For the second time in eight days, a team that was courting Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith has switched gears and pursued and acquired someone else.
Last week it was Philadelphia, which opted for Los Angeles Clippers veteran power forward and unrestricted free agent Elton Brand. Tuesday night the Clippers agreed to a trade with Denver for veteran center Marcus Camby to make up for the loss of Brand.
Smith had dinner with Clippers officials last Wednesday in Los Angeles, but the Clippers never presented him with an offer sheet to sign. The 76ers hosted Smith on July 2 for two days, wining and dining him as their top free-agent prospect, but also never made him an offer.
Smith's restricted free-agent status allows the Hawks to match any offer made to him, an option they have maintained they will execute under any circumstance.
Neither Smith nor his agents could be reached for comment late Tuesday night.
The trade between the Clippers and Nuggets, which could be finalized and approved by the NBA as early as today, is a financial gem for both teams. The Clippers give up only a second-round pick and get a former Defensive Player of the Year and the league leader in blocks in each of the past two seasons for a reasonable $8 million this season, absorbing Camby's contract into the salary-cap space created by Brand's departure.
Meanwhile, Smith has to re-evaluate his position, with all of the teams with significant cap space having already made their biggest moves.
