Don't Pay Josh Smith 11 mill +?

[HMFFL]

some say Atlanta doesn't want to go above $11 million per year to sign restricted free agent Josh Smith. If that's the case, look for Smith to end up in Philadelphia.

The Sixers would love to get Elton Brand, but word is that he doesn't want to take a pay cut from the $16 million-plus he's due next season -- except to go to Miami.

So with Brand pretty much out of the question, Philly will look at Smith and Antawn Jamison. The Sixers can start either one at $11 million with 8 percent annual increases.

Smith, by the way, would fit perfectly in Philly's up-tempo, run-and-jump system. But I think Atlanta must match whatever offer he gets. If they don't re-sign him, they'll lose all the momentum they gained by taking Boston to seven games, not to mention a great budding young talent.

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[ATLfan]

Josh needs to be resigned at all costs if the ASG wants to get serious about winning.

[NDaATL]

Who is "some say"?? Everything I've heard from anyone related to the Hawks says that he is the #1 priority and will be resigned no matter what. However, our owners are the Atlanta Spirit so nothing positive can ever be assumed. I really hope this isn't true.

[evildallas]

11M per is the lowest Atlanta could have hoped to pay Josh Smith. I felt that last summer before he had a strong showing. That was the figure paid to Martin by Sacramento (5yr/55M) and it established an expectation among all the better prospects from that draft. Of those who didn't sign last year I would argue that Josh Smith did the most to establish that he was worth the money.

The way the system works is that Josh Smith will receive offers from other teams. Only a few can offer out right without a sign and trade. If he chooses to sign an offer sheet then it can be matched by Atlanta. If he doesn't sign an offer sheet he can start negotiating with Atlanta on 7/15 (he can still sign another team's offer after that).

We can't let rumors like this shake us up until he actually signs an offer sheet. Only then will I start to sweat and if they don't match unleash my ire.

[HoopsGuru25]

You have to remember the Hawks only offered $45 million when Deng and Igoudala were offered $57.5 million last year(and Okafor more than that). I would think that Josh raised his market value more than any of the restricted free agents with the exception of Ellis. I just hope the Hawks don't find a way to screw this up but it would be pretty hard(even for the ASG).

[conleyorbust]

I don't see how they could possibly let him walk, what could we get back that would match his current value, let alone his potential?

[killbuckner]

11 per year average and 11 per year as the starting salary are far different. Philly can offer 11+ million per year as the first year salary I believe.

[JoshB914]

I don't understand that article. He says that "some say" we wont go over 11 mill, but two paragraphs later he says he expects us to match any offer. So is he admitting his sources are incompetent?

[mattlanta]

I don't understand that article. He says that "some say" we wont go over 11 mill, but two paragraphs later he says he expects us to match any offer. So is he admitting his sources are incompetent?

The first one was what he's being told, and then the last paragraph posted is his opinion.

[NWO4Life]

Josh Smith will sign at 12 mil a year for 5 years ..

[raleigh]

Josh Smith will sign at 12 mil a year for 5 years ..

Philly likely won't have $12M to offer.

If I were the Hawks, I would counter a likely 5-yr., $64M offer from Philly by offering Smith a 6-yr, $70M deal with a player's option for the 5th year and team option for the 6th year.

[JoshB914]

I don't understand that article. He says that "some say" we wont go over 11 mill, but two paragraphs later he says he expects us to match any offer. So is he admitting his sources are incompetent?

The first one was what he's being told, and then the last paragraph posted is his opinion.

That's why it doesn't make sense. Why would he report something that he believes to be untrue? It's just a strange article to me. Personally, I'm not worried, I think we'll match any other offer too.

[ATLfan]

I still think Smith will be a Hawk next season and I'm not going to believe otherwise until someone else signs him.

[mattlanta]

I don't understand that article. He says that "some say" we wont go over 11 mill, but two paragraphs later he says he expects us to match any offer. So is he admitting his sources are incompetent?

The first one was what he's being told, and then the last paragraph posted is his opinion.

That's why it doesn't make sense. Why would he report something that he believes to be untrue? It's just a strange article to me. Personally, I'm not worried, I think we'll match any other offer too.

I don't get what you're not getting here... he reported what he was told by his sources. That's something journalists must always do. And then he added his opinion. That's like me saying, "I hear we're going to keep Mike Woodson. But personally, I would let go of him."

[td00]

Now, evil or mhonline, explain this to me. Say Philly or Indy or someone else gets Smoove to sign an offer sheet. At that point, isn't that what determines Smoove's contract with the Hawks? I didn't think any team would come back and offer more once they matched the outside team's offer.

Now that the ASG has put themselves in this position, I would not expect them to offer more than they had to and that might not bode well down the road with Smoove. So IMO, the contract that Smoove signs, if with the Hawks, is based on outside offers.

The same would be for Chills as well, but we might be better off if we could improve the bench by moving Chills and/or Marvin. I would not be as disappointed to see Chills move on as it would be if Smoove went elsewhere. We just need someone that can come in and shoot and defend better than what we have seen. But, Chills may be the best option available, so to know what he is worth is up in the air as well.

Does the Woody signing hurt us in getting Smoove back here next year? I am eager to hear his public comments about what he perceives his value is to the Hawks since Woody has come back.

[Sandalf42]

Sixers fan here. I know the basics about Josh Smith, but reading from your posts I can't figure out a couple things.

How good is he on defense, on ball and help?

I saw in the playoffs he air balled a lot of jump shots. Does he normally do that?

And do you think he is meant to play PF (i.e, can he guard PFs as effectively as SFs)?

Some info would be greatly appreciated. I'm sorta on the fence about the Sixers spending their cap on him, but from what I've read you guys make him sound like the real deal.

[JoshB914]

1) The opinions on his man defense vary. Sometimes he has to deal with a very tough matchup as a 4. I would say he's an above average man defender and an elite help defender.

2) He is a god awful jump shooter. Watching that shot makes me cringe every time. Sometimes he will rely on his J to score for some reason, and it's ugly.

3) I think he's a PF because of poor jump shooting. His numbers at the 4 are far superior to his production at the 3.

4) At this point, someone is going to overpay for him. Whether it's us matching an offer, or Phili using there cap space on him, he is going to get paid on his potential. Personally I think he will be a star and a DPOY candidate every year, and soon.

[evildallas]

I don't think it will be overpaying. Josh Smith has shown a dedication to get better every year. His shot will improve because of how hard he works. His midrange jumper is actually not bad, he just doesn't seem to have a grasp of his range limits or what's a good shot. In all fairness, he is often played at the SF on offense leaving him at the 3 point line with the shot clock ticking down. I'm hopeful that Woodson will finally correct that system flaw and that the presence of a PG will make it less likely that the situation occurs.

I have faith that Josh Smith will work hard enough to earn whatever salary he is signed for. I just really hope it is here in Atlanta because he is really fun to watch on both ends when he's playing PF.

[SendEm]

Josh Smith is extremely overrated. He is the definition of gimmick. The Hawks hide this guy at PF because he has no perimeter skills. But at the PF position all he does is shoot outside jumpshots which he misses and gets the highlight reel dunk all while having the opposing PF out rebound him and shoot a very high percentage. I surely hope the Sixers don't sign him. Let Atlanta overpay for this gimmick tweener. His weakside shotblocking ability is the only positive he has in his game, but playing this SF at PF results in your franchise never being a serious elite contender. His rebounding sucks at PF.

[conleyorbust]

Josh Smith is extremely overrated. He is the definition of gimmick. The Hawks hide this guy at PF because he has no perimeter skills. But at the PF position all he does is shoot outside jumpshots which he misses and gets the highlight reel dunk all while having the opposing PF out rebound him and shoot a very high percentage. I surely hope the Sixers don't sign him. Let Atlanta overpay for this gimmick tweener. His weakside shotblocking ability is the only positive he has in his game, but playing this SF at PF results in your franchise never being a serious elite contender. His rebounding sucks at PF.

Aren't you the guy that calls Iggy a less talented version of Maggette, says that Elton Brand wouldn't help teams win games because he us all numbers, thinks that Brandan Wright will be Dennis Rodman with offense, and thinks Andre Blatche is better than Josh Smith?

Anyway, he's an above average defensive rebounder at his position.

Either way, probably won't happen so just worry about getting your boy Blatche when he's out.