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With Elton Brand now officially a member of the Sixers, the Clippers have turned to Atlanta restricted free agent Josh Smith to replace the void and team up with Baron Davis, the L.A. Times are reporting.

Davis officially became a member of the Clippers on Wednesday when he signed a five year, $65 million pact.

Since Smith is restricted, the Atlanta Hawks have the opportunity to match any offer that the high flyer may sign with a rival team.

The Clippers have also made preliminary contact with Charlotte Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor, who is also a restricted free agent.

Why does it seem like we're jumping more on Smith than we appeared to do for Brand? Whatever, just get this guy or Okafor and let's move on.

If we offer something like 5 years $75 million I could see the Hawks balking at a $15 mil per year contract.

Thoughts?

I think if you want to have a serious chance of the Hawks not matching putting in a big signing bonus is the way to go. 5 years 75 Million with 13 million dollars as a signing bonus has a good chance of not being matched. Of course whether the Clippers ownership would actually come up with that much cash themselves is a whole different matter.

Guys, Knicks fan here, I think Josh Smith is a great player. He's such a dynamic player on both sides of the ball. He's the kind of guy who just makes things happen. If you come out of this offseason with Baron Davis and Josh Smith, I think you did a good job even with Elton going to Philly.

Whats the most that the Clippers can offer Smith?

The Clippers can offer the max- 5 years and 79 Million.

For the first time I think there is a realistic chance of Josh Smith not returning. Smith is the type of player Clippers could potentially market in LA.

Honestly, the Clips may be better off with Smith over Brand.

I mean, Smith would be perfect in an uptempo system with Baron/Thornton/Gordon. And you can develop him (he's only 22) alongside Thornton and Gordon since they are all similar ages.

Besides, who knows if Brand will actually be the same player after coming off the achilies.

KobeFarmarEra wrote:Honestly, the Clips may be better off with Smith over Brand.

I mean, Smith would be perfect in an uptempo system with Baron/Thornton/Gordon. And you can develop him (he's only 22) alongside Thornton and Gordon since they are all similar ages.

Besides, who knows if Brand will actually be the same player after coming off the achilies.

Problem is that Kaman can't adapt to the fast pace style of play (See: WC Semi's against Phoenix). That's why if we want to become a Run-'N-Gun team, and if we sign Smith, it might make sense to trade Kaman while his value is still this high. Okafor (S&T), Felton, and Morrison for Kaman and fillers makes perfect sense for the Clipps if we did want to switch up styles (not so sure if it would for the 'Cats though).

Baron/Gordon/Thornton/Smith/Okafor is a young group with leadership that could definitely adapt to the fast style of play.

I think he's great and all, but is he worth that kind of money? I think he would be a great addition, but I wouldn't pay him more than Baron. Especially because he isn't a true power forward.

corgiBear8 wrote:I think he's great and all, but is he worth that kind of money? I think he would be a great addition, but I wouldn't pay him more than Baron. Especially because he isn't a true power forward.

Actually, I've heard he's best suited for the PF position and plays the best at the PF.

I think Smith could play well with Davis, and being shuffled to PF shouldn't lessen his effectiveness.
This seems like the Clippers' best bet now.
I agree with ClipperDomination that Kaman would most probably have trouble with the pace, but Kaman has got so good that I'd hate to see him go.
There must be some way of playing small ball and working Kaman into it --- has any team set a precedent for this kind of thing, and doing it well?

cinnamon wrote:I think Smith could play well with Davis, and being shuffled to PF shouldn't lessen his effectiveness.
This seems like the Clippers' best bet now.
I agree with ClipperDomination that Kaman would most probably have trouble with the pace, but Kaman has got so good that I'd hate to see him go.
There must be some way of playing small ball and working Kaman into it --- has any team set a precedent for this kind of thing, and doing it well?

Phoenix was playing .600 ball with Shaq last season, and that was with an aging team. I'm sure Timmy would improve in this change as well. He played well in the system compared to when he joined the Clips.

We better hurry up and make an offer to start the clock ticking. Otherwise if Atlanta matches we there may not be much left on the market.

A starting line of Kaman/Smith or Okafor/Thornton/CAT or Gordon/Diddy is formidable and very athletic. Also, I disagree with the comment that Kaman wouldn't be able to keep up with a faster pace game since IMO he's a very mobile C.

Yeah I already told you this yesterday LAC fans, JSmith will be a LAC, so losing Brand was a good thing, J Smith is a superior player. They don't need Kaman to run full speed down the court they'd have plenty of antheltes for that, but no Kaman is not a mobile center.

^ Let me guess and Bynum is mobile with that bum knee?

You don't necessarily have to play at a breakneck speed to take advantage of athetic talent. The key is fluidity and schemes that are tailored to strengths; something Dunleavy is not very good at it.

DubaLakers wrote:Yeah I already told you this yesterday LAC fans, JSmith will be a LAC, so losing Brand was a good thing, J Smith is a superior player. They don't need Kaman to run full speed down the court they'd have plenty of antheltes for that, but no Kaman is not a mobile center.

Um, okay, sure...but you're a laker fan, your word carries no weight around here, so its best to just fall back and let us talk about our own franchise.

Hawks fan here. Just so you guys know, Josh Smith is a PF not a SF, so there wouldn't be much of a transition other than learning whatever offense you guys play that might keep him in the post more of the time. He spends too much time out on the perimeter shooting 3's at the end of the shotclock, but it isn't because he's good at them, or because he is playing SF. Unless he REALLY improves his outside shooting, I wouldn't try to use him as a SF.

About the Hawks matching, I hope the Hawks would match whatever the Clippers offer, and work out a sign and trade for Kamen, but I doubt you guys would be too happy about that. The Hawks front office has been saying they will match whatever it takes to keep Smith, but personally I don't think he is worth the max right now, so that's why I would want a sign and trade if someone offers him the max.

BossTweed wrote:Hawks fan here. Just so you guys know, Josh Smith is a PF not a SF, so there wouldn't be much of a transition other than learning whatever offense you guys play that might keep him in the post more of the time. He spends too much time out on the perimeter shooting 3's at the end of the shotclock, but it isn't because he's good at them, or because he is playing SF. Unless he REALLY improves his outside shooting, I wouldn't try to use him as a SF.

About the Hawks matching, I hope the Hawks would match whatever the Clippers offer, and work out a sign and trade for Kamen, but I doubt you guys would be too happy about that. The Hawks front office has been saying they will match whatever it takes to keep Smith, but personally I don't think he is worth the max right now, so that's why I would want a sign and trade if someone offers him the max.

Yeah we wouldn't like that. I don't think we'd give up Kaman, but maybe someone like Thomas + filler(Mobley?) to match salaries. Thomas doesn't fit well in our system, but he may in Atlanta since it's similar to the run n gun the Suns played.