Joe Smith a Piston?
Adam
this
From NBATalk.com:
Smith saga continues - According to Everywhere: The bottom line for Joe
Smith's decision may hinge on the bottom line. Shirking playing time and
a playoff run with Miami or N.Y. or L.A., Smith now looks more
interested in securing a future payday. That became apparent Friday
during his visit to Dallas, when the Pistons became the newest players
for Smith's services. Within earshot of reporters,
free agent Smith told Mavericks assistant Sidney Moncrief he was
strongly considering the Pistons, because of his
relationship with
Coach George Irvine, who coached Smith at Golden
State in his
rookie season. Smith said he'll visit the Pistons
today to watch them
play the Sonics. Detroit can only offer a
$2.25-million exception, but
apparenty more important to Joe, Detroit will be
between $12 million
and $15 million under the cap next summer. Ditto
Atlanta and
Dallas, who remain candidates due to major cap
room coming soon
(re:payday). Ironically, Joe seems content to
settle for less cash now,
banking on a later long-term deal. Hopefully this
time, Smith will
forego getting the deal in writing. Critics say
Smith should forget about
sure things, and just earn a long-term deal
without secretly signing the
promises in blood.....For now, the mid-level
exception
($2.25) is as much as the Mavericks, Pistons,
Hawks, or any other
suitor can offer, except for Miami (with $3.9
million) and Chicago ($6
million) -- two teams Smith apparently has
crossed off his list. One
Eastern Conference GM said Saturday Smith has
little interest in any
team with more than the $2.25 million exception
-meaning Miami may
be out of the running. Coach Pat Riley said
Saturday the Heat still
has not heard back from Smith's agent. . .While
in N.Y, Knicks GM
Scott Layden acknowledged the Knicks might be
falling out of the
Joe Smith sweepstakes, since his agent had yet to
return the Knicks
phone calls. . .Of course the Indiana Pacers
still want Smith, but it
doesn't appear he wants them either. Pacers
president Donnie Walsh
said Smith won't commit to visit Indiana, which
Walsh takes to
mean Smith's not interested in the Pacer's offer
of $2.25 million and a
starting position. . .
SkippyPB
enlightened us:
I'm amazed at all of the interest in Joe Smith. Sure he's a pretty
good ball player and is probably worth the 2.25 million he can make
this year. But I'm not so sure he's worth any more than that. And
where would he fit in on the Pistons? He's a skinny 6-10 SF. His
14.5 ppg scoring average is good, but not great. He does get about 7
rebounds a game. But blocks, steals and assists are around 1 or less
than 1 a game. Field goal shooting precentage is about 45%; free
throw percentage is about 78% and 3pt percentage is about 27% although
he doesn't shoot the 3 much at all. I'm just not sure this guy is
worth all the money he's wanting. It would also mean, if we got him,
someone would have to go, probably Ceballos.
Regards,
////
(o o)
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hol
SkippyPB <swie...@neo.rr.com.nospam> wrote in message
news:FD8C71BA1B349C20.F091E936...@lp.airnews.net...
> I'm amazed at all of the interest in Joe Smith. Sure he's a pretty
> good ball player and is probably worth the 2.25 million he can make
> this year. But I'm not so sure he's worth any more than that. And
> where would he fit in on the Pistons? He's a skinny 6-10 SF. His
> 14.5 ppg scoring average is good, but not great. He does get about 7
> rebounds a game. But blocks, steals and assists are around 1 or less
> than 1 a game. Field goal shooting precentage is about 45%; free
> throw percentage is about 78% and 3pt percentage is about 27% although
> he doesn't shoot the 3 much at all. I'm just not sure this guy is
> worth all the money he's wanting. It would also mean, if we got him,
> someone would have to go, probably Ceballos.
>
> Regards,
>
Well, he'd be worth the 2.25 million and, if he doesn't play like he's worth
a new contract, let him go via free agency.
Dave