NBA Free Agency: Joe Smith Rejects Cavs, Signs with Hawks for Veteran Minimum
Written By: Scott | Category: Cleveland Cavaliers | Comments: 10ESPN is reporting that veteran forward Joe Smith agreed to terms with the Atlanta Hawks for the veteran minimum.
The Cavaliers reportedly offered Smith the same one-year package, but the veteran big man chose to go with what will be his 10th team in 14 seasons with the NBA. Not the greatest of news if you were hoping for Smith to return, but it is intriguing that the Cavaliers did reach out to add yet another power forward.
Could this deal now be compared to what the Cavs chose to spend on an injured Leon Powe – a player who may not contribute until late in the second half of the season? Will they continue to look this route or will Danny Ferry now shift his focus to the backcourt?
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1700 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Thank god
Yeah, heaven forbid the Cavs sign a good power forward to back up Andy. I’m sure Hickson will be great.
I guess I should have put that in all caps.
so why would he sign with atlanta?
playing time? maybe he’d get a more active role in ATL..
or he doesnt want to be in the paint with shaq during practice?
but in all seriousness.. tough loss for the cavs. i really like what joe smith brings. best of luck to him.
He signed to Atlanta because the music industry is better down there….lol..I mean he is an amazing rapper.
Who cares Joe signed with Hotlanta. We need back court help!!! Mo had a great season but can he repeat or improve? Or will he disappear like he did in the playoffs?
As much as I like Joe, this really isn’t a big deal.
We just get to see more playing time to guys we’d rather see get meaningful minutes….Jackson, Moon, Parker, Green, Jawad….
Interesting. Anm I understanding this right? First, the Cavs are going to sign a back court player who is better than or equal to Mo? And then second, we’d rather give more minutes to Jawad or Green than a player like Joe Smith?
Lots of interesting opinions out there regarding the Cavs today.
Windy tweeting that the Cavs has signed Rob Kurz. No terms disclosed, but I’d be shocked if it was for more than the minimum.
[...] long after being spurned by Joe Smith, the Cavaliers have reportedly given a non-guaranteed contract to forward Rob [...]
You guys want Hickson to get playing time or what? Joe wasn’t going to get minutes down the stretch, i.e. the playoffs because of Powe and because presumably the Cavs are going to play small a lot. It would’ve been the EC Finals all over again.