Grizzlies offer big to Josh Smith

[Kingdom]

Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith has signed a five-year, $58 million offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.

Smith

Smith
The Hawks will have seven days to match the offer, which the report said came unexpectedly from the Grizzlies.

Atlanta has said it would match any offer for the 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward, despite offseason overtures from the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers, neither of which panned out.

Smith quickly took advantage of his restricted free-agent status, spending July 2 visiting the 76ers, a day after teams could start negotiations with free agents.

The 22-year-old Smith toured the city and visited the Wachovia Center with team officials.

But the 76ers opted to sign restricted free-agent Elton Brand, and the Clippers made a trade with the Denver Nuggets for Marcus Camby.

Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said shortly after the season he was committed to keeping Smith.

Smith's numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last year and helped the Hawks make the playoffs.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

In a couple of years, he will be dealt to Detroit for Kwame Brown's expiring contract.

By the way, grizzlies would have: Arthur-Smith-Gay-Mayo-Conley-Lowery to run with. Hawks would go from pushing Boston to seven games to seeing their afro-clad 6th man bail for Greece and their power foward with no ceiling vanish. Good thing they drafted Al Horford.

[DirtyKash]

By the way, grizzlies would have: Arthur-Smith-Gay-Mayo-Conley-Lowery to run with.

That would be a pretty good lineup... for an outdoor pickup game.

[DirtyKash]

The Hawks have matched the offer sheet as expected.

G - Bibby / JJ
F - Marvin / Smith
C - Horford

Not a bad (fantasy) team

[cjkalt]

Link to the match!

[Kingdom]

If they had a competent coach/front office, they could easily build off last season.
But they have neither, so it's back to living in mediocrity.

[Foster]

What does the NBA do for compensation if he did end up going to Memphis?

The NHL gives out draft picks, so Atlanta would get the 2nd round pick from Memphis. Whats the dealio with the Association.

[DirtyKash]

What does the NBA do for compensation if he did end up going to Memphis?

The NHL gives out draft picks, so Atlanta would get the 2nd round pick from Memphis. Whats the dealio with the Association.

No compensation, but they do get to keep their money to do other things!

[Kingdom]

like buying cardboard cut outs to fill the empty seats