Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith says he’s not eager for trade
Josh Smith is aware of the trade speculation swirling around him. He knows much of that speculation is fueled by the belief that he desperately wants out of Atlanta.
But Smith said today he’s not eager to be traded, though he’s bracing for the possibility.
“I’m not saying I want [a trade] to happen but if it does I will just have to deal with it,” he said.
Smith said the Hawks haven’t told him anything about a trade. But he noted that players aren’t usually privy to the team’s internal deliberations until a deal is going down.
“Right now I’m with the Hawks,” he said. “I think we have a special group. I just want to win.”
There’s no doubt Smith is frustrated about the flak he took from fans, media and Larry Drew over his shot selection. But it still doesn’t seem as if he’s pushing the Hawks to get him out of town.
Meanwhile, the latest rumors have the Magic acquiring Andre Miller and his non-guaranteed 2011-12 deal from Portland and then using that as part of a bigger deal. And since Dwight Howard apparently wants to play with Smith, that naturally leads to speculation that the Magic would use Miller as part of a package to acquire Smith.
UPDATE: Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Miller-to-Orlando speculation is “overblown.”
UPDATE II: Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Hawks are trying to trade Smith to Minnesota for the No. 2 pick so they can select Turkish center Enes Kanter.
Kanter was ruled ineligible to play for Kentucky last season after the NCAA determined he played professionally in Europe. According to NBADraft.net, Kanter has a history of knee problems.
Hawks assistant GM Dave Pendergraft was asked last week about Kanter’s lack of competition for a year and lack of high-level competition at all.
“He played so well at the Hoop Summit against the best young players,” Pendergraft. “And then [scouts] saw him practice at Kentucky later in the year. With that body and that kind of physical maturity, when you weigh that in and rank your players, the teams in that mix are comfortable with the decision that they are going to make.”
NBA co-director of scouting Ryan Blake on Kanter:
“He missed a year of game experience, development in game situations. He’s a very unique player. He could have made a lot of money playing pro [overseas], but he wanted to come over here, learn the language and improve his skills. He felt that was the best way to develop. He is gifted fundamentally with all the skills he possesses. Another thing is you can look at a a guy’s work ethic and heart and desire. Here is a guy that doesn’t back down. He wants to play against anybody and wants to prove what he can do. He is highly skilled.”
Trading Smith as a salary dump makes little sense (and is complicated by the $4 million trade kicker his new team would have to pay). Smith is still only 25. He’s productive, versatile, and valuable. The two years and $26 million left on his contract runs neck-and-neck with Al Horford’s new deal as the best bargain on the team.
If the Hawks somehow managed to unload Marvin Williams’ contract in the process of trading Smith, then the salary dump angle would make more sense. It still wouldn’t be palatable from a basketball standpoint unless they could also replace Smith’s production in the deal but clearly Williams has the kind of deal they would gladly send away.
If the Hawks also were to work a trade that included Smith and brought them back a superior player (or at least a comparable player at center or small forward) for even a one-season run then it would make some sense from a basketball standpoint. If the Hawks were able to get productive young players and draft picks in a deal, and then turn those assets into something down the line, then that might be a successful path, too.
Of course, looming in the background (or maybe the foreground) of all this speculation about salary shedding: The Hawks gave the richest contract in the league to a player that even their GM doesn’t believe is an MVP candidate.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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242 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
7:00 pm
In other news, Ron Artest is trying to officially change his name to “Metta World Peace”.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
7:02 pm
Rod ,
I know Al played against Oden in the championship, but they kept listing him as a PF otherwise, and Noah as the center.
Maybe I got it wrong, but that’s something I kept seeing, particularly at Draftexpress.com. Again, maybe I got it wrong.
But here’s the funny thing – all the draftexpress and other site articles kept highlighting Horford’s struggles against the bigger centers in college, most notably Oden and (believe it or not) Randolph Morris.
So knowing this, why in the world would an NBA team insist on trotting this guy out every night against NBA starting centers?
And who is Marvin’s grandmother? I’m sure there’s a punchline at the end of the answer, I just don’t know what (or who) it is.
drmaryb (*_*)
June 23rd, 2011
7:04 pm
Grandmaster JeJe is Back!
Thank God! Now we can get ready for the draft party!
Grandmaster … If we shock the world and get that #2 pick from Minny – do you take D. Williams?
My Grand-Daddy likes Kawhi Leonard and kenneth Farhied big time, he hates the idea of Kanter. IDK nothing ’bout nobody!
I’m just eating popcorn sipping on cherry coke.
_____________
I’ve missed you baby! Did you go to Rio? Mmmmwah!
IF the Hawks are SOLD – Oh Happy Day!!!!!!!!!!!! I could just throw in the towel and rest my nerves.
LOL!
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
7:04 pm
Trade Smoove for the #2 and try throw in Hinrich and Marvin for Beasley and Flynn, with Teague as starter
Offer Hinrich in any trade
However, like I said, Sund ONLY MAKES TRADES EVERY 2 YEARS
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
7:06 pm
Minnesota and Golden State are now talking Monta Ellis for the #2.
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
7:07 pm
Big Ray
And who is Marvin’s grandmother? I’m sure there’s a punchline at the end of the answer, I just don’t know what (or who) it is
Rod from Hapeville and Najeh “Al is a Center” Davenport call’s me “GRANNY”..And yes you are right Al played PF at Florida..i still have no idea where Rod get’s his info from…
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
7:08 pm
Who let Jon Barry into the draft?
This guy sucks
kirkinga
June 23rd, 2011
7:09 pm
@ you are right GT Alum, like many Atlanta sports fans, I don’t really care about losing another hockey team other than the bad PR. I stop caring about hockey when the Flames left. Sorry.
Btw…you obviously don’t understand contacts if you believe that there is no way the Hawks could move before 2028.
@CONservative Johnson, perhaps they would look better, perhaps not. I’d prefer Chris Paul if we could get him.
Wabe
June 23rd, 2011
7:09 pm
I think Minnesota is just f’n around with folks. I think they’ll ultimately hold onto their #2 pick and will take D.Williams.
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
7:10 pm
Nah DrB I’ve just been working hard. Stayin in the struggle
I like this Kanter guy. If we get Derrick Williams do we really improve? Sund is rumored to really like Kanter, who is 6″11
I’d take Kanter. I mean, this team clearly cannot get past rd 2 with this same crappy roster, so why not take a risk? The guy said he’s the best player in the draft. I never heard Marvin or SHelden say they thought they were the best players in the draft
GT Alum
June 23rd, 2011
7:12 pm
kirkinga -
It may not be impossible, but it’s highly unlikely that the Hawks will be moving in the next 10 years.
Rod from College Park
June 23rd, 2011
7:14 pm
Marvin’s grandmother is “It was not a bad pick”.
O'Brien
June 23rd, 2011
7:17 pm
Guys,
I would love to see the Hawks make a bold move, but that is not their style. Rick is known for overpaying to keep his core together.
So I dont expect any news coming out of Hawksville except for when the 48th pick is announced.
JoJo the Godfather
June 23rd, 2011
7:17 pm
Don’t forget, if Kanter is the target, then Josh to Cleveland at 4 is a possibility as well.
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
7:19 pm
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
6:52 pm
Tell you who refused to play center…6′10″ Amare Stoudamire. Nobody says anything about him though….LOL.
You mean the same Amare Stoudamire that called out Al Horford and then whooped him?
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
7:23 pm
Can someone please explain to me this trade deadline? MC said all trades had to be in by 2pm.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
7:28 pm
Fran Fraschilla just compared Kanter to Al.
drmaryb (*_*)
June 23rd, 2011
7:28 pm
Grandmaster JeJe!
Oh! OK, then yeah … Me too! I can’t predict who will be a MVP?
But, what IDK is we need: size, rebounder/defender who is not a fouling. machine. Centers do not grow on trees and you can NOT contend without
one!
Lord knows we haven’t had a center since Dikembe left.
Sign me up!
Wabe
June 23rd, 2011
7:28 pm
LMAO
The ‘international expert’ on ESPN just described Kanter, and told us to ‘think Al Horford’ when describing him.
Rod from College Park
June 23rd, 2011
7:29 pm
It was a horrible pick and Big Ray,
What part of starting a center in the front court don’t you understand IWNABP? He was hurt in the Ohio State game, but came off the bench and guarded Oden.
“Al Horford attended Grand Ledge High School in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and was a star player on its basketball team. He was rated a four-star recruit by rivals.com.[1] He entered college at the University of Florida with fellow incoming freshmen Joakim Noah, Taurean Green, and Corey Brewer. He made an immediate impact as a Gator, starting at center in the front-court with David Lee. He helped the Gators win the 2005 SEC Championship.”
“However, Horford entered the game from the bench to guard Ohio State player Greg Oden, a highly-touted 7′0″ (2.13 m) freshman. Horford tried to contain Oden, holding him to just seven points (well below Oden’s season average of just over 15). Horford himself scored eleven points, adding eleven rebounds in limited action. The Gators beat the Buckeyes in what is now regarded as not just a great game, but also one of Florida’s best-played games at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center”
Michael Cunningham
June 23rd, 2011
7:32 pm
Live blog is up.
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
7:33 pm
Wabe, that is funny. Especially for me since I said the biggest difference is that Kanter is willing to play center . . .
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
7:35 pm
One thing the NBA should change is having the draft in the same place every year. They should have it in the location of whoever has the #1 pick.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
7:37 pm
Rod ,
Did I not say that I could be wrong about what position Horford played at Florida?
Again, I ask why an NBA team would continue to trot an undersized guy out at center when he clearly struggled against the bigger ones in college?
Stick to Marvin bashing arguments, you actually have something to back you up there…
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
7:37 pm
Najeh, they need to simulcast on NBA TV like the NFL does. It sucks having to listen to the ESPN guys . . .
kirkinga
June 23rd, 2011
7:37 pm
“5 minutes to make their selection”, truly wonderful, no NFL stretching it out.
kirkinga
June 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
@Najeh, you’re absolutely right, rotate the draft location already.
@GTAlum, ok, as long as you understand the difference between hard-to-do, improbable vs. impossible.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
conservative johnson ,
Yeah, that one. Now what does that have to do with what I said? Amare still doesn’t play center, refuses to do so, just like he did in Phoenix.
All I was saying was that he isn’t the only one.
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
7:48 pm
He’s the only one that matters to us as Hawks fans.
Rod from College Park
June 23rd, 2011
7:52 pm
“Rod ,
Did I not say that I could be wrong about what position Horford played at Florida?”
Read the post again, it was directed at Marvin’s greandmother, that why the intials were after it. Included you just for clarity.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
7:55 pm
Rod ,
Gotcha. My bad.
Also, I see Marvin’s grandmother revealed herself. LOL…
MNM
June 23rd, 2011
11:39 pm
All those who keep saying trade Joe Johnson what team other than the Hawks do you think are going to give him more than he’s worth?
Henry
June 23rd, 2011
11:57 pm
Why is ever one so quick to blame Josh Smith for his shot selection when J J holds the ball until the shot clock runs down. Then it’s throw it up are lose it. I place most of the blame on the over paid JJ
Debra
June 24th, 2011
12:32 am
If Josh had been traded, i would no longer be a Hawks fan!!! Between Josh and Jamal, there is no one else worth coming to the Highlight factory to watch!
Smith did this to himself
June 24th, 2011
12:31 pm
Of course they want to trade him, and he only has himself to blame.
Smith causes fights in the locker room with other players, fights with the coach, and doesn’t see eye to eye with the owners.
1st class punk, now they’re sending him packing.
Trading Sy and Horford for Rocket big men and #14 + 23/2nd rounder picks for Donatas & M.Thomas
June 24th, 2011
12:51 pm
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/214339/Rockets_See_Shades_Of_Nowitzki_In_Motiejunas
Truckme
June 24th, 2011
12:55 pm
Smith is untradeable. They tried earlier in the season. No takers.
a1andonly
June 24th, 2011
3:43 pm
BRING D. HOWARD TO ATL!!!!! EVEN IF IT IS FOR ONE YEAR. CAN WE JUST KEEP EVERYONE?!?!?! (EXCEPT FOR MARVIN)….I’M JUST KIDDING. I KNOW IT AIN’T POSSIBLE, BUT CAN A BROTHA DREAM ANYWAY?!?!?
john
June 24th, 2011
7:38 pm
I hope they trade josh he is a negative influences and he takes horrible shots i have been wanting him out of atlanta for a while now
Baby Mamma Drama of J-Stupid
June 25th, 2011
10:38 am
His baby’s mother’s kept showing up to games, distracting him from his pin-point 3-shooting game. Another city will do him good…
falconairre
June 25th, 2011
1:14 pm
The need to maintain wat they have right now we are still good. it was a bone head move to trade Jc2 but wats done is done. wit the addtion of Benson we could have a real solid rotation. i believe he cud come in and start some games in put up decent numbers in college……
COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON STATS
SEASON GMS MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
2010-11 35 32.4 17.9 10.1 1.1 1.9 0.58 0.8 3.6 3.1 .547 .643 .391
2009-10 35 31.3 17.3 10.5 0.8 1.7 0.48 0.4 3.3 3.0 .533 .724 .400
2008-09 36 27.8 14.3 7.8 0.7 1.1 0.66 0.6 2.4 3.2 .622 .667 .000
2007-08 29 13.4 5.2 3.5 0.1 0.7 0.14 0.2 1.4 1.8 .505 .667 .000
marvin could be good off the bench or trade him for a defensive stopper and shooter of the bench. if drew cant get josh smith to cut to the basket and finish and only finish not shoot un needed jumpers wen we have a lead or down a few points early in the game. WE NEED DUNKS!BENSON WILL PROVIDE DEFENSE AND HORFORD CAN PLAY pf start teague and jj bring in hinrich off the bench Fa defensive stopper/shooter zaza pap sy and hopefully jamal
Rocky
June 25th, 2011
1:41 pm
Smith is a dummie. When asked to refrain from the 3 pointers, he told LD to go F_off. He then told the press that atlanta fans didn’t understand the game, and that his 3 was really good. Now dummie doesn’t want to play for LD, and wants him gone.
Smith is too stupid to play in atlanta.