If you want to know why Memphis has been tip-toeing on the fringe of the John Wall recruitment, read Gary Parrish’s excellent piece of reporting which brings to light what many have suspected: That Brian Clifton might be planning on becoming Wall’s agent once he turns pro. The key point in this is the discovery that Clifton, who coached Wall’s AAU team, was actually a licensed sports agent for a year (though he had no clients).

Why is this story good news for Memphis?

Wall idolizes Derrick Rose. Wall loves Memphis, and Memphis loves Wall. So why were schools like Baylor and Oklahoma State at the forefront of his recruitment a couple weeks ago, while Memphis and the other big-name programs seemed to be on the outside? Read the story for your answer. If Wall ends up at Memphis, it’s not because that’s where the Cliftons want him to go. And after a story like this, that may be the best thing for him.

ESPN.com’s Andy Katz reported on his blog today that Jeremy Mayfield is done at UAB and will transfer (possibly to TCU) once his summer school work is done. I mentioned these rumblings in my way-too-early C-USA basketball preview last Sunday, and I think this is a really bad break for UAB since Mike Davis is now down to just two players who are 6-7 or taller.

When last season ended, UAB had seven frontcourt players, but one by one they’ve fallen away: Walter Sharpe (early entry to the NBA Draft), Reggie Huffman (left the program, signed a pro contract overseas), Frank Holmes (graduated), Zisis Sarikopoulos (transferred to Ohio State) and now Mayfield.

It’s a shame, because as I wrote last week, UAB will be as solid on the wings as practically any program in the country. Unless Davis can find a guy to come in late (might be hard since he can only use 11 scholarships due to the APR and has a couple guys sitting out on transfers for next year), it’s going to be really tough defensively to play a four-guard lineup with Lawrence Kinnard playing center and Howard Crawford as your big guy coming off the bench.

UAB could still be an NCAA-type team if things break right, but I’m not nearly as confident that they’re a cut above Tulsa, Southern Miss and UTEP as I would be if they had kept a couple of those big guys.

The key for C-USA next season is going to be winning a few important non-conference games and having some separation between the top five teams and the bottom seven teams once league play begins.

Just spoke to a number of NBA executives in the know (including a Grizzly insider) who were able to shed some light on the bidding war that’s emerging for Atlanta’s restricted free agent Josh Smith.

1. The Hawks are believed to be preparing for Smith a six-year offer that averages $10 million per year, and includes incentives that would allow the contract to exceed $70 million in total value.

2. As of 1:15 p.m. CST the Hawks hadn’t received a copy of the Grizzlies’ offer sheet. In fact, a Grizzly insider told me that Smith’s agent wouldn’t receive the offer until this afternoon. It’s possible that a signed Grizzly offer sheet may not be executed until tomorrow morning.

3. The Grizzlies have talked about Smith for the past three weeks. They were deciding whether Atlanta was vulnerable enough for them to make a legit run at Smith. Ultimately, the Griz decided to take a shot given Smith’s productivity and figured that the price was reasonable if the Hawks passed. Smith’s agent and the Griz agreed on the offer sheet late Thursday night.

Stay tuned…

The Memphis Grizzlies have sent a contract offer worth $58 million to Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith today, according to multiple NBA sources.

As the only team left with significant room under the salary cap, the Griz have shifted out of a summer holding pattern and targeted the versatile 6-9, 235-pound forward.

Atlanta has seven days to match, per league rules, once Smith receives the offer sheet.

Smith’s numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks last season, helping the Hawks make the playoffs.

The Hawks have said they would match any contract offer to the 22-year-old Smith, but are on the hook next season with big contracts for Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson.

Should the Griz land Smith he is expected to play power forward alongside Rudy Gay at small forward, O.J. Mayo at shooting guard and Mike Conley at point guard.

In another development, the Griz have identified Iranian center Hamed Ehadadi as a person of interest and hope to sign the 7-2, 23-year-old next week. Ehadadi last played for Saba Battery of the Iran Super League. He’ll also play for the Iran national team in the Olympics.

Ehadadi recently collected 19 points and 16 rebounds in summer league action at Utah. He amassed 20 points and nine rebounds against Argentina and 20 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks against Serbia in Olympic tune-ups.