Clippers expected to pursue Josh Smith

GuyverX · Post #1 » by **GuyverX** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:38 am

The Clippers, sources said, expected to respond to the departures of Brand and Maggette by making a hard run at Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith, who was Philadelphia's No. 2 target behind Brand. If the Clippers elect to sign Smith to an offer sheet, Atlanta would have seven days to match.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3479117

Well, at least they'd be doing something after the Brand fiasco.

NYCF · Post #2 » by **NYCF** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:49 am

Smith is an exciting young player (especially as a shot blocker) but he nowhere near being in the same class as Brand. I'd hate to see the FO morons panic and sign Smith for way, way, way too much money but I won't be shocked when they do. Mobley redux.

JJ LoDuca · Post #3 » by **JJ LoDuca** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:55 am

Better an overpaid Josh Smith than Tim Thomas.

Post #4 » by **rsavaj** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:05 am

Smith is going to be a great player.

StaticFlow · Post #5 » by **StaticFlow** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:12 am

Is it too late to try to bring Sofo over? We have nothing else to lose at this point by giving him a chance.

Tucker74 · Post #6 » by **Tucker74** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:13 am

If we won"t even overpay for our own all-star PF, how the heck are we going to land Smith?

GuyverX · Post #7 » by **GuyverX** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:14 am

Tucker74 wrote:If we won"t even overpay for our own all-star PF, how the heck are we going to land Smith?

Desperation? Can you hear all of those phone calls the Clippers reps are going to get when their season ticket holders realize Brand isn't a Clipper anymore?

eastsidecrossover · Post #8 » by **eastsidecrossover** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:26 am

I think they make a reach and throw big money at smith. I think he is going to be a nice player, but no way in the same league as Brand. He may be lucky to make an all-star game, but there are too many bigs that are far better than him, and ever will be. Sucks for you guys. I had your team at least the 4th best in the west. Its cavemans show now down low now.

cgf · Post #9 » by **cgf** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:35 am

Smith would be a great addition to go with b-diddy's preference for an up tempo game style.

Tucker74 · Post #10 » by **Tucker74** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:46 am

GuyverX wrote:
Tucker74 wrote:If we won"t even overpay for our own all-star PF, how the heck are we going to land Smith?

Desperation? Can you hear all of those phone calls the Clippers reps are going to get when their season ticket holders realize Brand isn't a Clipper anymore?

I'm sure it went throught their minds when they first got wind of the Sixers offer and they didn't clear the cap space to up Elton's deal so why would they for Smith? They'll offer him what they offered Elton but that probably won't be enough to pry him away from Altanta.

Post #11 » by **mkwest** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:34 am

Clippers to meet with Smith on Wednesday

The Clippers, meanwhile, are expected to meet face-to-face as early as Wednesday with Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith, who was already in Los Angeles as of Tuesday. It's believed that a hard run at Smith and another restricted free agent -- Charlotte Bobcats center Emeka Okafor -- are at the top of L.A.'s priority list as it seeks to fill the holes created by the departures of Brand and Maggette. If the Clippers wind up signing Smith or Okafor to an offer sheet, as with Turiaf, their respective teams would have seven days to match.

ESPN

GuyverX · Post #12 » by **GuyverX** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:38 am

Well, if the Hawks are going to match his offer sheet, they're going to have to dig deep because we have some major cap room for Smithy.

It's crazy...I don't even like Josh Smith that much but it just feels like damage control after being struck by a natural disaster.

ClipperDomination · Post #13 » by **ClipperDomination** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:38 am

Smith or Okafor won't do.

Smith and Okafor would do, but that's a pipedream.

mj_shoefanatic · Post #14 » by **mj_shoefanatic** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:48 am

We better do something FAST!

MikeRice · Post #15 » by **MikeRice** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:56 am

GuyverX wrote:Well, if the Hawks are going to match his offer sheet, they're going to have to dig deep because we have some major cap room for Smithy.

It's crazy...I don't even like Josh Smith that much but it just feels like damage control after being struck by a natural disaster.

What kind of cap room? If you were only able to offer the face of the franchise 5 years 70 million could/would you be able to find more money for Josh Smith? I think all of us in Atlanta were really afraid that Smith would get the 85 million dollar treatment from the Sixers. The Hawks would readily match a 70 million dollar deal I would think.

I'm not trying to put down the Clippers, I'm just inquiring as to y'alls financial flexibility. What kind of figures do you see the Clippers offering Josh Smith? Best of luck, y'all got screwed.

Post #16 » by **rsavaj** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:02 pm

I think a Baron/Mobley/Thornton/Smith/Kaman lineup would be competitive. Smith is still young, so he' has a lot of room to grow which is scary.

Purpose · Post #17 » by **Purpose** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:26 pm

MikeRice wrote:
GuyverX wrote:Well, if the Hawks are going to match his offer sheet, they're going to have to dig deep because we have some major cap room for Smithy.

It's crazy...I don't even like Josh Smith that much but it just feels like damage control after being struck by a natural disaster.

What kind of cap room? If you were only able to offer the face of the franchise 5 years 70 million could/would you be able to find more money for Josh Smith? I think all of us in Atlanta were really afraid that Smith would get the 85 million dollar treatment from the Sixers. The Hawks would readily match a 70 million dollar deal I would think.

I'm not trying to put down the Clippers, I'm just inquiring as to y'alls financial flexibility. What kind of figures do you see the Clippers offering Josh Smith? Best of luck, y'all got screwed.

after the smoked cleared, they offered Brand 1 mill less than the 6ers. 5 year @ 81 mill.

captain_cheapseats · Post #18 » by **captain_cheapseats** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:32 pm

eastsidecrossover wrote:I think they make a reach and throw big money at smith. I think he is going to be a nice player, but no way in the same league as Brand. He may be lucky to make an all-star game, but there are too many bigs that are far better than him, and ever will be.

Wait, are we talking about the same Smith? The one I'm thinking of is only 23 years old, has gotten better every season he's been in the NBA thus far and shows no signs of leveling off.

Post #19 » by **loflin3hree5ive** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:42 pm

Smith and Davis on the floor together would be a little too out of control for Dunleavy IMO. I prefer Okafor because he's a smart, disciplined and will mesh well with Dunleavy. Besides, we already have Thornton who'se game is very similar to Smith's.

td00 · Post #20 » by **td00** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:55 pm

Josh 'Smoove' Smith, born 12/05/85, is on the Clippers radar and I predicted he would get a 5/70 offer minimum. I would think with this scenario that the Clippers are thinking along these lines. That is a lot for the Hawks to match to keep him in Atlanta.

There's no guarantee that the ownership group of the Hawks matches that offer...that is a lot of money and close to Brand type numbers for a non all-star.....I would think Okafor could get that and maybe more.