The hockey team can't offer enough to convince premier free agents to come here. The basketball team says it won't give Josh Smith a choice.

Blessed is leverage, which gives the Atlanta Spirit owners at least a split of this offseason's doubleheader.

The Hawks maintain they will match any offer sheets given to Smith and Josh Childress, their two restricted free agents. They're the correct moves, the almost mandated moves —- certainly with Smith, who, despite occasional geranium tendencies on the court, remains a far better player than most. In short, even when he's bad, he's not that bad.

To lose Smith would be a significant step back for the Hawks. Few players in the NBA can match his skill set. Rare is the player who is 6 feet 9, can block shots, run the court, rebound, score and, by the way, is only 22.

The strongest argument against giving Smith a bloated contract is it financially ties the franchise to a player who remains immature and inconsistent. There's also the matter of his tenuous relationship with coach Mike Woodson.

But if you're the Hawks, can you take the chance of Smith developing with another team?

They had better use the leverage while they have it. Why? Because this is not yet a destination other players are flocking to —- and we need not look far to see how negative perceptions can wreck a team's July. Look down the hall in Philips Arena.

The NHL free-agency period began Tuesday. Well, in most cities. Thrashers general manager Don Waddell begged and whiffed. The Thrashers went hard after their No. 1 target, defenseman Brian Campbell. One report said they offered Campbell $60 million over eight years. (Waddell disputes the figure.) Campbell considered the proposal, then signed with Chicago. Basically, he may have left money on the table to sign with a team that hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1961. In terms of perceptions, that's where this team is.

The Thrashers signed a decent puck-moving defenseman, Ron Hainsey, on Wednesday. But stealing players from the Columbus Blue Jackets generally doesn't move the meter. Or the team.

Perceptions can kill a franchise. For as much as pro athletes get painted as paychecks-first creatures, most want to win. Some will take less money to play for a contending team. Some will bypass significant money to avoid playing for a loser.

Smith's desires have been difficult to read —- except those times when he has openly feuded with Woodson. (Ironically, his biggest outburst came at Philadelphia, the team now trying to lure Smith. A string of expletives directed at Woodson led to a two-game suspension.) But for somebody who was born in College Park and grew up in Atlanta, he certainly hasn't left the impression he would do anything to stay here.

The Spirit owners at times have acted as if Smith and Childress love it here and don't want to go anywhere. They made that same mistake with Marian Hossa, believing he would re-sign. Fact is, it was never close.

Losing Smith wouldn't drop the Hawks to the Thrashers' level, but it would nudge them in that direction. No sign-and-trade with the Sixers could make up for his loss. No sign-and-trade would lead anybody to believe, "The Hawks are headed in the right direction." No sign-and-trade could make up for his scoring or lead anybody to recall three playoff wins over Boston.

Smith was in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The greeting party included the mayor. You think the Sixers aren't going to make this difficult?

The Hawks offered Smith a $45 million extension last year. Smith asked for more. The Hawks said no.

Here we are. Smith will get more. If the money ends up coming from another team, you need not wonder what direction things are headed.

jschultz@ajc.com

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