BREAKING NEWS: Josh Smith Signs Offer Sheet With the Grizzlies
J-Smoov in Memphis?Good morning, Atlanta, you’re on the clock. Josh Smith has officially signed a $58 million offer sheet to go to Memphis. The 6-9 hybrid forward could turn a young lottery-bound Grizzlies bunch into a sleeper with one of the top young nucleus’ in the League. Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, and Josh Smith would be a legit center away from challenging the Tigers as the best show in town.
But let’s not get totally ahead of ourselves. The Hawks have seven days to match the deal, and their brass has made it clear throughout this prolonged process that they will match any deal for Smith. Even if they’ve got to pay Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson big time money next year, they know that they would seriously alienate their fan base if they just let Smoov walk.
Source: The Memphis Edge
August 8th, 2008 at 10:50 am
SayItAintSo says:
Crazy!
August 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
hmmm Conley,Mayo,Gay,Josh, darko nahhh…Conley,Mayo,Gay,Josh, collins?nahhh..Conley,Mayo,Gay,warrick,Josh? maybe?
August 8th, 2008 at 10:54 am
miamiVIS3 says:
It goes like this
1.Conley
2.Mayo
3.Gay
4.J-Smoove
5.Gasol
August 8th, 2008 at 10:56 am
fiyaman says:
hate to say it but i wondered y Memphis didnt do this a long time ago ..they got a pretty good team if they get him ..
the only thing is that offer looks low for him .. I was expect him to get around the $70 mil range.. I think that ATL is gonna match this and he aint going nowhere but i hope he has some opt -out clause so he doesnt have to wasye his career in ATL they dont deserve him
August 8th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Prof. TX says:
Is this just a bluff to get Atlanta to increase their offer? Who really picks Memphis when there’s another option? You know there’s no way that team is seeing the playoffs this year.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:57 am
fiyaman says:
how many yrs is the contract for?
August 8th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Austin Burton says:
I thought Josh was gonna take the one-year qualifying offer, stick it out this year and walk in 2009 (if ATL didn’t trade him before the deadline). If ATL matches he’s gotta make it work between him and Woodson.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:02 am
M.Balla says:
Dime always hatin on Spanish… ACB MVP Marc Gasol does ring you a bell?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Bruce says:
Thank Kwame Brown for this. One of the reasons — Kwame expiring contract.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Dime Magazine says:
M. Balla, you gotta prove it first boy – Marc Gasol ain’t nothing but a 7-foot dude right now.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:12 am
M.Balla says:
He’s more than a 7-foot dude. He’s the MVP of the Spanish league and he’s a World Champion. And maybe he adds some Olympic hardware to his resumé.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Young Lebron 23 says:
Idk about Marc Gasol. I don’t know if he can live up to the hype as being Pau’s lil bro. He lived under his shadow his whole career. Of course I haven’t really seen him play but he looks like a big stiff. Start Kwame Brown LOLx50
August 8th, 2008 at 11:20 am
CHEE says:
please if he ends up in memphis he gonna cry and moan in 1-2 yrs and demand a trade.
then he get to take his fat contract to a contender thru a trade therefore he gets his way.
see it happen all time.
whne a star take more money on sucky team and say he is happen. then two yrs passes and he complain and end up traded to good team w/ his big contract.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:22 am
M.Balla says:
Marc is legit. Go watch him at the Olympics. Plus, ATL should match. That’s less than Okafor/Deng/¿AI2?/¿Gordon? money, he’s the local guy and they dont have to pay Childress anymore.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:24 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Man, The Western conf just keeps getting crazier!
August 8th, 2008 at 11:25 am
shake&bake says:
They would be damn exciting to watch. They probably wouldn’t win a ton right away.
I’m not sure how this works. If the Hawks match does he have to go back to them or is it his choice? I’m assuming they’re restricted free agents because they have to go back to their original team. Am I wrong?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:25 am
rell says:
I hope this is a 4 year deal because if this is a 5 year deal this is really low. If Memphis pull this off that got a steal especially if this is a 5 year deal. Since Chris Wallace is running the show more than likely Memphis is low-balling Smith and Atlanta will just match the offer. Memphis is about 14 million under the cap so this might be a 4 year deal.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Justice says:
finally memphis makes a good move, but they still fed it up with that low ball offer they got bread why not put it out of the hawks reach? they will match 58 easy
August 8th, 2008 at 11:28 am
rell says:
@shake&bake
If ATL match he would have to go back to them.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:30 am
LakeShow84 says:
Man Rudy Gay and Jsmoove running the wings?? you can put Peewee Herman in there and hes going to get 4-5 automatic assists..
August 8th, 2008 at 11:31 am
The Jed says:
If the Grizzlies can pull this off, it actually makes the “clearing room” Gasol deal not look so bad. Atlanta has to match though right???
August 8th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Justice says:
so memphis can only make one offer? and this is what they came up with? deng got 70..how doesnt josh get at least that?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Justice says:
i think chris wallace doesnt care about winning or anything that guy just wants parity in the league so he drafts a player here, sends a player there,doesnt resign people he needs and trades away assests to keep the league balanced…hey chris we the knicks need ur help send us gay and mayo for jerome james and malik rose…throw in buckner to make the contract match and lets get going…
August 8th, 2008 at 11:37 am
shake&bake says:
Thanks Rell. If the Hawks match, can someone else offer him? Sorry, I just don’t know all the free agency rules.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:42 am
rell says:
@shake&bake
I think once Josh signed the offer sheet with Memphis, another can not make him an offer beside ATL. If Josh didn’t signed the offer sheet with Memphis, another team could have made him an offer.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Justice says:
so maybe memphis did it so he wouldnt sign with a team in the division,but who has that kinda bread out west besides them?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Lady Luck says:
Atlanta will match. Period.
Memphis should have come higher than that, but he signed it and he didn’t have to. He must’ve just wanted to get the ball rolling. Interesting question as to another team now making an offer to up the ante and basically create a bidding war. What other teams out there can offer him at least $65 million who could use Josh Smith on their team? Cavs maybe?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:55 am
rangerjohn (mccain in '08) says:
memphis might be decent? all depends on if he gets signed and if they can sign marc gasol.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Yoooo says:
Made my eyes pop out when i came to the sight. Too bad it’ll never happen. 58 mill is chump change, even for cheap a$$ ATL. It would have been interesting to watch the young talent evolve on the Grizz together though. They’d have like a micro-blazers type thing going on
August 8th, 2008 at 11:57 am
that's whats up says:
welcome to nowhere Smitty
August 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Michorizo says:
Marc Gasol is signed.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Logan Light says:
YES! Now I have a great reason to go see them!! I hope Memphis wakes up to the excitement that just happened.
DON’T MOVE THEM TO SEATTLE!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am
shake&bake says:
Thanks for the enlightenment on restricted free agency. I’m hoping Atlanta doesn’t match cause I would probably get League Pass to watch Memphis games. I’m guessing they will match unless Smoove tells them flat out that he doesn’t want to play for them. Maybe this can turn into a soap opera like Favre. Any chance this would get as much attention as Favre. JK
August 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Celts Fan says:
I didn’t read the comments really thoroughly, but did it say how many years this is for? If this is 5 years, that’s a bargain at $11.6M per and ATL almost definitely will match. If it’s only 4, then it’s a little more than I think ATL would match at $14.5M per.
IF Memphis can get him, that’s a HUGE improvement for them. They get a nucleus of Conley, OJ, Rudy, Josh, Darrell Arthur, and Marc Gasol (Spanish MVP has to count for something. Not saying he’ll be a star, but he should be a legit rotation guy at worst.) That has TONS of potential.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
GsusX says:
holy f’ing crap…. yeah i say just ride with arthur and warrick at the 5 on o and run the sh*t out of the rest of the league… and play a 2-3 zone on d and put j smoove in the middle to defend the rim
August 8th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Justice says:
if this happens i can see a lot more of mayo at the point,with gay,smoove,warrick/arthur,darko/gasol
August 8th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
GEE...Like Whoa! says:
I bet Don Nelson or D Anthony would go crazy to have a that group of core guys young like that to run all over the place. They could really turn out to be a fun team with the right coach and still have some success in the process.
Although I hope Josh will get his grown man on and work things out in Atl. I feel like he ain’t prolly looking long term Atl. wise. Granted working for a boss or coach you can’t stand does make you want to leave right away.
I am just thinking like this though. You already got a great group of dudes in Atl you working with. You have built up a nice name for yourself and the city of Atl loves you with your face on billboards and what not. Go ahead and like I said get your grown man on and find a way to play for Woodson.
Cause 9 – 10 with more in the East getting stronger, Atl. will prolly still see the playoffs but prolly be bounced first round. Then they more than likely get rid of Woodson and that 1 more year gives Atl. chance to get stronger as a team (prolly can get a decent 5).
So then Josh would find himself with a new coach, stronger squad and still the toast of the town in Atl.
I just really want dude to stay in Atl. There history revolves in losing good or great players.
I must say though he prolly can make even a stronger mark in Memphis and he would have a new coach, I don’t know if that group would see playoffs though but you never know.
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Atl. and Kobe ever hooked up. City would be even mo off the chain!
August 8th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Kobeef says:
Smoove screwed himself.
The Atlanta Constitution is reporting that this is a 5 year deal. I don’t get it. Why would Josh sign an offer sheet for $11 mill per year when Deng and Iggy are getting $13 and 14mill per year?
The Hawks have to be delighted with this offer. It is lower than expected for Josh.
That said, it will be interesting to see if they really want Josh.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Imperial-Mel says:
FUUCCCKKK!!!!! NOOOOO SMMOOOOVEEE Say it aint so!!!! Why would you do that, better off stayin in the A.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Timmy D says:
You crazy son. If we actually get smith, Darko and Gasol will be fine at the 5 for us. Darko is a highly underated defender and can play great one on one D with the best bigs is the league. And we might be signing that big ass dude from Iran so I dont think we will need to worry about the Center position.
I so hope this goes through though so I never have to hear about the Pau Gasol ever again.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Kobeef says:
Also, this confirms that Memphis is the stupidest team in the NBA.
This offer is about 20% below market value for Smith. Why even bother making an offer that has no hope of sticking?
It is too bad. On paper the Mayo, Conley, Smoove, Rudy looks really promising.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Eric says:
Josh Smith didnt screw himself. We’re talking $58 MILLION (!!!!) over 5 years. That is still an insane amount of money. We should be applauding him for being real about it instead of a spoiled athlete who wants $70 million vs $60 million.
Out of all of the coveted restricted free agents, he was the lowest pick (#17), hence had the lowest qualifying offer of the group ($3.1 million). There was no real threat that he would take it and the risk is too big to get injured and not have that guaranteed money.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
dagwaller says:
I don’t mean to pick nits, but does anyone REALLY think that the Hawks should pay Mike Bibby next year? I don’t know what the PG free agent situation is going to look like next year, but Bibby will be average at best next year.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Kobeef says:
@Dag
Do the hawks have a choice?
I thought Bibby’s contract was guaranteed next year. If they had a choice I am sure they would have opted out cause yeah – Bibb didn’t do much in the time he was with the team.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Batman says:
So the Grizzlies basically did the Hawks’ work for them right? Atlanta will probably match the offer, and they’ll keep Smith around for 5 years at probably 1-2 less million per year than he could have got, right?
August 8th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Dag, after next year, let Bibby walk. Acie Law is the future (or should be anyway since they grabbed him 11th overall.)
August 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
K Dizzle says:
Good point, Dag.
Especially with Law hopefully comin into his own and the chance to grab one of the Griz’ 4 points or even wait till the draft and luck into a Darren Collison, a Jrue Holiday,a Ty Lawson, a Stephon Curry or even a Brandon Jennings. I’d let Bibby bounce
August 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Justice says:
#46
yup wtf is chris wallace up to? i don’t get this shytt..i thought if they would have offered 70-80 mil atl would have had to back off for sure but 58?
August 8th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
doc says:
I wouldnt give Bibby no big money either.Josh played himself I think.That offer aint shit compared to what his market value is.The Hawks are just gonna match that unless they really dont want him.Thats 12 mill less than Deng.I hope this means Iggy only getting 58 mill.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
fiyaman says:
HE NEEDS A NEW AGENT IF THIS IS A 5YR DEAL
August 8th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
doc says:
Yeah Fiya his agent stinks
August 8th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
dagwaller says:
In theory, the Hawks are going to be competing for the division title and maybe getting into the second round this year and next. Should they bank on Acie Law (who, though talented, as far as I know wasn’t impressing too many people this summer) growing into their PG of the future? The alternative to that would be to draft, but if they’re starting to “win now”, that doesn’t make much sense to me. Or should they try to land a decent veteran so that they can start winning sooner?
August 8th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
rell says:
ESPN even reporting that it is a 5-year deal. Josh should not have signed the offer sheet because ATL is going to match it quickly. I not suprised that Memphis sent in a low-ball offer because Chris Wallace is running the franchise. I guess Memphis just want to put on a front like they are trying to improve team. This lowball deal do not make any sense if you are actually trying to sign a player. Man I can’t stand Chris Wallace.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Luigi says:
dude…if David Lee says he WILL NOT sign a deal with Mem. what makes u think Smooves gonna sign
but he might play there n thats scary..
Conley
Mayo
Gay
Smoove or Arthur
Gasol or darko
August 8th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
GEE...Like Whoa! says:
How bout this though. If Atl doesn’t match, lol that would be the stupidest move even more so than the Low-ball offer.
I say keep Bibby. More time with the squad and I think he will do better and even still he is a vet. Other than those reasons I just have always rooted for dude. So I am partial to a fault on this one.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
doc says:
@Luigi-Smooth signed.Atl got 7 days to match or hes a Grizzly.@Gee Yeah you can keep Bibby but not for big money.He should get the mid level.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
daquest?on says:
marc gasol sucks like i said b4 when the lakers drafted marc gasol the analyst said that he would be nowhere near as good as pau
August 8th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Diego says:
I think the Hawks will match extremely quickly, and Josh will be happy in a bit. GEE nailed things.
I loved Chill, but Evans isn’t half-bad, and the 7-footer who played for Ky. could come on (and he is an Atl guy). Also, the Hawks have the rights to one of Australia’s (or is it England’s?) best players, who may sign this year. I just wish we had snagged Lou Williams.
Smoove isn’t going to be getting chump change. Josh still has a ways to go. The Boston series was the Hawks’ only national tv exposure last year; Josh has his bad games too.
Bibby is making something like $ 14 mil. this year; then he is gone. Yes! Bibby’s not worth one-fourth that now. No way the Hawks keep him.
After 5 years, Smoove will still be a young guy and be able to easily get another $50 plus spending cabbage.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
DJ Go Go Gomez says:
Market value don’t mean shit if no teams have the money to spend. The timing of his R.FA. is determing the amount of the offer. There are just no teams other than Memphis that can make a offer like that to him. Remember there is a salary cap. And what is Smith? Like 22-23?? That means when this deal expires he’ll be entering his prime and will get another huge contract. That means he’ll make over $100 mill over his career so stop crying for the kid. And by the way this is Josh Smith we’re talking about. Josh Smith. Really…what has he done?
August 8th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
dagwaller says:
Ha, Diego being optimistic and DJ laying out the harsh reality. Nice.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
YGB (Obama 08) says:
Smoove to Memphis. What is he thinking Seriously?
August 8th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
GEE...Like Whoa! says:
Diego (Corrales?..R.I.P.)
I feel you on the Bibby thing. I don’t think he is worth THAT much. I still like dude and feel he might make a good back up and when his shot is on he is like that.
Perhaps he would make and awesome 1 2 punch with Alston in Houston.
I don’t know, just rooting for an overdog that is under now.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Y’all acting like $11 million plus a year is chump change. Who are you Bill Gates? That’s real good money. I know Deng got more and even though i think Smith is better than Deng thats just Chicago being stupid and overpaying. Sometimes thats just the way shit happens.
Also you can’t put this on his agent because at the end of the day its his signature on the offer sheet not his agents. Props to Josh for knowing his place and not being greedy.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Heavy D says:
Let’s get it straight: Deng is a 6 year deal. Memphis can only offer 5 years (there are rules). Ignoring incentives, if Deng is getting 10% raises the first 5 years of his deal are worth 55.5M. If it is a flat deal then it is 11.67M a year. Josh is getting an average of 11.6M a year and actually more over the first 5 if Deng’s deal isn’t flat. It’s the exact same ball park just a year shorter. The question is how much is front-loaded. They can offer a 17.5% signing bonus as a lump sum if they choose. That is 10.15M and if they did that, it’s the part of the deal that Atlanta might have trouble matching.
Josh Smith isn’t settling for less than the market, he’s just getting the offer elsewhere. The other big question is does he have a player option to leave after 4 years?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Lady Luck says:
Interesting commentary. It will be fun to see how this plays out. You think one day that we’ll get to actually watch contract negotiations? After all, we want ALL the details. It’s a good thing the common person isn’t scrutinized this way. Could you imagine? All of your family, neighbors, co-workers, and friends analyzing all of your decisions out in the open?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Lady Luck says:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnnXhK1tNTcjH25TfhltZwq8vLYF?slug=ap-grizzlies-smith&prov=ap&type=lgns
Well there it is. Smith is a Hawk.
Now what do they need to do? Any cap-space or exceptions left to get another player?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
I love how people are bitchin about gasol not gettin shine lol. what has he done? tons of european players have come with way better resumes then he has and sucked overseas but hes gonna be a legit 5 on memphis for sure? his brother who is better couldnt even win in memphis and a less athletic less skilled banger is gonna carry them? stop hypin euro guys and gettin ahead of ur self..spanish mvp wow, I can already start counting the jersey sales
August 9th, 2008 at 2:46 am
rkraicek says:
Bron, it’s the same thing as people hyping preps-to-pros players in the 90s and early 2000s. Same thing as people hyping Greg Oden. Oh, wow, Oden dominated big men for one year at Ohio State. That proves a TON. For all we know, Oden could end up being the next Sean May. Think a second before you post, numb nuts.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:15 am
doc says:
Oden will bust Marc Gasol ass.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:53 am
rkraicek says:
way to completely miss the point. did you go to school?