Any chance?

[BBS]

   With Posey gone, and this report that Josh Smith not wanting to resign with Atlanta if the coach is gonna be there. Could the C's make a offer for him at full mid-level for say 5 or 6 years? Now would he take it and would Atlanta match is another story. I know he is worth way more but a chance to win a ring might sway him to sign with Boston.

[wdleehi]

I am going to say, no.


Either he signs with Atlanta, is signed and traded or he plays for the qualifying offer and becomes a FA next year. 

[Emperor Young]

we'd have to clear up more salary to make this deal.. but i'm sure he'd play here if money is right.

[Jon]

Plus, if he's restricted, it ultimately doesn't matter what he wants. 

[Roy Hobbs]

Smith reportedly wants between $11 and $13 million per season.

Even if he agreed to take the MLE, Atlanta would match that deal in an absolute heartbeat. 

[crownsy]

we'd have to clear up more salary to make this deal.. but i'm sure he'd play here if money is right.

only way i can see it is if no one makes him a better offer than the MLE (unlikely) and we make him like a full MLE deal set to expire in 2010,  so that he can earn a ridiculous long term contract from one of the teams that strikes out on the main FA's (wade/lebron/Dirk ect)

would take alot of things happening, no other Offers higher than the MLE for him, Hawks not matching, and him getting over what appeared to be some real anger at the celtics in the playoffs.

a huge longshot, but hey, sometimes they come through

[BBS]

How qickly you get answers around here. thanks fellas

[indeedproceed]

Remember also that whether or not a player wants their former team to match an offer while they are a restricted FA has nothing to do with whether the team matches. Elton Brand wanted LA to let him bolt for miami a few year ago and the clips matched.

[blackbird]

Plus, I think we're set at the starting power forward.

[libermaniac]

I know he is worth way more but a chance to win a ring might sway him to sign with Boston.

People overestimate this "chance to win a ring thing."  The only players that will come to boston for cheap for a chance to win a ring are:

1. Old guys who have already made their money (like Gary Payton with the Lakers, or PJ Brown, or Cassell)
2. Role players who feel undervalued and want to pull a Posey (e.g. sign a 1 year, below market contract, so that they can get noticed on a national stage and parlay that into a big payday).

An emerging star like Josh Smith is at the point in his career where he is going to sign the biggest contract of his life.  No way, in a million years, he'd accept the MLE (which, as many have posted) wouldn't matter because ATL would match that in a millisecond.

[ChampKind]

There's no way.  Smith's biggest concern coming off his rookie contract is getting paid.  He won't get hungry for a ring until he hits his 30s.

[sk7326]

Smith would get matched.  I disagree with the "he is not a championship player".  He is learning, but his talent is so immense.  He seems like a good guy with some maturity hiccups, nothing that being on a veteran squad wouldn't fix.  And if they signed him to a 5 year deal, he'd be 27 years old coming out of it.  Almost none of the backside risk of a Posey contract.  What he could do over the next 5 years is staggering. 

But Atlanta would match -- they'd have to. 

[indeedproceed]

There's no way.  Smith's biggest concern coming off his rookie contract is getting paid.  He won't get hungry for a ring until he hits his 30s.

Ha, and loses his athleticism.