What will Atlanta do if Smith signs?

[corwin]

Just thought I'd enter a new topic to give us something to talk about. I've voted not match since it will totally mess up their payroll. This is also known as wishful thinking.

[51X3RF4N]

You know, you should change the title of the thread...I thought it was actually a fact like "Josh Smith is signing". Or something.

[barkley34]

I think they match unless we can move a contract 1st to up the offer to him.

[The Guilty Party]

A subject change would be good since the only reason I opened this was that I saw who authored it. I voted for "Atlanta matching" since I just can't see them screwing their fan base over yet again after all of the momentum they gained this past season.

[CPops57]

I think the Hawks would have to match basically any realistic offer for a number of reasons — PR, keeping existing players happy, ticket sales, etc.

And honestly I hope they match. Josh Smith would be a great value at 8 million and probably acceptable at 10 million, but long-term doesn't seem likely to be a good value at 13+ million, especially when you take contract increases into account.

The benefit of Atlanta matching a large deal is that it becomes much more difficult for them to match a Childress offer. To me, Childress is about as valuable as Smith would be but comes at half the price, so he'd be a more efficient use of limited resources. And then you still have enough cap room left over to make a decent run at whoever you identify that might have some upside remaining: Turiaf, Krstic, make some trade, some other big, some PG, or just hang onto that space in anticipation of some mid-season deal...

You know, you should change the title of the thread...I thought it was actually a fact like "Josh Smith is signing". Or something.

+ 1

[phiphan]

There's no question that they'll match, unfortunately.

[killbuckner]

I think the odds of them matching a max contract with a max offersheet are at best 50/50- I just don't know that the Sixers will be able to get enough caproom to make that offer.

[The Sixer Fixer]

I think the odds of them matching a max contract with a max offersheet are at best 50/50- I just don't know that the Sixers will be able to get enough caproom to make that offer.

Smith is not a max type player though. IMO he would be a very bad signing if he costs that much.

[STChaser]

I think the odds of them matching a max contract with a max offersheet are at best 50/50- I just don't know that the Sixers will be able to get enough caproom to make that offer.

Smith is not a max type player though. IMO he would be a very bad signing if he costs that much.

Smith may not be a max type player but he fills seats and that was a major concern of this franchise last season. A lineup of Lou, Iguodala, Thaddeus, Smith (backed up by Speights), and Sam will fill seats because it would constitute one of the most athletic lineups ever assembled. I'm sure sixers ownership realizes this.

STChaser

[killbuckner]

thats the nature of restricted free agency. You have to pay more than the player is worth otherwise the team will match. If smith were a legitimate max player then there would be zero chance of the sixers getting him. The only reason that they do have a chance is that they have the potential to overpay.

[The Sixer Fixer]

thats the nature of restricted free agency. You have to pay more than the player is worth otherwise the team will match. If smith were a legitimate max player then there would be zero chance of the sixers getting him. The only reason that they do have a chance is that they have the potential to overpay.

I agree, but paying "more" and paying the "max" are two totally different things to me. If Smith gets anything close to the max, this franchise will be back in cap hell in no time.

[Sixersfan87]

Any chance Ed is just using Childress as a smokescreen to drum up interest and get another GM to throw their full MLE at him? The Hawks would probably match that but it would definitely make a frontloaded contract to Josh Smith more difficult to match. It sort of reminds me of when Pat Riley was chasing Elton Brand and Lamar Odom, only he ended up with the consolation prize. I like J-Chill but he really doesn't give us much of anything we don't have at the two except height and a little more match up options.

[jmon]

Smith may not be a max type player but he fills seats and that was a major concern of this franchise last season. A lineup of Lou, Iguodala, Thaddeus, Smith (backed up by Speights), and Sam will fill seats because it would constitute one of the most athletic lineups ever assembled. I'm sure sixers ownership realizes this.

STChaser

Josh Smith isn't a legit seat seller. The team would be a gimmick and a weak one. Ultimately selling seats comes to first and foremost to expectations. He would raise expectations amongst many fans. These raised expectations would mean an increase in sales, not an enormous one, but an increase. Once expectations aren't met, the Sixers play in an older building with a team that isn't contending, so attendance will fall and that would be that.

The Sixers would then be in worse shape than before because they would be paying an 8 million dollar per year player 14 million per year. In the end, the Sixers would be left with no more flexibility and would be stuck in consistent mediocrity with ticket sales that would show their mediocrity.

I think a Josh Smith signing would be horrible personally. I think the Hawks will not match anything 12 million or more per year. The Sixers will likely be able to offer 13.5-14 million per year in a 5 year deal assuming the cap is around 58.5, as the NBAPA estimated 2 months ago.

[STChaser]

Once expectations aren't met, the Sixers play in an older building with a team that isn't contending, so attendance will fall and that would be that.

That's a huge assumption now isn't it? First off, even if we get Smith, I don't think any of us believe that we'd be instantly catapulted into the finals. Most of us realize that we still need a solid back to the basket PF (which Speights may or may not be), a backup 5 with serious size, as well as some long range snipers before we can start talking about going deep into the playoffs.

However, getting a player like Smith should propel us into the second round and I think this realistic expectation can be met. You also have to remember that people paid to see Iverson display his acrobatics for years on teams that were atrocious following our Finals run. If they were willing to fill seats to watch an undersized SG with a severe attitude problem, my bet is that they'd be more than happy to watch a hard working lineup of Lou, Iguodala, Thaddeus, Smith, and Sam run teams out of the gym on a nightly basis.

STChaser

[Cru Thik]

You know, you should change the title of the thread...I thought it was actually a fact like "Josh Smith is signing". Or something.

Yes please this is just cruel I came in all happy that we finally had good news. An all it was was a horrible DT it's bad enough we have a 70 page post of garbage that we can only post in but now this.

[JD76ers]

Atlanta will match

[jmon]

Once expectations aren't met, the Sixers play in an older building with a team that isn't contending, so attendance will fall and that would be that.

That's a huge assumption now isn't it? First off, even if we get Smith, I don't think any of us believe that we'd be instantly catapulted into the finals. Most of us realize that we still need a solid back to the basket PF (which Speights may or may not be), a backup 5 with serious size, as well as some long range snipers before we can start talking about going deep into the playoffs.

However, getting a player like Smith should propel us into the second round and I think this realistic expectation can be met. You also have to remember that people paid to see Iverson display his acrobatics for years on teams that were atrocious following our Finals run. If they were willing to fill seats to watch an undersized SG with a severe attitude problem, my bet is that they'd be more than happy to watch a hard working lineup of Lou, Iguodala, Thaddeus, Smith, and Sam run teams out of the gym on a nightly basis.

STChaser

You don't think anyone would think the Sixers to be a finals contender. If people don't think a championship is possible, they don't go to games much genius. They won't buy season tickets either...

You then state 3 needs... Josh meets 0 of them...

You then say Smith will "propel us into the second round"... care to say why? The Sixers were a top 5 defense last yea w/regards to efficiency. Is that going to improve with Smith a lot? I'll give you a hint... no it won't.

Your Iverson example is wrong as well. ROAD games sold out with crappy AI teams. Stars inflate expectations somewhat, but they normally don't affect home sales too much especially as time goes on. That is why Iverson and the Sixers couldn't sell tickets when the team was bad at home... but you will just ignore this FACT.

Fans also can watch a more "hardworking" lineup without Smith since Evans works harder than Smith on both sides of the ball.

Last year we saw the #1 running team in the NBA essentially once Thad began to start. I don't know how they are going to "run teams out of the gym" more...

[Hawks]

I think anything $75 mil and under the Hawks will match. It might affect what they do with Chill. I see them matching anything within 5 years/$30-$40 mil for Chill. We might be losing Marvin next offseason if the Hawks do not go ahead and lock him this offseason. Even if puts the team in luxury tax territory then so be it. It will only be for one year.