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

Per the CA's Ronald Tillery:

The Grizz have signed restricted free agent Josh Smith to an offer sheet for $58 mill (presumably over 5 years).

Discuss.

WoW - wish I could discuss it on the new Grizz boards as well - grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Man - don't know what to say...pretty amazing news.

I'd expect the Hawks to match. But you never know with the way that the ownership has lowballed Smith. This should be an interesting 7 days.

Is it a 4 or 5 year deal?

If it's 4 years, he'd be making $14.5 million a year. If it's 5 years, he'd be making $11.6 million a year.

Coming off his rookie deal, I don't think it would be allowed under the CBA for him to get a 3 year deal worth $19.3 million a year.

However, it does make a big difference whether it''s a 4 year or 5 year deal at $58 million. I see the Hawks more inclined to match if it's a 5 year deal at under $12 million a year than a 4 year deal at close to $15 million a year.

That would be incredible for you guys, one HELLUVA core to build around.

Damn... I actually got tired of waking up everyday just to see no new news for the Grizz!!!

The one morning that I don't check, they make a huge offer!!!

I hope the deal is drastically front loaded. Anything to get ATL to not match it.

That is an impressing move, and if it pulls through everyone would probably forget the Gasol give-away that made every team except the Lakers mad

Notice that the article never says that Smith has signed an offersheet. I think this is just a writer jumping the gun without knowing how the process really works.

id say the hawks will resign him unless he asks to be let go, which there will prolly be a sign and trade where the grizz give the hawks lowry and milicic for smith, or someone else. the grizz will prolly try to give walker to the hawks, which might work since walker had a really good yr a couple yrs ago when he played with the hawks

As a Sixer fan, I hope it's a 5 year deal since I can't see Andre Iguodala keeping up his demand of 5 years for $70MIL if Smith gets only $58MIL over 5.

As a fan of the NBA, I hope it's a 4 year deal since that would certainly test Atlanta's ownership group and at least make Memphis an interesting team to watch again.

I wonder a little bit if this isn't a case of Smith's agent getting a favor from Memphis. Reports out of Atlanta have said that the Hawks only offered him $45MIL last summer and perhaps they haven't budged from that stance and told him to go find a better offer. Maybe his agent will throw Memphis a bone in the future if they offer Smith the 5 years/$58MIL offer.

That would be a great/smart signing for the Griz! The core of Conley, OJ, Gay, Smith, and others could grow together and be a force. I'm a big believer in getting players to grow at the same time and not having a current star and trying to bring up some "soon-to-be stars" at the same time. Maybe Darko or Marc Gasol could play well at the C spot and complete the lineup.

That being said; I think the Hawks would be stupid to not match such a deal.

If the Grizz can reel in Smith. The Grizz will look a lot better in terms of athleticism, entertainment, and improve in some catagories like rebounds and more pts per game. One question though, who will be the first, second, and third options of the team if ATL allows Smith to walk to the Grizz?

You guys are my 2nd favorite team, guaranteed if you guys get Josh Smith. Best of luck!

will be an exciting (athletic) young core if ATL doesn't match


best of luck

FINALLY, they woke up over at Donkey-Land and realized hey we have the whole dance floor to themselves, why wait a year and compete againist many others. Indications are that Smith has signed the offer, so it will be interesting to see what happens. We would be so lucky if the Hawks were interesting in a sign and trade and Antoine Walker could be moved, which is entirely plausible as Hawk ownership may salivate at the prospect of more than twenty million in cap space next year, with Bibby & Walker coming off the books?

The timing is very conspicous as Chris Wallace was on vacation in Greece and Italy this week so who spearheaded this move?

Here is the AJC article on it.


http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sport ... zlies.html

I doubt ATL will not match. I dont think they would be willing to lose to key players in one off season without getting anything in return. However stranger things have happened so if for whatever reason they don't match the grizzlies would suddenly matter again.

Hoopsworld is reporting the deal is a 5 yr/58 million offer. There is no indication whether it is front loaded which would be a Grizz advantage but most expect Atlanta to still match.

If this goes through and Josh Smith signs with you then you guys are going to be the best team in the league in a few years battling it out with Portland!!

Portland and Memphis is going to grow to be a HUGE rivalry just watch.

Rudy Fernandez vs Mike Conly
Brandon Roy vs OJ Mayo
Martell Webster vs Rudy Gay
LaMarcus Aldridge vs Josh Smith
Greg Oden vs Darko Milicic

Those two teams are going to dominate!

Good luck from a Miami fan!

I hope it goes through but like most everyone else I can't see Atlanta not matching. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a sign and trade. Man that would be a great young team.