After Joe Smith was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1995, the organization tried to re-sign him to a contract befitting other No. 1 picks. But the 6-foot-10 power forward passed on a deal averaging about $10 million per season.

After Smith's value dropped, he signed an illegal contract with the sole franchise that thought he was worth the trouble: Minnesota.

Smith's decision to turn down millions for supposed zillions turned out to be foolish. But in the mid-1990s, there was no such thing as a maximum salary or luxury tax. In contrast, there's no excuse for the decisions reached by some free agents last summer.

So here we give our Joe Smith Awards:

Center Olden Polynice takes first prize by opting out the final season of a contract that paid him $2.4 million. Yes, Polynice can rebound and play tough defense. But at age 36, with hands of stone and free-throw inaccuracy of 26.2 percent last, what was he thinking?

Officer Polynice remains unsigned, and would be fortunate to land a contract for the league minimum of about $1 million for a player with at least 10 years experience.