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 for veteran center Marcus Camby of Denver to make up for the loss of Brand.

Smith had dinner with Clippers officials last Wednesday in Los Angeles, but the Clippers never presented Smith 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 presented him with an offer sheet.

Smith's restricted free-agent status allows the Hawks to match any offer made to him, an option the Hawks 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 Wednesday afternoon, is a financial gem for both teams.

The Clippers sent 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.

The Nuggets, who were more than $13 million over the league's luxury-tax threshold this season, get out from under the final two years of Camby's contract (a total of $15 million).

Smith, meanwhile, has to reevaluate his position with all of the teams with significant cap space having already made their biggest moves.