandling for the position, and I'm not sure he can defend quicker 3's. As a PF, he's inefficient offensively, a below-average rebounder, and when he's not flying in for weakside blocks can be overpowered in the post.

He's going to have to grow one way or the other, and at not even 23 and with his physical talents it may happen, provided he stays motivated after getting this deal. Still, if you're the Hawks, no choice about it, you have to hang on to him and hope he does in fact live up to his potential.

 

[AriesMar27]

they already matched the offer.... smith just wnted to be signed, knowing damn well that the hawks would match it.

 

[SacKings7]

Yup, the Hawks have officially matched the offer

 

[hrdboild]

I'm surprised Smith signed an offer sheet for only 58 million. He could have still held out, took the qualifying offer, and got a bigger contract next year. Atlanta got what they wanted here, but you have to wonder (like Brick said) if making your best players go out and negotiate their own contracts on the open market is the best way to build team loyalty.

 

[Peja]

Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies

One predominant trade rumor that's out there is a little bit anachronistic, failing to take into account the radical change of direction in the Knicks' front office. This one has Zach Randolph, who truly is on the table, going to Memphis for Darko Milicic and Marko Jaric. No, it's not that Serbs are simply unpopular in Memphis, it's that neither Darko nor Marko are likely to be huge impact players next season.

Milicic has yet to live up to the hype that comes along with being a number two overall pick. Part of that has to do with his not getting an opportunity to play early on, and part of it is he's always asked to play out of position. He's not a center, and has no idea what to do with the ball when he catches it with his back to the basket. I suppose the logic here is that Mike D'Antoni could use him like he used Amare Stoudemire - more of a catch-and-shoot type of offense. Sadly, Milicic will never be close to as good as Amare.

As for Jaric, he's a solid bench player who can drill the three, handle the ball some, and create offense. The problem is, put these two guys together and it's crazy to trade Zach Randolph for them. Randolph is 20 and 10 waiting to happen, and with the right leaders around him he could be an All-Star. It's easy to see why Memphis would do this, but the Knicks? This is no longer the all-Isiah team, with the end game seemingly just to acquire as many bad contracts and underachieving players as possible.

Don't line up for your Randolph jerseys just yet, Grizzlies fans.
http://dimemag.com/2008/08/nba-trade-rumor-zach-randolph-to-memphis-for-darko-and-marko/

 

[Peja]

This old news about Jaric and Milicic going to Knicks for Randolph are published in all serbian newspapers today and apparently Knicks want to do that because they want to make room for signing LeBron,next year I think.Can somebody explaing me how will that work since Darko and Marko both have strong contracts?!

 

[SacKings7]

This old news about Jaric and Milicic going to Knicks for Randolph are published in all serbian newspapers today and apparently Knicks want to do that because they want to make room for signing LeBron,next year I think.Can somebody explaing me how will that work since Darko and Marko both have strong contracts?!

Explanation: There is no explanation. It's the Knicks

 

[Packt]

This old news about Jaric and Milicic going to Knicks for Randolph are published in all serbian newspapers today and apparently Knicks want to do that because they want to make room for signing LeBron,next year I think.Can somebody explaing me how will that work since Darko and Marko both have strong contracts?!

They'd have to make other moves, but it's not out of the realm of possibility if they plan ahead. This trade would save them lots of money since Milicic expires the summer Lebron's option comes up.