So much is said about respecting a player. We saw what happened to the clips with Brand when he (or his agent?) felt they showed no respect with their original contract offer.
Now we have Josh Smith. Potentially the best player to step on the court at any given time. Consistancey is a real concern but thats why you have Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby right? Those guys will give you same same every night. Josh will win the game though. And he could go off against any team, no matter how much higher they are ranked.
He is 22.
20-frickin-2.
So when he had a chance to be wooed by other teams, why wouldn't you make an offer straight away for the player who you've invested 4 years on already?
Put it to bed straight away, send him a message that he is important to your team. No- instead they let him go on a few dates with other teams, that make him feel special, that say things like, "Man, if you were mine, i would never let you walk away from me, i would give you the world."
Then you match an offer (one you should of made earlier, and perhaps even think about giving some extra) to bring him back. Is this a case of "treat em mean- keep em keen"?
It may work for Bobby Brown but it really has a history of ugliness in the NBA.
Josh Smith is human- he wants what we all want, to feel wanted, appreciated. Hell yeah he wants the money too but if you want to pay 5 million more, and secure the guy while making him feel appreciated- your team will reap the benefits.
Matching an offer has set them up for a fall, starting with his attutude.
Talk about your self fore-filling prophicey!
Don't immediately sign a guy coz your worried about paying big dollars for a head case- create the head case by not paying up straight away!
What management have effectively done is extend the nervous wait on Josh Smith. He is a very young 22, will he get it together and become a consistent player? Or will he slip and spend an NBA career as a highlight reel for an underachieving team?
They could of done so much more. Locked him up straight away, show some love. Now it could go either way. He may still grow, or he will tail off.
I've said it before but- Hawks investors are happy, Hawks fans should be pissed.
