Josh Smith and/or Okafor to Clippers?

Don Draper · Post #1 » by **Don Draper** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:38 pm

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.

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

I think these are the only moves that can save the Clippers summer. If this move doesn't happen i don't see the Baron Davis signing.

theTHIEF · Post #2 » by **theTHIEF** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:40 pm

Baron + Okafor or Baron + Smith with Gordon and Jordan is a pretty solid off season really...

magicfan4life05 · Post #3 » by **magicfan4life05** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:41 pm

wow if they get both okafor and smith i think that's better than if they got brand.

theTHIEF · Post #4 » by **theTHIEF** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:44 pm

they wont land both of them though...

Post #5 » by **dockingsched** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:45 pm

they can't get both. if they're going to get either they better start offering right now.

Don Draper · Post #6 » by **Don Draper** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:45 pm

They need to land one of them big time. Id say smith because Okafor is too much like Kaman. But both would be awesome.

legacyinthemakin89c · Post #7 » by **legacyinthemakin89c** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:53 pm

I think Okafor would be a great compliment to Kaman. Kaman is an offensive stud and Okafor is a defensive stud. They both bang down low and both play with great energy.

Post #8 » by **dockingsched** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:54 pm

kaman isn't an offensive stud. 16points on 45% from a center isn't worthy of that description.

Don Draper · Post #9 » by **Don Draper** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:56 pm

When did Kaman become an offensive stud?

lukeridenour · Post #10 » by **lukeridenour** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:07 pm

smith might fit better cause they have a small quick line up outside of kaman. okafor would slow down their offense.

Malinhion · Post #11 » by **Malinhion** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:14 pm

Don't Smith's strengths seem to overlap with Thaddeus Young?

Captain_Morgan · Post #12 » by **Captain_Morgan** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:18 pm

obinna wrote:When did Kaman become an offensive stud?

Since the day he was converted to Christianity.

Don Draper · Post #13 » by **Don Draper** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:23 pm

Malinhion wrote:Don't Smith's strengths seem to overlap with Thaddeus Young?

Except Thaddeus Young doesn't play for the Clippers

Prophet_C · Post #14 » by **Prophet_C** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:26 pm

Malinhion wrote:Don't Smith's strengths seem to overlap with Thaddeus Young?

He's in PHILA.

If I were the Clips I would try to sign Smith asap

Post #15 » by **5DOM** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:29 pm

i think he meant al thorton

kdot99 · Post #16 » by **kdot99** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:22 pm

Thornton is a born scorer. Josh is a meh...scorer. I think Okafor and Kaman will pretty decent. That would be pretty funny if the Clips stole Okafor from the Bobcats...then the Bobcats would have to make a move and try to get AI2 from Philly. lol @ how Brand screwed over multiple teams.

Storm Surge · Post #17 » by **Storm Surge** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:25 pm

don't see smith or okafor wanting to move West where the competition is tougher, and it's still the Clippers.

The only thing the Clippers have going for them is that it's LA and SoCal, a premiere destination.

Collie · Post #18 » by **Collie** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:45 pm

PapooseKN wrote:Thornton is a born scorer. Josh is a meh...scorer. I think Okafor and Kaman will pretty decent. That would be pretty funny if the Clips stole Okafor from the Bobcats...then the Bobcats would have to make a move and try to get AI2 from Philly. lol @ how Brand screwed over multiple teams.

That would be the best NBA offseason ever

Raptorian · Post #19 » by **Raptorian** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:49 pm

That would be huge if they could somehow get both. The clippers would be a strong team. I could see Okafor leaving charlotte and Smith leaving Atlanta. Both teams have been pretty bad for years and don't seem to have very good management in place (i know... clippers are horrible in that department as well).

Is there any talk/rumors about the other key restricted free agents? Gordon, Deng and Iggy have all not signed and all turned down ~ $10 million/yr extensions last year. This could open the door for the Clippers to make a bigger offer.

Post #20 » by **TheCage4** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 6:22 pm

If I were Smith I wouldn't want to leave Atlanta. That is his hometown and the Hawks seemed to have turned the corner. However, Okafor, should look elsewhere. MJ & Larry Brown together is a recipe for disaster, and after drafting Augustin and Ajinca I can't say things are looking up.

Okafor on the Clippers with Davis, Thornton, Gordon, and Kaman is a solid starting 5.