Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith still wants to be traded
Miami–Even as Josh Smith is having a strong season for the Hawks he has let the team know he wants to be traded as the March 15 deadline approaches, according to people with knowledge of Smith’s thinking.
And the reasons for Smith’s dissatisfaction with the team now have to make the Hawks wonder if they will be able to sign him to a contract extension next season.
By the end of last season Smith wanted out of Atlanta because he believed he was singled out for unfair criticism by coaches and media. Those concerns have died down for the most part this season but now Smith believes he needs a fresh start with a franchise where he can better reach his potential on and off the court, according to one of the people with knowledge of Smith’s thinking.
The person said one of Smith’s complaints is that he believes the Hawks didn’t do enough to promote him for selection to the All-Star team, which he thinks contributed to lesser players being voted to the team by Eastern Conference coaches. Smith, an Atlanta native who has played his entire eight-year career with the Hawks, also would like to play for a franchise he believes is more committed to winning a championship.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Hawks have taken calls from teams interested in acquiring Smith—Golden State is among the teams who have inquired. But the Hawks so far have given no indication that they intend to part with Smith, who likely would command a high price in a trade.
Smith, 26, is under contract through next season, after which he can become an unrestricted free agent. If the Hawks don’t trade Smith and can’t alleviate his concerns by then, they face the real possibility of him signing with another team in the summer of 2013 because there figures to be a strong market for him.
I asked Smith about all of this last night before the Hawks played the Heat but he declined to comment. This is the third season in a row he’s been at the center of trade rumors.
“I really don’t pay any attention to it,” he said. “I just go out there and play the way I play and not worry about anything else. I know this is a business. Whatever happens, happens in the long run. But I know as long as I’m with the Hawks, I have to put my best foot forward.”
This season Smith is averaging 17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals. No other player in the league can match those numbers across all categories. It’s that all-around productivity that makes the Hawks reluctant to part with Smith.
Smith’s value as a defender at the basket becomes obvious when Hawks opponents drive to rim when Smith goes to the bench.
“People look at the offensive end but defensively he changes the game,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said recently. “He is one of the few players I think that can play a defensive game and impact the game even if his offense is not on that night.”
The main knock on Smith’s game is his shooting.
After making 39 percent of his long two-point shots last season, a mark that was right at the league average, Smith is making just 31 percent of those attempts this season while attempting nearly two more per game. However, he’s attempting more shots per game at the basket and fewer 3-pointers than last season and his free-throw rate is up slightly.
Smith’s free-throw percentage has plummeted to a career-low 57.7 percent this season after he made a career-high 72.5 percent in 2010-11. His free-throw percentage has improved over the last 20 games or so.
Smith said he’s improved his free-throw shooting by taking his time at the line and expects his jump shots to start falling more often as the season goes on.
“It’s a long season but it came to you real quick,” he said. “They are throwing games at us left and right. If you look around the league most people’s percentages are down more so than usual.”
Smith’s emotional demeanor on the court has drawn fire from critics and has caused friction with teammates at times. But Jerry Stackhouse , an Atlanta resident who had developed a relationship with Smith before joining the Hawks this season, said Smith has grown in that area and Smith’s ability makes it difficult for the Hawks to trade him.
“His talent, that’s what you can’t give up on with Josh,” Stackhouse said. “It’s easy to say, ‘All right, let’s just move him.’ And then he goes and clicks at the next stop and you’ve got to look at that every night and you had it in house. That’s kind of the dilemma with Josh. You know you are going to get some uneasy moments from time to time but, for the most part, he’s really about winning. He wants to win. He’s competitive. I relate to that.
“How he handles his emotions and frustrations, sometimes he rubs people the wrong way and bruises them. But I think he’s happy-go-lucky. He thinks, ‘It was just heat of the moment’ and we can move on from it but he can bruise people. I think he’s learning that. He is learning to control his emotions a little better and it’s good for our team. The better Josh Smith is, the better the Atlanta Hawks are.”
Smith said his emotion fuels his performance but he’s made an effort to tone it down in the past couple seasons. He said he’s especially done so this year as injuries to Al Horford and Joe Johnson have increased the team’s reliance on him.
“I’m definitely an emotional player but I’m kind of bottling it up, understanding the importance of what my team needs and just trying to stay positive and have constructive criticism when possible,” he said. “Now I’m at the point of my career where I can voice my opinion a little bit more and it will be recognized more than back in the day [when] it got drowned out more so than anything else.
“[Teammates] know that I have good intentions, no matter how it’s delivered. I am saying stuff because I want to win games. It’s not nothing personal or to try to hurt or bash any one of my teammates or anyone else.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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
754 comments Add your comment
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
Josh for Scola
Luke Cage
March 8th, 2012
5:30 pm
And for all those in the past few seasons clamoring for SMOOVE to be traded, sometimes be careful what you wish for, unless we get multiple players in return we won’t get great value in return.
W.R. Terrell
March 8th, 2012
5:30 pm
There’s going to be so many folks who will mourn if Josh Smith leaves, but “me, myself and I”, say byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I seriously hope his “PO” becomes relevant and put to practice with the next team and coach on a game to game basis, but as far as the HAWKS go, I’m with “let’s try something new”. His value will never be as high as it is now. Who knows, a couple of good players and a future #1 if that many teams are interested.
Luke Cage
March 8th, 2012
5:30 pm
JeJe thats a terrible trade, Scola is 31 and sucks defensively
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 8th, 2012
5:31 pm
Scola has been most underrated player in league for 3 years
Offer Smoove and Marvin/Kirk for Scola and KMart.
Hou is desperate for trade. Best trade possible.
Not Midget Monta
Rufus1
March 8th, 2012
5:36 pm
I SOOOO TIRED….
Of hearing barely HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATED NBA players talk about building a WINNER… Take the 12mil you make per year and play SMART, HARD basketball every night and you might find out you are CLOSER than you think….. Or you could take a PAY CUT, so the they can sign better players.
I AM SOOO TIRED of hearing PPL who have never had RESPONSIBILITY for anything, complain about how things are being DONE.
IF JOSH PLAYED LIKE THIS EVERY NIGHT IN THE BULLS SERIES, WE WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ECF LAST YEAR.
ASG has proven they want to win when they gave you(Josh), AL and Joe ALL THAT MONEY…. The question is, do you want to win enough to “BRING IT” every night?
doc
March 8th, 2012
5:39 pm
i see slim beat me to da boom.
BIG DOG
March 8th, 2012
5:39 pm
Luke Cage Josh is my Fav. Hawks player on this team, and not only that he from ATL so fans who support teams and spend there hard erning money going see the games, when every there is a player wishing to leave youmust trade him because of the cancer it become to Fans, Coaches, Organization.
JOSH MUST GO.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Brittany
March 8th, 2012
5:40 pm
I say denver trades birdman, rundy fernandez, and a couple picks for smith. even though im a nuggets fan, im also a hawks fan so i love josh’s game. hawks fo cant be greedy for the simple fact that if they force him to stay longer it’ll caus friction and then he’ll bounce as a fa. JOSH SMITH TO DENVER!!!!
Trade Deadline: Josh Smith Wants Out, We Want Josh Smith Out, It Won’t Happen | Hardwood Paroxysm
March 8th, 2012
5:42 pm
[...] via Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith still wants to be traded | Atlanta Hawks. [...]
Ray
March 8th, 2012
5:42 pm
And here is blowing up in our face.
You know if you didn’t see this coming you’ve been living under a rock your entire life. I can say I’m seriously upset I’ve done my fair share of criticizing Josh, but I knew most of it wasn’t his fault.
What makes this so much worse I’m more inclined then ever to say get rid of Joe Johnson even worse than before. Our biggest problems right now Joe is the focal point and Marvin is still here.
I think if we slide Josh to SF and Al to PF and Zaza to C until we can get a legit C(not that Zaza is bad) We’d be just fine.
I put all the blame of this BS on Joe Johnson himself he’s overrated in every sense of the word. He got the Max contract that should have went to Josh especially after this season Josh deserves all of Joe’s money.
Okay I’m done ranting but I’m sad Josh is still my favorite player.
Sautee
March 8th, 2012
5:46 pm
“do i hear a loud boom?”
one can only hope, doc
Bonifide Big Man
March 8th, 2012
5:47 pm
Make sure you trade him to a team in the west. He could comeback to do damage against the Hawks in another uniform
Sautee
March 8th, 2012
5:54 pm
I remember when I spoke against Joe being re-signed. Some of the folks on this blog told me that we would be a 30-35 win team without Joe.
Did the Hawks team you have watched the last few games look like a 30-35 win team to any of you?
The Truth
March 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
“As the trade deadline approaches, the Hawks have taken calls from teams interested in acquiring Smith—Golden State is among the teams who have inquired.” Hoophype
So now we getting to the “real” agenda. LOL, Monta for Josh. Another SG for the backbone of our already “weak” frontline.
Knowing LD, he might actually do this deal
Ray
March 8th, 2012
6:00 pm
@ Sautee
Hell NO! In fact the hawks without Horford or Joe look like they were legit title contenders just saying though.
But it doesn’t matter a lot of people will get their wish, and we will see this team GO KABOOM! When Al and Joe don’t work out like most had hope and the attendance goes back to rock-bottom of the league.
Left Coast Dawg
March 8th, 2012
6:01 pm
Josh would look good in a Laker uniform, running the floor at Staples!!
tyger
March 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
On the other hand…
Maybe Jsmoove is forcing his hand, to force ASG’s hands…
We all know our ownership won’t make a splash on it’s own…
Could they be prodded into a championship run…
Rather than settling for a playoff appearance and TV revenue…
Maybe he’s forcing them to upgrade Teague/Marvin…
Lord knows we need it…
His expression after last night said alot, he wanted that game…
but just didnt have enough help to get it…
Tdawg
March 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
So Josh wants to go to a team that has a chance to win a title. Pray tell what team would that be. Miami, don’t think so. New York, New Jersey, Detriot, Indiana. They are no better that the hawks. Boston is getting older so there days are numbered, same with the Lakers and the Spurs. Dallas maybe or the LA Clippers. Oh I forgot. The Clippers, Bulls, Heat, and most of the other contenders all have pretty good forwards. If he wants out so bad, I say trade him to a team that will at least allow you a chance at the top pick in the draft. Some where like Washington or Cleveland sounds good to me. I have a question for Josh well more of an observation. Josh if you were good enough to make the all star team your coaches shouldn’t have to lobby for you so that you can make the all star team. Your body of work should speak for itself. Obviously your’s don’t. I for one wouild love it if you were to stay, but I won’t beg you to.
Ra'mon
March 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
Josh and Kirk for Gasol and Matt Barnes.
BIG DOG
March 8th, 2012
6:09 pm
The only way i see Josh staying if D12 COME BACK HOME.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Dawg
March 8th, 2012
6:11 pm
Give up everything except Josh to get Dwight. If they want to then leave, blow it all up.
Ra'mon
March 8th, 2012
6:12 pm
Tdawg, you think Josh should be content playing for the Hawks who don’t have a championship agenda? Do you realize the Grizzlies and the T’Wolves have a better chance of winning a title in the next 5 seasons than the Hawks do? By the way, Miami would trade Bosh for Josh any day of the week. Josh gives you more rebounds, more defense, the same scoring, and he posts up even more than Bosh does. Please believe Lebron and Wade would come pack Josh’s luggage for him to get him to South Beach.
Speaking of that, I wonder if the Hawks would trade Josh for Bosh. Bosh would be a bigger name and would come back to his college town to pair with Joe. Sure the Hawks would be terrible on defense, but hey who cares.
ATLiens Don’t Want to Be Hawks « coming up small
March 8th, 2012
6:13 pm
[...] uni—and to make matters worse, Smith is dying to trade his in for that of another team. Word is, Smith wants to leave the nest. And that’s despite the fact that, at the moment, he’s the Hawks’ best [...]
PlasticMAN
March 8th, 2012
6:15 pm
With Horford down.Now is the time to package JJ and JSmoov
Donte
March 8th, 2012
6:18 pm
Unbelievable. 5 Pages in and only 1 comment, by BIG DOG, that reflects how a true fan should feel. This is why people say ATL is the worst sports city with the worst fans. A guy says he doesnt want to be on your team and 99% of the post have been responses kissing the guy’s butt??? If he doesnt want to play for our team, then get the fudge on!!! Sure, he may be right about direction of the organization, but we’ve been known how they are and we have no control over it as fans. If he doesnt want to be here then dont let the door knob hit you where the God lord split ya chump. Using the logic behind these responses, lets just wave the entire team and only sign D-Leaguers, since the team is so poorly run and no one with real talent able to contribute at the NBA level deserves to play for our so poorly ran organization. Gimmie a break. Guys butt kissing a loser who doesn’t even want to be here.
Harry Hawk
March 8th, 2012
6:21 pm
We can certainly get a good deal for Josh, right? Whatever his flaws, he’s doing just about everything he can do on a basketball court.
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:24 pm
I highly doubt we will get a good deal in return, don’t know why but that’s just my gut feeling. On the other hand, this could open up a new chapter, have Al at PF and trade for a decent center. Don’t know how exciting this new team would be but hey…
KevinM
March 8th, 2012
6:25 pm
NOTE: If you’re trading Josh, go get us a shooter and a C, not another PF. Simple math…..Al will be here.
NOTE; If you plan on bringing in Monta, plan on one of the smallest backcourts in the league. I like Joe and Jeff; I don’t like Monta and Jeff. And what has Monta ever done to show he is an all-star? Don’t you think we should get an all-star in return for Joe?
NOTE: With this team the way its playing, it reminds me of a little bit of Denver. Denver is down with Gallo and Nene out, and they don’t have a leader. We have Joe and Al down, and we have Josh to lean on. That makes us a bit better than Denver, but we are very similar in build.
We need a leader, and Josh has been the best leader for us out of the 3.
As an individual player, Josh gives us more than Joe or Al.
Josh is the 1st leader we’ve had in a while.
All I ask out of this trade deadline is we move Kirk and Marvin…..and perhaps get something useful in return.
northcyde
March 8th, 2012
6:26 pm
If Josh wants out, Pau Gasol MUST be the target, if a deal for Dwight Howard can’t be done. We’d lose some defense with Pau, but be better on offense. And Pau is a guy who can close out a game. All around, Pau is less exciting, but better.
Pau + Lakers 1st rd pick – for – Josh Smith and Kirk Hinrich.
Good trade for both teams.
keepinitreal
March 8th, 2012
6:28 pm
Ra’mon, Bosh for Josh is a trade I could actually live with. I think Bosh gets way too much criticism. He does so many things well. That’s about as good a return as we could possibly hope for.
I wish we didn’t didn’t have to trade Josh at all, though.
C-Dogg
March 8th, 2012
6:30 pm
Is there anyway the Hawks can amnesty Joe Johnson and free up our roster options with the extra cap space? Why won’t mgt do this? Obvious improvement and increase flexibility. Otherwise, this roster is screwed for years to come.
NBA Rumors: Atlanta Hawks Have No Reason to Honor Josh Smith’s Trade Request | :: Sparxxrx LLC ::
March 8th, 2012
6:32 pm
[...] would like them to. According to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Smith has informed Atlanta’s brass he wants to be [...]
BIG DOG
March 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7pd5thz
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
“If Josh wants out, Pau Gasol MUST be the target, if a deal for Dwight Howard can’t be done. We’d lose some defense with Pau, but be better on offense. And Pau is a guy who can close out a game. All around, Pau is less exciting, but better.
Pau + Lakers 1st rd pick – for – Josh Smith and Kirk Hinrich.
Good trade for both teams.”
Really?
Pau is only going downhill from now, you know big men have shorter careers than usual. And a Lakers 1st round pick will do us no good with Sund as the GM. We need to invest in youth with the Smith trade, not the other way around, or our future looks very bleak
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
“http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7pd5thz
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE”
Why would the centerpoint of that trade be another PF when we already have an all-star in Horford? The only problem we have with Josh Smith right now is that we have 2 All-Star calibers at his position. When (if) we deal Smith, we don’t need another PF to have to have Al play C again
BIG DOG
March 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Teague, Joe, Tmac, Cousin, Thompson
When Horford come back your now become the youngest biggest team in the nba.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
PlasticMAN
March 8th, 2012
6:41 pm
ASG sucks, no big surprises there. But sadly Josh and Dwight had the chances to recruit and market for the city of Atlanta like MIA, Bos, and NY did, but haven’t. Looking forward to the change.
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:44 pm
I would love to see a trade involving Brook Lopez and possibly a 1st round pick to happen, but with Brook in the final year of his contract, I doubt the ASG will go for this
Sautee
March 8th, 2012
6:44 pm
“Pau is only going downhill from now, you know big men have shorter careers than usual.”
Robert Parish: 21 years
Kareem: 20 years
Moses Malone: 21 years
Kevin Willis: 20 years
Shall I go on?
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 8th, 2012
6:49 pm
Query!
MC, If Mr. Smith wishes to be traded? Where is the list of teams he would like to be traded to?
Bobcats?
Hornets?
Raptors?
Kings?
Something seems amiss here, does he not care about his new destination or, will any old team do?
Disgusted
March 8th, 2012
6:49 pm
Unless the Hawks can make a deal that benefits them then tough luck.
I like Josh, he has been the MVP this year, but if you cannot make him happy and make a championship run with him, then look around and see what you can do.
My thinking is that he will stay, like it or not.
Nobody is going to come in here as long as these owners are around.
BIG DOG
March 8th, 2012
6:50 pm
Horford and Cousin with Teague at point could be crazy scary.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
March 8th, 2012
6:52 pm
Teague, Joe, ? , Horford, Cousin.
next year Hawks team.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:52 pm
The sad part about this is, I was just beginning to love Smoove. I think we all were, the way he has stepped his game up to the next level this season has been amazing. Good luck to wherever you land Smoove, we hardly knew ya
Gilbert
March 8th, 2012
6:53 pm
I just hope we don’t make any trade involving Ellis, even if we can dump Joe’s contract.
Ellis is a looser, the Warriors are often better when he’s not on the floor, he makes good stats, but only individual stats, and doesn’t help his team. Curry or other are good, but Ellis, please No !
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:54 pm
“Robert Parish: 21 years
Kareem: 20 years
Moses Malone: 21 years
Kevin Willis: 20 years”
You’re really going to compare Pau to a few Hall of Famers? LOL, give me a more realistic example and maybe I’ll change my mind
Section 212
March 8th, 2012
6:54 pm
I can understand Josh’s concern about ASG committment to winning a Championship. ASG gives the impression that they are just happy to have an entertaining product on the floor. BUT I hope they understand Smoove is the center piece of that entertaining product. I am a big NBA fan and I support the Hawks and Smoove’s development has been both compelling and frustrating at times. Also Josh is the only athlete in this town who makes plays that makes that fans in the arena/stadium say “WOW!!!”
Runner-
March 8th, 2012
6:57 pm
“Also Josh is the only athlete in this town who makes plays that makes that fans in the arena/stadium say “WOW!!!”
Exactly, attendance will shoot down if we give him up. Just imagine this lineup:
JT, Joe, Marvin, Al, decent Center
No spectacular plays from them anytime soon