Atlanta to match offers for Childress (and Smith)

by VWolf on Jul 1, 2008 12:34 PM CDT Comment 11 comments

The Hawks plan to match any offers Josh Smith and Josh Childress receive this month, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Smith and Childress are restricted free agents, but the team claims that they want to retain both players.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53311/20080701/hawks_plan_to_match_offers_for_smith_childress/

This is not good news. I think the Spurs should offer the full MLE (~5.8 million per year) anyway to force them to back up their words. How many athletic and long small forwards does one team need? They have 4 of them. Throw the Spurs a fricken bone.

Childress would bring much more than J.R. Smith, who would likely spend most of his time in Pop's doghouse. If we can't get Childress, then I hope we look to Azubuike or Pietrus (on the cheap). If we can't get a decent wing in free agency it will make the Hill acquisition all the more puzzling. There were at least 3 guys still on the board (Greene, Giddens, and CDR) who could have helped the Spurs on the wing.

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crap...

by vy til i die on Jul 1, 2008 1:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We have a better chance of landing J.R. than Josh and Childress

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Jul 1, 2008 3:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree. We have zero shot at Josh, and unfortunately Childress is now an extreme longshot.

by VWolf on Jul 1, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Landing JR wouldn’t be the death knell some of you all are thinking he would be. Obviously he will make some mistakes, but he oozes potential and it this point you know what you are going to get from guys like Finley and Barry. This team desparately needs a boost of athleticism and regardless of what Pop is saying publicly about not worrying about his team’s age, he is acutely aware of this. JR has never played with a team like the Spurs and if he has some better leaders to follow(which the Spurs have), I think he’ll be in a position to prosper. Granted signing one individual player won’t guarantee success, but this offseason the Spurs have to take some risks.

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on Jul 1, 2008 3:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think it would be a death knell, just that he will initially hurt the team with his poor passing and defense, which will lead to him spending extending periods on the bench. He might come around, but I doubt it is going to happen in year 1. I see it as a gamble that might pay off in 2 or 3 years. At this point in Duncan’s career, I’d rather the Spurs targeted young players who fit well into the system rather than taking the chance that J.R. will grow into it.

If we sign J.R. Smith, don’t be surprised if next February, fans are angrily wondering why he never gets any playing time.

by VWolf on Jul 1, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One thing you are not considering is that if JR Smith were to sign with the Spurs, that would be a signal that he realizes he needs to grow up and get with the program. It’s no secret in the league what kind of operation the Spurs run; if he came on board, that would mean that a) he wants the discipline the Spurs would bring and b) Pop believes that JR is capable of submitting to his team concept.

Another thing to consider is that JR Smith is only like 22 years old; he’s still an impressionable youngster. He’s been in the league awhile, so you think he’s older, but really he’s like a college senior.

Besides, you comment that you’d like the Spurs to target “young players who fit well into the system.” Such as…? Robert Horry circa 1995?

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jul 1, 2008 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Robert Horry? Have you read any of my other posts?

by VWolf on Jul 1, 2008 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was joking… but Robert Horry was pretty freaking awesome in 1995.

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jul 2, 2008 6:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ALSO....

dont forget Baron Davis’ opt out. That could have some effect on how the warriors approach the contracts of their other players. We could be in for a rocky offseason. I say we make a play for the newly disgruntled Artest. We need to cut loose some dead weight, and the Kings would love expiring contracts. I say we work some sign and trades…

by scrappy-doo on Jul 1, 2008 6:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs