Joe Smith was drafted on June 28 1995, as the first overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.

He averaged 15.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game making 1st Team All Rookie. On February 17th 1998 Smith was traded to the 76ers along with Brian Shaw for Jim Jackson and Clarence Weatherspoon. He averaged 17.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game with his career with Golden State. Nothing much happened in his year in Philly.

After the NBA Lockout Smith signed a 1 Year $1.75

million contract with Minnesota on January 22, 1999.

The Wolves made a promise to give Smith three one-year contracts. This plan made so Minnesota could earn Smith’s "Bird rights" Bird Rights are a special salary cap rule that let teams exceed the limit to re-sign their own players. Once they got those rights, The Wolves planned to sign Smith to a multi-year contract worth up to $86 million. Of course It didn't work out. David Stern discovered the secret Joe Smith contracts through a legal dispute and lawsuit between Joe Smith's former agent and his former partner. They were Eric Fleisher and Andrew Miller.

Miller left Fleisher’s agency (Sport Management Network) to start his own firm, taking clients like Kevin Garnett and Joe Smith with him. Fleisher filed a lawsuit against Miller. During the legal discovery process The Joe Smith Files were Uncovered. (Fleisher ended up winning the case and got awarded 4.6 Million Dollars) Joe Smith was not suspended by the NBA. His Contract was Voided but Nothing Else. Instead The Timberwolves were Punished. David Stern took away 5 CONSECUTIVE DRAFT PICKS from the Wolves. More easily said: The Franchise Ruined Kevin Garnett Chances of winning a title with the Wolves.

They Wolves were also hit with a 3.5 Million Dollar fine. Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was suspended by the league through August 31, 2001. Vice president Kevin McHale took an Enforced and Unpaid leave of absence. (Shout-out Celtics Legend) Joe Smith Eventually Signed with the Pistons. He Also Ended up going broke. The Former #1 Picks Promising Career got ruined by one stupid contract.

Outro

Doesn't this sound a whole like something thats going on in the NBA Right Now?? Yep. This Was the Original Kawhi case.