Atlanta Hawks: Hawks said to pursue Josh Smith for Pau Gasol trade
According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, the Hawks have tired to trade forward Josh Smith for Lakers forward Pau Gasol.
Bresnahan tweeted that no deal is imminent. And a big caveat is that his report says the Hawks first expressed interest in Gasol after Los Angeles was eliminated from the playoffs by the Thunder, back when Rick Sund was still Hawks GM.
The Hawks have since hired GM Danny Ferry, who says he’s focused on building long term. Gasol turns 32 next week and is owed more than $38 million over the next two seasons.
Also, Bresnahan and ESPN’s Chad Ford reported the Lakers are open to trading Gasol for a high lottery pick and players, a price the Hawks can’t match.
The Rockets, who have been accumulating draft picks, could meet the Lakers’ price. Houston already tried to trade for Gasol as part of the infamous Chris Paul deal that was eventually nixed by NBA commissioner David Stern.
Update: Ford now says the Rockets aren’t pursuing Gasol.
Smith, who can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, first told the Hawks he wanted to be traded after last season and reiterated that desire prior to this season’s deadline. Smith wants to join a franchise he feels is more committed to winning and play in a market with better fan support.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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588 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
June 27th, 2012
8:49 pm
I’d rather see All Get Real go before Josh….
The Real cp
June 27th, 2012
8:50 pm
Just Joe I said a few pages ago I could easily see Gasol put up 20 and 10 on the Hawks. Dude put up 17 and 10 last year although he was the 3rd options most nights. I like Josh but some of his fans on here are comical. People keep bringing up how Gasol is on the decline yet he still put up better numbers than Josh. Trading Josh is not the end of the world people. Its not the first move I would make but its better than nothing. Once again got to love the logic on here. Now Josh is better than guys who have won rings, been multiple all stars, and have made the all pro teams? You guys seriously overrate Josh.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
8:50 pm
The Hawks should move to Seattle, better yet move this team to hell. With the proposals alone, this team has ruin any plans of me watching them in person next year. I never hear the Falcons are looking to trade Roddy White to land an aging Derrick Mason and a 1st. Stupidity in even proposals lowers the value of your team. You see Houston. LA tried to say they want Gasol, Houston came out ASAP and said hell naw. Made their fanbase feel good. The Hawks, no, not a damn word.
Say Whaaaaaaaaat?
June 27th, 2012
8:50 pm
Lemme get this straight. Josh Smith for Pau Gausol.
We would send a young athletic stat stuffing forward to LA.
In return we get an old slow NO-Power Power Forward.
If this trade goes down, Danny Ferry should be Fired!!!!
KevinM
June 27th, 2012
8:50 pm
Jake, totally agree…
“Remember josh has been playing for 10 years in the NBA. Most players play 14 years. His time is almost up.”
Josh has one more big contract left in him, so 5 years or so as a SF…..I’m ready to move him, but would prefer to go younger to save cap space.
Daddy Long Long
June 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
Oh hell nawl, let LA deal with Pau Gasol!! So glad we don’t have a lottery pick for LA to pluck.
Dueces
random
June 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
air zaza josh smith has only 1 year left on his contract lol that is not the same thing
KevinM
June 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
June 18, 1985, a date that will live in Hawks infamy….
“With the 5th pick in the NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks select……….Jon Koncak.
NBA TV giving it to Fratello while he passes over Karl Malone who goes 13th.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
real cp, he can’t protect the rim, his rebounds will drop playing next to Al, this wouldn’t make Al any better as teams can PnR Gasol to death, we don’t protect the rim, we are undersized, Horf and Gasol are redundant, Gasol on wants to play back to the basket on some nights and not others. You guys are talking like his back to the basket game is Wilt, his back to the basket game is inconsistent. His face up game is more consistent and that’s what we have Horf for. Horf and Josh at least are great fit on defense. Horf and Gasol don’t fit on offense and defense. This is a stupid ass deal. Only a retard would do this.
Just Joe
June 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
The trade should be Josh and Marvin for Gasol and their 2014 first rd pick. The draft pick is important. This trade also frees up a couple million in cap space for the upcoming year.
Meidzo
June 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
Josh is what is known as a “local” favorite! A PF that shoots 43%? Say that again four times. If Josh had as much passion for improving his game as this blog’s jock riders he would have made All NBA (not be pouting because the Hawks did not push him for the All Star game).
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
8:55 pm
Pau Gasol
J.R. Rider
Jon Koncak
Danny Manning
This would be the Mt. Rushmore of stupidity for the Atlanta franchise.
Jake
June 27th, 2012
8:55 pm
The Hawks should move to Seattle, better yet move this team to hell. With the proposals alone, this team has ruin any plans of me watching them in person this year. I never here the Falcons are looking to trade Roddy White to land an aging Derrick Mason and a 1st. Stupidity in even proposals lowers the value. You see Houston. LA tried to say they want Gasol, Houston came out ASAP and said hell naw. Made their fanbase feel good. The Hawks, no, not a damn word.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
Yeah but Roddy doesn’t want to leave. We have no choice but get rid of Josh
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
8:55 pm
I already want to fire Ferry
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
8:56 pm
Who on the Hawks doesn’t want to leave?
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 27th, 2012
8:58 pm
Gasol is a good player, but he’s not a good fit here. Neither he nor Horford are big or physical enough to play C. Having both of them in the lineup seems redundant and would make us extremely soft down low.
Let’s focus our effort on getting a true defensive center in exchange for Josh, then we can move Horford to the 4 where he can finally reach his full potential. He’s played out of position for five years without complaint. We owe it to him to finally get a legit big to ease his burden.
random
June 27th, 2012
8:58 pm
air zaza you should leave this blog talking wreckless
glw
June 27th, 2012
8:58 pm
Im not buying this article. Its an article written by an LA guy, of course he is going to play up trading Gasol. Man, the Hawks aint paying Joe and Gasol 40 million. If Josh is traded, its for lesser salary and or draft picks.
Sautee
June 27th, 2012
8:59 pm
slim,
Bosh: 18.0 ppg, 7.9 reb., 0.8 blocks, 1.8 assists, 2.43 to
Gasol: 17.4ppg, 10.4 reb., 1.4 blocks, 3.2 assists, 2.18 to
Gasol was competing with Bynum for rebounds, while Bosh was competing with Joel Anthony. Has anyone ever mistaken Joel Anthony for Andrew Bynum?
And notice that Bosh had more turnovers than he did assists. Gasol was 5th among forwards in assists, but Josh was the only PF to have more (the others were SF), while Bosh was 27th among forwards.
I’m saying at best it’s a wash between Bosh and Gasol, but that’s just my opinion. Bosh IS younger, as you say, but those turnovers are ugly. I think Gasol brings more things than Bosh does.
More rebounding, more blocks, and more assists, and fewer turnovers.
Just Joe
June 27th, 2012
8:59 pm
Air ZaZa…so Gasol playing next to Horford rather than Bynum would make his rebounds go down???
You do realize that Gasol has shot better than 50% from the field for 9 straight years. So his inconsistent offense is still better than most of the PF’s in the league.
Gasol avgd 1.4 blocks per game. Josh avgd 1.7 blocks per game.
This isn’t a slam dunk deal. Who wins or loses is in the smaller details. Can the Hawks get a future pick out of the deal?
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
8:59 pm
The Hawks are a stupid organization.One of the worse in sports entertainment. A complete joke of a franchise. Their owners spend most of their ownership in court and talking crap about vet players in the league. They paid Joe Johnson more money than Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. They are mentions in crappy trade rumors. They are a running joke.
Just Joe
June 27th, 2012
9:01 pm
Jaded Hawks Fan…..you’ve got until the trade deadline to find this “true defensive center” that’s available. Who will it be?
Bird
June 27th, 2012
9:02 pm
I would rather trade Smooth for Gasol, instead of letting Smooth walk and not get anything.
Jake
June 27th, 2012
9:02 pm
You guys need to think before you speak. THINK. WOULD YOU RATHER LOOSE JOSH FOR NOTHING OR GET GASOL FOR JOSH. We Will no AND I REPEAT will not get a better player than gasol for smith. Teams would rather wait till he gets the hell out ATL so they can sign him and get him rather than giving any of their players up.
The Real cp
June 27th, 2012
9:03 pm
Well Just Joe and Sautee just made the point I was going to make about Gasol and his rebounds. Lmao@he would be competing with Horford for rebounds. I love how you ignored that Gasol grabbed 10 boards a game while Bynum grabbed almost 12 a night if im correct. Bynum was a better rebounder than Al this past season and Gasol still mangaged to grab 10 a game. Your argument is weak
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:04 pm
Yes, Bynum is a big body. He clear space for other players to get boards. You do watch the Lakers right? Look at his rebounding numbers when Bynum is playing and when he isn’t.
2. He is playing with a #1 option in Kobe Bryant who is(was) a superstar. Kobe can deal with double teams and triple teams and create offense for Gasol. You notice the direct correlation with Kobe regression as Gasol does as well.
3.Josh effect defenses attacking the paint. Look at point in the paint with Smith for us and without Smith. Smith is an defensive anchor who can guard two positions and alter a lot of shots for us. To just bring up blocks is stupid. Horford has a good number of blocks, does that make him half shot blocker Smith is for us? Don’t be stupid.
BIG DOG
June 27th, 2012
9:05 pm
Jake – COM ON MAN
Think before you speak,
HA
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 27th, 2012
9:05 pm
“Jaded Hawks Fan…..you’ve got until the trade deadline to find this “true defensive center” that’s available. Who will it be?”
I don’t pretend to know. Maybe Chris Kaman. I just know Gasol would not be a good fit. Not a knock against him, but I don’t see how he and Al would work well together.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:05 pm
Hold on till Josh for ASB. The Knicks will be in cap hell for the future. Trade Josh Smith for Melo or Tyson Chandler. Superior deal for us to Pau Gasol.
terrell
June 27th, 2012
9:06 pm
Stats dont tell the whole story. Again, not knocking Josh. Just sayin.
Just Joe
June 27th, 2012
9:06 pm
Gasol’s expiring contract as he just finished up a 20 & 10 season will be worth a lot next summer. More than Josh this summer.
crawdiddy72
June 27th, 2012
9:06 pm
for you fools taking about blow it up, that would be detrimential to these franchise. the fans dont come out to support this team now and they are winning. no one would show up if the hawks were the bobcats.
the hawks have to get rid of marvin williams. i think it will be either golden state or toronto for him. the hawks actually played better without al horford. the hawks should have traded him for darren williams a year ago. i think you trade al horford for gasol. resign josh for 12 million. get a two guard move joe to the three. and get a decent bench
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:09 pm
Joel Anthony isn’t a big enough body in the paint. Do you guys understand anything about Basketball? The bigger bodies can clear out the lane for others to scoop in and grab boards. A frontline with Bosh and Anthony will never be a threat on the boards. Too small. In Toronto next to just a good body big in Bargs, Bosh was getting 10-11 rpg.
BIG DOG
June 27th, 2012
9:09 pm
I would rather keep Josh and let him walk for nothing, than add another dead weight salarie to this team.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:11 pm
I rather go all in for Dwight Howard, trade with Houston, wait for next year and trade with NY, I rather a lot of things before I even consider Pau Gasol. He is not even an option. This is just a stupid deal created by a LA Times writer who are known to create Laker propaganda that only helps the Lakers.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:12 pm
I rather a TPE than Pau Gasol.
Jake
June 27th, 2012
9:12 pm
@Air Zaza
Hahaha yeah sure….the knicks are going to trade basically 2 of their best core players for smith.
Switch back to reality please
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:13 pm
I said Melo or Chandler and they won’t have much of a choice.
random
June 27th, 2012
9:14 pm
Air zaza if you knew anything about basketball you would know that barganani wasn’t a good rebounder.
Jake
June 27th, 2012
9:14 pm
I just want to know how we did this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNwnTNQ9KjI&feature=relmfu
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:15 pm
random, if you were smart I would actual care about what you write but you aren’t. You’re an idiot.
Ken Strickland
June 27th, 2012
9:17 pm
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2012/6/26/3119276/lamar-odom-tony-wroten-and-ray-allen
Here’s a very interesting article.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:17 pm
random stupid ass can’t read for s…. I said good bigger body. Bargs is known around the league for boxing out well and creating space for other to get rebounds even though he doesn’t get many boards. But random is a dumbass.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
9:19 pm
For those of you who would not do the Josh and Marvin for Gasol trade, what do you think the Hawks should do with Josh (assuming he does not come out/tell Ferry that he wants to be here)?
Do you play the year with Josh and hope he can be convinced to re-sign, and risk losing him for nothing?
If we lose him for nothing, fans will kill the ASG, and the Hawks will take a step back.
If you try and trade him at the trade deadline, you will not get much for him, because the team that trades for him will only have him for half a season, and maybe the playoffs.
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:19 pm
Air Zaza reminds me of a joker.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:19 pm
I will be very honest to say that with Danny Ferry at the helm, I don’t have any idea of the direction this team may go in, but something makes me think that Ferry will take a look at the core of the team before making dramatic changes. Josh Smith is a hot topic (as always), but I have said many times that unless the Hawks get a deal that is an obvious win, Smoove will be in Atlanta at least until the trade deadline if he doesn’t sign an extension.
End the topic Michael. Nothing to see here.
The Real cp
June 27th, 2012
9:20 pm
lol so now he grabs all those rebounds because Bynum has a big body and clears out space lmaooooooo. So why was he grabbing 10 boards a game before he even came to the Lakers?
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:22 pm
Big bodies generally do that if they are able to move. That’s way you generally want size in your front-line.
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:22 pm
Pau Gasol is a garbage defensive player. Offensively he’s very good, but he doesn’t seem to bring his all on the defensive end. If I were the Hawk’s, on draft night I would call Chicago and ask if they have any interest in Josh, and ask if they want to do a Josh for Noah trade. Chicago is in a bad cap situation and it would make sense for them to trade us Noah. They could then re-sign Asik and put him as their starting Center. You don’t trade Josh for a crap deal, you trade him for equal-great deal.
Air Zaza DUMBASS
June 27th, 2012
9:22 pm
OH I GOT A GOOD IDEA. TRADE SMITH,ZAZA,JOHNSON,TEAGUE FOR LEBRON. THEN TRADE A DRAFT PICK FOR CARMELO!!
WE WOULD BE AWESOME