Be careful what you wish for …
Hey Josh Smith, true or false, the rumor mill loves you?
HAWKSVILLE - If you believe what you read, and I’ll warn you that you can’t always do that where NBA rumors are concerned, Josh Smith’s name is generating some serious buzz on the trade rumor mill as the NBA draft approaches.
ESPN.com’s NBA Insider Chad Ford claims the big rumor of the day is that the Hawks are shopping Smith (I’ve had two Hawks sources insist to me this afternoon that they aren’t shopping Smith or anything like it, but what else do you expect them to say?), hoping to find a taker for their 23-year-old power forward (the one with the $6 million trade kicker and the love-him-or-hate-him debate stuck to his profile).
Normally, I’d take my garbage extinguisher and put down a silly, Hawks-related rumor before it starts burning. But not this one.
Even if the Hawks haven’t formally chatted up teams about the prospect of trading Smith, I know it’s been discussed internally. And here’s another warning, all those wanting to vote Smith off the island better be careful what you wish for. Aside from this being a win all the way around for Smith (if anything were to happen he’d get the $6 million, a move to a potentially better situation and he’d rid himself of all those folks groaning every time he does anything other than dunk or block a shot), it’s a huge gamble for the Hawks. There’s no way you move a player as young and talented as Smith without getting someone equally young and talented in return.
And Ford is absolutely right about one thing, there are plenty of teams that would love to snatch him away from the Hawks and plant him on their frontline for the next five to seven years and see just how much better he’ll get in that time.
I say this after having numerous conversations last summer and all season long with scouts and executives from teams around the league wondering just how good Smith might be if he played in another system (no one has ever seen him anywhere but in a Hawks uniform).
They won’t have to wait much longer to get a look. My sources inform me that Smith is headed to Las Vegas next month to participate in the USA Select team’s summer workout. He’ll be working with the same elite team of young stars that Al Horford worked with last summer as they helped prepare the Olympic team for their gold medal march in Beijing. (Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Iguodala, Rodney Stuckey, Kevin Martin and O.J. Mayo were some of the other young stars on that squad. Personally, I’d love to see Smith in that mix and see what kind of things he might do in that set up. Doesn’t sound like the kind of cat I’d be trying to get rid of, but hey, it’s not my call).
Something tells me that any NBA team wondering what Smith looks like free from the backcourt dominated system the Hawks run will be sitting in that gym in Vegas next month taking some serious notes as well. Horford earned raves from folks in attendance, many of whom asked later why they didn’t see any of that from him during the season.
It’s a legitimate question, especially for players that aren’t the No. 1 offensive option on their teams during the NBA season like Durant, Martin and Iguodala are on their teams.
Look no further than the recently completed NBA Finals for proof that patience (with talented but still developing young players) is a virtue that most teams would be wise to embrace.
Orlando had Trevor Ariza on their roster just as he was coming into his own but they couldn’t wait. It had to sting his old teammates watching him help the Lakers usher the Magic out of the Finals in five games. In fact, outside of Kobe Bryant and Derrick Fisher, the Lakers’ other main players during the series were all basically someone else’s cast offs. Miami sent Lamar Odom packing (albeit for Shaquille O’Neal). And Memphis foolishly gave up on Pau Gasol (swapping him for Kwame Brown, two passes to Six Flags over Georgia and a lifetime supply of Twizzlers … or something like that).
I’m not suggesting that teams should never trade away young talent. There are certainly times when a parting of the way works for both sides.
I’m only warning that you better know exactly what it is you are doing when you enter this realm (and we still don’t know for sure if this is only idle chatter, speculation rooted in some real conversations or just 226 words of complete nonsense designed to stoke the pre-draft flames).
Either way, the Hawks are on the clock (draft and otherwise) between now and training camp. And it appears that we aren’t the only ones watching to see what they do.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
345 comments Add your comment
MJ3
June 16th, 2009
11:31 am
Rod/Sam,
You’d have more credibility if your comments showed that you actually watched the goddmaned games,. What happened did Marvin steal your girlfriend? Whoops i mean your boyfriend. my bad.
terrell barron
June 16th, 2009
11:45 am
Richbrave, Caron plays sf. What is he going to do, back up Marvin. Or do you think we’ll move Marvin to the bench? With that said,
terrell barron
June 16th, 2009
11:46 am
With that said, I’d take Smoove and Chills over Caron, Crittenton and #5 anyday.
johnny
June 16th, 2009
11:48 am
1. the Hawks do not need to trade Smith.. keep him.. if Woodson didnt make questionable moves then him and Smith would get along . 2nd. they need another point guard or resign Bibby, 3. Sign Chris Anderson away from Denver as he will be a free agent.. They need more qualified role players off the bench if they hope to duplicate or get close to the season that they just had.
Depressed Hawks Fan (est. 1999)
June 16th, 2009
11:52 am
The rumor is the Hawks are trying to trade Speedy Claxton and the 19th pick in this year’s draft. I wonder who the Hawks are trying to trade for?
terrell barron
June 16th, 2009
11:58 am
Big Ray, Royal Ivey????
Rod from College Park
June 16th, 2009
11:58 am
MJ3,
Obviosly the MJ stands for Micheal Jackson which is why you continously respond to me with something gay related. How about this. Eat a —-.
BUTCH
June 16th, 2009
12:08 pm
IF THE HAWKS ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO TRADE JOSH THE TEAM WIIL NOT BE THE SAME.REMEMBER WHEN THEY TRADED WILKINS,GET THE DEAD WEIGHT OF THE BENCH SIGN SOME FREE AGENTS.
terrell barron
June 16th, 2009
12:14 pm
Big Ray said, “he cant speak English properly.” Wtf is that all about? Hate him or love him, thats a little out of line. Did you know that Josh Smith recieved the ACADEMIC AWARD at Oak Hill Academy for the HIGHEST GPA maintained during his senior season? I didn’t think so.
Josh Smith
June 16th, 2009
12:16 pm
Shut the f*ck up AJC!
Big Ray
June 16th, 2009
12:28 pm
RealSquawk, Terrell Barron,
Come on, now. You know that wasn’t me posting on that blog this morning. Here’s the problem with spoofing me: Yes, it’s fun, but you have to emulate my style. It really should be simple. I use humor and sarcasm, I talk WAY too much (yes, I know that’s like a crackhead admitting to trying crack every now and then), but I still make sense. Most of the time. I think. I DO make sense, don’t I? Hello? Hello!
No, seriously, you can usually tell by the long-windedness if nothing else. Yes, I can accurately poke fun at myself. The other thing is, if I change my mind dramatically, you will at least get a Mea Culpa to go along with it, usually.
Kirk,
Hey, that’s not fair. Oh wait, yes it is! It’s all too funny. As much noise as I make about Smith, when this blog popped up, I really didn’t want to say anything. How’s THAT for irony? Oh well. When choosing which bait to take, you may as well take the one that tastes good.
NoMoreWoody
June 16th, 2009
12:36 pm
The Hawks are young & talented team with a lot of upside. The problem is the coach and his staff. The young talent just has not been developed and that’s the fault of the coach.Please get a new coach. Financially it’s more economically fesible to show Woody the door. Let’s talk to some possible coaching candidates that these young guys will respect.Several good ones were named in earlier post. Our team needs are a legit Center and a Point Guard that can make everyone on the floor better offensively.The PG has to be able to also defend.The 19th position that the hawks are drafting, not much in this draft that can help. The North Carolina point guard might not be there when we pick.So let’s look at centers and guards that are free agents or have one year or less left on there contracts. Trust me when I say no free agent that is legit will want to come to Atlanta and play under Woody. They will take less money to go else where. Show Woody the door now and then we can all say “LET’S GO HAWKS” .
Big Ray
June 16th, 2009
12:55 pm
I’m okay with trading Josh Smith for whatever makes sense, and makes us better. I’m NOT okay with trading him just for the sake of trading him, or to make this team look more balanced on paper, but far less talented on the court.
To echo the sentiments of others, I have some time ago leaned toward the idea that Josh will remain a scapegoat in Atlanta until he becomes a genuine hero. I truly believe that he cannot do well under the pressures of a “hometown kid” and high profile. At the same time, I will NOT use this as an excuse for the things he does wrong. His play is due to the decisions he makes, his abilities, and the system he plays in. And you can divide that into a pie graph any way you like. I just believe that playing here in Atlanta DOES in fact make things more difficult.
Now you take a guy like Derrick Rose, I think he’s made for it. But then, the Bulls have gone further, quicker than anybody expected. Let things turn sour for any reason (bad coaching, injuries, idiotic GM moves), and we’ll see what he’s made of. Will the fans of Chicago love him as they loved MJ? Will they be more loyal and less acidic than Atlanta fans? But to be fair, will the Hawks give their fans as much to love as the Bulls have given theirs? Let’s be honest, the Bulls have had it rough without MJ.
But, I maintain that Smith, for all his faults and quirks, for all his incredible talents and abilities, was still never picked to lead this franchise. He wasn’t picked high in the draft (he actually slipped down some spots). He wasn’t a #2, #3, #5, #6, or even a #11 draft choice. We know the names of the guys we picked at those draft slots. Josh was a #17.
Smith was not acquired from another team, pinning our hopes for the future on him. We didn’t give up $70 million, two first round draft picks, and a talented but misused forward for him. We only paid him $58 million because ANOTHER team tried to sign him for that much, and added a trade kicker in because they knew they’d want to keep him if we failed to match the offer.
Nope. No huge expectations when we got him, were there? So when did these huge expectations arise? When did he get more attention than the five lottery pick players we have? When did he begin to receive as much criticism as the coach, and (I argue) even MORE than the man we’re supposed to be building a contender around? Amazing how far this has come. Maybe it was because he won the dunk contest one year, hell I don’t know. Maybe it was because out of the guys we’ve come to expect things from, he’s risen to the forefront the most.
Maybe it’s because he is STILL the most dynamic guy in a Hawks uniform. Maybe it’s because his good plays shine so brightly that his bad plays are so ugly in contrast. ‘Tis the curse of fame, and being such a dynamic player.
To be fair, Marvin rarely gets as ardent a defense. But then, look at his impact on the game. With the exception of a game or two here and there, he is cursed with the thing we call consistency. The very thing we scream about Josh Smith not having. The problem is, we want Josh to be a consistent highlight reel. We want him to be consistently great. ESPN highlights great. Not a completely unreasonable desire, but even a much more polished Joe Johnson hasn’t been able to do that (see: playoffs and spurts during the regular season), whether you want to blame it on injuries and fatigue. Ask Dwyane Wade about that, and don’t act like he’s got it ANY easier than Joe…
What if Josh stopped making huge plays, and just made adequate/average, steady ones like Marvin? What if he averaged a helpful, but humble 15 or 16 and 8 every game. You know what would happen. You’d be talking about him just like you do Marvin: ready to trade his ass in a New York second for somebody more exciting, more dynamic. Oh yes, we love to try and have it both ways. We all do.
Josh might make that big step next year. Or he might continue to be as maddeningly inconsistent as Astro Joe very correctly notes that Lamar Odom can be. I have to argue with Joe just a bit that I think Josh could/would be somewhat better and more consistent playing elsewhere, with a more defined role. But I agree that this is no GUARANTEE that he will become TRULY consistent, in the way that we claim we want him to be.
But if you can afford Marvin another year to get better, you can afford Josh the same. Substitute one year of NBA ball for one year under Roy Williams and tell me which was a better experience for the given player. Perhaps not a fair or even good analogy, but it is what it is. Consider that learning curves are not the same, and that the NBA is NOT a place to learn the fundamentals. If you don’t have those fundamentals, you are already behind the curve, which is exactly where Josh is. Trade him as he may be rounding the curve at your own risk.
By the way, two things.
One, for those who say Marvin was showing improvement before he was injured, you are correct. But do not forget that he became injured at the END of the season, meaning that his improvement was happening later, rather than sooner. Also, Josh was injured at the beginning of the season, and it lingered long after he came back onto the court. It’s not an excuse for his lack of effort, bad decision making, and other issues (like with his coach), but to reject it out of hand as a factor is nothing more than convenience of a skewed point of view.
Two, if you think my suggested “steady numbers” of 15 and 8 for Josh were a bit low, then consider this: If we expect Marvin’s game and Horford’s game to expand and contribute more, JJ to do what he does or better next year, and Bibby to stick around, that’s about all you can reasonably expect from Josh. Yes, that would mean his numbers go down. But that’s how it’s going to be in a backcourt dominated offense (where you have a shooting pg in a guy like Bibby), or even in an offense that involves the frontcourt more. Hey, this is NOT going to be a team of 20-point scorers.
Having Josh’s two frontcourt mates expand their games, and therefore their roles, is following the Detroit model. Look at those successful Detroit teams under Larry Brown (and less so under Flip Saunders), and see that the numbers guys like Prince, Hamilton, and Wallace put up were sub-20ppg type numbers.
As Sekou said, be careful what you wish for…
JDPeace
June 16th, 2009
12:59 pm
Sekou, Could we get a piece in AJC examining the current financial situation of the owners? It’s something I feel like I haven’t seen and it would be really helpful as we enter the off-season. What was the collective net-worth of the ownership group when they bought the Hawks? How much has the value of the team dropped since they bought it? How much has been spent (or lost) in legal fees since the ownership battle has occurred? What’s the relative financial position of the Hawks ownership group in relationship to the other owners? Where does the Hawks financial losses rank with the other teams? Where did the Hawks ownership group’s net-worth rank with the other owners in the league? What’s the relationship between the two rankings? Did they buy the Hawks with very little margin for error and have the Hawks losses been greater than the losses suffered by the league as a whole? Also, what’s a speculative worse case list of things the Hawks might do just to shed salary? I assume that they have to take on comparable salary in trades, but are they looking to dump players for expiring contracts to avoid being on the hook? Any word from inside the Hawks front office that financial concerns are going to be driving transactions this off-season?
I feel like a lot of our discussions assume that the Hawks are going to be making purely basketball related decisions when in actuality teams in relatively strong financial positions are going to be taking advantage of us and picking off players if the Hawks are actually in financial crisis mode.
Ramon
June 16th, 2009
1:11 pm
I have a question. Everyone says Smith is hard to coach. But how come we ever hear about him getting into it with Woody, and not the assistant coaches? Does it happen and we don’t know? Or is it just Woody isn’t good at handling a personality like Smith? How many times did you see Phil Jackson get into it with Dennis Rodman? They call Smith a hothead, but it may be because he’s the ONLY player on the team that actually talks to the referees (besides Zaza). JJ only shakes his head and run back down court.
Astro Joe
June 16th, 2009
1:19 pm
I could be very, very wrong about this, but it seems like a defensive presence should be far more consistent than a player who makes an offensive impact. Everyone, regardless of their talent or system or whatever, will have bad shooting nights. Even Duncan has games when his patented bankshot is off. We watched Ray Allen, with his textbook perfect jumper, chip the paint off the rim during several playoff games last month. Anyone remember Wade’s dreadful game 5 performance against the Hawks? It happens. But, and again I could be wrong, showing up to be a defensive beast should be something that can be done 3 of 4 games. And that is why I get so frustrated with Smith. Ray’s example of 15 points would be fine with me. I just want dude playing with a consistent energy level where leaving him off the NBA’s defensive team would be considered an outrage. But being consistent is boring. I believe that multi-faceted players get that way because they enjoy working on different skill sets. Or, said differently, don’t have the attention span to master one thing before moving on the next. While others (like Marvin) are more apt to work on 1-2 new tricks per off-season. The result is one guy who is good at 4-5 things while the other guy becomes exceptional at maybe 1-2 things. My answer has been and remains, make every effort to keep them both.
Astro Joe
June 16th, 2009
1:23 pm
Ramon, Woody has never said that Smith is hard to coach. He has never “thrown Smith under the bus” in the media. So I doubt that his assistants would make such a statement when the head coach has refused to say anything like that.
To my knowledge, George Karl has never been quoted as saying that JR Smith is hard to coach, but there were still reports that Karl and Smith rarely spoke to each other last season.
If Woody wants Smith off his team (and with one year left on his contract, I doubt very seriously that he wants to lose his lone shot blocker), then announcing that dude is hard to coach would be a monumental bonehead move.
Ramon
June 16th, 2009
1:32 pm
Astro your comments on the defense over offense, is exactly why I wouldn’t take Bosh over Josh right now. Especially considering he doesn’t play great defense. So why have him and JJ maxed out, when you know Horford will be up for extension next season? I’d rather have Horford and Smooth than Bosh and Jerome James or who else you can get to play center for 5 mil.
Dean
June 16th, 2009
1:36 pm
Well, one thing’s for sure, Memphis sure as hell made it harder for the Hawks to get rid of Josh! That $6 mil upfront and huge contract the Hawks are saddled with come thanks the Michael Heisley.
And Sekou…Kwame Brown was’t the primary target in the Pau Gasol trade. Memphis received Kwame Brown (expiring contract), Aaron McKie (sign and trade throw-in), Javaris Crittendon, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010. They also got a conditional draft pick for sending Crittendon to Washington. Draft picks, Marc Gasol and salary cap room ain’t exactly “twizzlers” for a team in rebuilding mode. Yes I think they could have done better, but it’s hardly the worst deal ever. The Grizz certainly weren’t going to win with Pau (much like the Hawks aren’t going to win with J-Smoove) so why not get rid of the contract?
By the way, Josh to Knicks – can you imagine him running and gunning in D’Antoni’s system? Won’t need any discipline there!
Dave in Brunswick
June 16th, 2009
1:36 pm
I’d trade him straight up for the #1 pick, other than that no deal.
Big Ray
June 16th, 2009
1:47 pm
Good points, Astro Joe.
I think Josh has not realized just how important it is for him to show up defensively every game. Then again, so many people say he’s only good for a weak-side shot blocker, and is horrible on defense otherwise. Another case of trying to have it both ways (though this accusation is certainly not aimed at you). I disagree with this point of view, as he is able to affect the game defensively in more ways than that.
And one reason I think he’s failed to come to each game bent on wrecking the other team’s offense is because he’s too concerned with stepping up on offense. While part of this is most certainly his fault (lack of focus and discipline), we cannot ignore the fact that he’s also been the team’s second leading scorer for the third year in a row. Marvin is more consistent, and Bibby is more deadly from the perimeter when hot, yet neither have been able to produce more on average.
I don’t think Smith is mature enough to do both at the same time (Be the top defensive/energy player AND be the #2 scoring option). And clearly, he has leaned toward the latter more than the former. Of course, we can discuss/speculate/argue all day why that is.
Depressed Hawks Fan (est. 1999)
June 16th, 2009
1:50 pm
My God, Big Ray! You wrote about 3 essays on Josh Smith, nice work! LOL! Just joking, anyway here’s a list of “Hometown Heroes” in the NBA…
Baron Davis (Los Angeles, California) Team: LA Clippers
Chauncey Billups (Denver, Colorado) Team: Denver Nuggets
Lebron James (Cleveland/Akron, Ohio) Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Derrick Rose (Chicago, Illinois) Team: Chicago Bulls
Dwight Howard (Atlanta, Georgia) Team: Atlanta Hawks
NO FEAR, SUPERMAN IS HERE!
TRADE FOR DWIGHT HOWARD, RICK SUND!
*Excited*
Dwight Howard is our “Hometown Hero”.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAWKS! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Howie Mandel (from Deal or No Deal)
June 16th, 2009
1:54 pm
What will it be Hawks, Deal or No Deal?
“No Deal”
SHABBA RANKS
June 16th, 2009
1:57 pm
I know J Smoove, & he is a good young man! Very firm & very wise, to be 23 years old. I can understand why some of you could think that Josh is different, because he rarely smiles, or politics with the fans, or kiss the babies like a politician would! but like him or not, you can’t say One single game when he was on the floor that he didn’t rep the A!!! & leave it all on the floor!!! he, like many other players does have growing to do, both personally, & in his game. He does need to practice daily on his jump shot! In the playoffs Josh Lead The Hawks in Scoring, rebounds & Blocks! Now people are talking about he should be traded? ATLANTA I HOPE THAT THAT JOSHUA SMITH DOES GET TRADED & TO A CONTENDER, & I HOPE THAT EVERYTIME THAT HE COMES BACK HOME TO PLAY IN THE A, THAT HE SLAM DUNKS THE HAWKS UNDER THE ARENA, & HIS NEW TEAM BEAT THE HECK OUT OF THE HAWKS EVERYTIME!!! YOU ARE SOME UNGREATFUL PEOPLE!!! THE HAWKS HAVE PROGRESSED!!! THEY LOST IN THE 1ST ROUND LAST YEAR!!!! THEY MADE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND THIS YEAR!!! THATS PROGRESSS!!! YOU GIVE PEOPLE A INCH, & THEY WANT A MILE!!! GET A LIFE HATERS!!!
SHABBA RANKS
June 16th, 2009
1:58 pm
I HOPE JOSH LEAVES!!! HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE WITH THE HAWKS ANYWAY! HE SIGNED WITH THE GRIZZLES & THE HAWKS MATCHED THE OFFER! SO THERE IS A FACT!!! I KNOW SEVERAL POWER HOUSE TEAMS THAT WANT HIM NOW!!! SO KEEP RUNNING YOUR MOUTH & THE HAWKS JUST MIGHT GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT! A CHANCE TO SEE JOSH SMITH EXPLODE WITH A REAL POWER HOUSE TEAM, & FANS IN ATLANTA WILL BE STILL ROCKING SMITH JERSEY’S FROM HIS HIS NEW TEAM! LOL
Bill C
June 16th, 2009
2:22 pm
Actually, aside form Dan’s trade option above the most likely scenario that would work for both teams would be for the Hawks to trade Smith and Acie Law to Memphis for the number #2 pick in the draft and Mike Conley and take Hasheem Thabeet. Memphis needs a PG since they seem to be unhappy with Conley and since Rubio has stated he WOULD NOT play for Memphis and has the options to make that happen, that leaves them with limited options except for drafting for depth. Smith would give them the PF they need to team with Gay and Gasol on their front line and Law will be a very good player in their system. Then turn around and trade the rights to Childress to someone like the Raptors who need a SG/SF and take the best PG available at #9 and depth at #19. Conley really would fit our system much better than Memphis’s..That would allow a Hawk starting line-up of C-Thabeet(defense, rebounds and BS which we badly need), PF-AL Horford (will allow him to reach his potentail at his natural position), SF-Marvin Williams (had a good year and continues to improve. Hawks fell off after he was hurt). SG-Joe Johnson and PG Conley. Still a very athletic team but with more toughness and defense in the middle where we got killed when the playoffs rolled around.
Big Ray
June 16th, 2009
2:22 pm
Depressed Hawks Fan,
My point was that some guys don’t handle the “hometown hero” thing so well. Josh is one of them, I think. Billups and Davis got their NBA starts in other places before coming back home, Rose has been good so far, Lebron is arguably the best in the game, and Dwight Howard is down the road in Orlando, not Atlanta. But hey, we can all WISH he was here….
RG
June 16th, 2009
2:29 pm
I think it would be crazy to trade a player with his talent at such a young age. Especially for draft picks in a weak draft. To me this would be a fatal error and a huge step back for the franchise.
newkid
June 16th, 2009
2:32 pm
“Be careful what you wish for…” huh? Well, like Ray I wish most for June basketball in Atlanta, and I’m fine with moving any players on the side if it’ll get us – quickly – to that fateful day. I’m not for ill-advised and stupid moves that push us farther away from the O’Brien trophy. I don’t support moving a player simply because a lame duck coach fancies him gone (not saying that’s what’s driving this rumored shopping), but if that’s to be averted the GM has to have a vision that extends beyond the short-term interests of the head coach. The GM can’t hold fast to the attitude that it’s just his job to ’shop for the groceries’ while the head coach – exclusively – determines the system and style of play.
Over the past several years the Hawks ‘brain trust’ have spoken eloquently about playing a brand of basketball that’s exciting for the fans to watch. I reckon the notion was lots of dunks, MADE 3s, and that sort of thing. Yet there doesn’t appear to have been much of a marriage between the assembled talent and the coaching philosophy if the aim was exciting basketball. Moreover, there’s been even less of tryst between the assembled players, the coaching philosophy, and what should have been management’s real quest for Larry O’Brien (with or without high flying dunks and 3s flying from all points round Philips).
Someone with more than simple ‘walking around sense’ needs to decide what system of professional basketball has the greatest likelihood of giving us June men’s basketball in Atlanta in 2010, 2011, etc (is it really retro Detroit?), hire THE coach (and assistants) most adept at implementing this system, select and retain ‘usable’ pieces from the the current talent pool, use all other pieces and full financial capabilities to assemble the highest quality and character of players available (and ‘availability’ should be broadly interpreted) to effectively execute that system, then go to work. Either that or sell the franchise to an entity that is willing and financially capable of doing so. If we believe we’ve got the system (really?) and the coaches (REALLY?), then what’s left is determining who should be kept (”I’ll need a year to evaluate”), who to ship, and when/where to start the shopping trip. Can’t afford ANY sacred cows, unless of course we are more infatuated with the player than serious about pursuing a June visit by Mr. O’Brien.
Depressed Hawks Fan
June 16th, 2009
2:40 pm
Big Ray,
The reason why Josh Smith doesn’t handle the “hometown hero” thing very well is because of a little “coachingly-challenged” man named… hmm… ah, MIKE WOODSON! LeBron has Mike Brown, Dwight has SVG, Billups has George Karl, and Rose has an up and coming coach named, Vinny Del Nigro. Poor Josh has, “Mike Woodson”.
Rufus1
June 16th, 2009
2:43 pm
Rod from college park
How do I know they will better? Because they have improved since they have been here, but Josh has REGRESSED. Do you realize he has been on this team the longest, and we have been waiting for this UPSIDE!!!!
UPSIDE…is nice when a person is making 2 million. When he is making 10 million, we need performance.
YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AL OR JOSH, BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH PF. THE ONLY THING JOSH DOES BETTER THAN AL IS DUNK!!!!
When you compare AL, Josh and Marvin remember, Josh(15.5pts, 7rebs) makes 3 million more than Marvin(13.9pts, 6rebs)and 6 million more than Al(11.3pts, 8rebs).
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY WE CONTINUE TO PAY HIM 10 MILLION A YEAR…IS IT BEACUSE HE HAS NICE DUNKS????
PS…FIRE WOODY
Rufus1
June 16th, 2009
2:45 pm
I WANT TO CHAMPIONSHIPS, NOT DUNK CONTESTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hawks have discussed trading Smith - Nation Of Hip Hop
June 16th, 2009
2:46 pm
[...] chatted up teams about the prospect of trading Smith, I know it’s been discussed internally. Atlanta Journal Constitution him and the coach always butting heads, this unlike most rumors lately in the NBA could happen [...]
123 ABC
June 16th, 2009
2:48 pm
“Coachingly-Challeged” (laugh), I like that one!
hawkfan14
June 16th, 2009
2:48 pm
The Hawks do not need to trade Josh Smith away. The Hawks have a guard/forward heavy bench, so they need to dwindle down the bench. We actually need a true center (2) like Marcus Camby, or Gortat; both are available. Josh Smith needs to move to small forward, and Al Horford to power forward where each of their talents and skills will be utilized best!
Melvin
June 16th, 2009
2:50 pm
Ray,
Your 12:55 post was so good i had to read it twice (and that post was long). You sound like Josh’s attorney with a closing statement (counter that Nire, just picking). Man, you made me glad to be a Josh Fan…LMAO
SLAM ONLINE | » Josh Smith, Welcome to Trade Rumor-Ville
June 16th, 2009
3:00 pm
[...] rumor mill claims that the Hawks are thinking of moving their high-flying forward: “If you believe what you read, and I’ll warn you that you can’t always do that where NBA [...]
Josh Smith Possibly On The Trade Block? | WaitingForNextYear
June 16th, 2009
3:01 pm
[...] answers, why go anywhere else than to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s own Sekou Smith. In his Hawks Blog last evening, he wrote, ESPN.com’s NBA Insider Chad Ford claims the big rumor of the day is that [...]
Astro Joe
June 16th, 2009
3:13 pm
SHABBA said, “you can’t say One single game when he was on the floor that he didn’t rep the A!!! & leave it all on the floor!!!”
Shabba, please explain this box score (specifically rebounds)… and check out what the equally inconsistent Lamar Odom did as well.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290217013
I don’t want Smith traded but let’s not act like dude “leaves it all on the floor each and every game ” because that is just simply not true. There are very, very few guys who truly have that work ethic…. and Smith isn’t one of them.
Sautee
June 16th, 2009
3:16 pm
Ray and Newkid,
Most excellent, both!
cp
June 16th, 2009
3:16 pm
That was a great post ray.
Astro Joe
June 16th, 2009
3:25 pm
Ray, if Smith played consistent defense, the Hawks would likely run more and Smith would dunk more and get more ESPN love and possibly find his way to All-Star weekend. There is no doubt that when we play our frantic defense (like game 1 against Miami), we are a team that is truly worthy of the Highlight Factory label. Again, we’re not built to be a strong rebounding team, so we have to force turnovers and bad shots to exploit our quick frontcourt. But, again, that requires a ton of defensive energy and resolve. And that’s where Josh should lead. He should be our middle linebacker, stopping the run, blitzing the QB and protecting the middle of the field from crossing patterns. Joe or Bibby could work the offense, but Smith could find his way to national prominence by constantly disrupting the opposing offense. If only…
Dan
June 16th, 2009
3:29 pm
I was thinking what we could get in return for Josh Smith and came up with this:
Atlanta trades: Josh Smith, Acie Law, and Speedy Claxton(expiring contract)
for
Phoenix gives: Shaq and both there picks(although if they dont give two take the one).
SHABBA RANKS
June 16th, 2009
3:31 pm
All I can say is you don’t miss A Good thing until it’s Gone!!! I hope josh gets picked up by a contender!!! It’s Cliche for the Hawks anyway!!! I recall countless times when The Hawks have made Dumb move that only benefit other teams!!! Trade him & let’s get it ovr with!!! watch what happens in his Homecoming Games! LOL
Mama an 'dem
June 16th, 2009
3:34 pm
Now y’all stop all this fuss!
Y’all know deep down in your hearts that that boy is GONE!
Boy is uncoachable and that is why mama knows this story ain’t no story. Y’all know it’s now. That’s why y’all doing all this fussing.
Now who is gonna help mama make a big THANK YOU card to send to Josh on his way out of town?
rusty
June 16th, 2009
3:35 pm
please can anyone tell me why we never fast break in spite of all our a thelic personal? keep josh
Depressed Hawks Fan
June 16th, 2009
3:39 pm
Dan,
I think this trade would work…
Speedy Claxton
19th Pick
FOR
Marc Gasol
Cash
Grizziles 2nd Rd. Pick
Depressed Hawks Fan
June 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
Mama an ‘dem,
That funny, man!
Sautee
June 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
AJ,
Isn’t that exactly what Josh was doing the first 5 games until he hurt his ankle?
I thought at the beginning of the year, that he was the most disruptive on D that I had ever seen him be. Then the high ankle sprain, and poof!
But I agree with the premise that he could and should earn his stripes on the defensive end. BUT, and It’s a BIG BUT (not a big BUTT, that would be Marvin)
the SCHEME has to maximize his God-given ability or he could end up hurting us by trying to “make something happen” more than playing within the scheme.
hawk'shawk
June 16th, 2009
3:43 pm
I agree everybody wants to get rid of the few bright spots against cleveland. I’m a hawks fan first but yall tripping. How bout let him go to Cleveland and bring Big Z or Side Show Bob to the A along with Wally.Then watch how he flourishes. Then Atl will have the Big yall want for Smoove and Atl gets a decent shooter, maybe swap draft picks also. Then would yall be happy? Silly how some of yall think we going to be better without him, yes he needs work but damn if the Cleveland series showed anything, the whole damn team needs work.
Go Hawks