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
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:25 pm
But Air-Zaza, you’re taking this very seriously bro. Calm down, and here other people’s opinions before calling them an idiot.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:25 pm
Gasol is decent defensively, he is not garbage at anything. He is just like Joe. In fact, he’s the front court Joe Johnson. A robin, not a Batman but a Robin. Own his own, he hasn’t even won a playoff game. Josh Smith is more impactful and has more elite traits than Gasol who has no just like Joe. They have no weaknesses. Just not elite traits. We would lock ourselves into mediocrity if we do this deal.
tjhook
June 27th, 2012
9:25 pm
I am hoping you are right about Smith, Air Zaza. What do you think about the team bringing in a veteran point guard to help discipline the offense (Iso Joe, Mr. “two-pointer” Smith)? I’ve been pushing fof Andre Miller under the mid-level exception
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
9:25 pm
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..
Dude averages 5 rpg for his career, but he is known for boxing out? Known around the league by who?
I rather go all in for Dwight Howard.
It takes 2 teams to make a deal, and we have not heard anything about Orlando being interested in a JJ and Al deal.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:27 pm
Gasol is decent defensively, he is not garbage at anything. He is just like Joe. In fact, he’s the front court Joe Johnson. A robin, not a Batman but a Robin. On his own, he hasn’t even won a playoff game. Josh Smith is more impactful and has more elite traits than Gasol who has none just like Joe. They have no weaknesses. Just no elite traits either. We would lock ourselves into mediocrity if we do this deal. Smoove might be up and down in terms of skills but at least he is elite in a lot of areas even if he’s awful in others.
tjhook
June 27th, 2012
9:28 pm
Air Zaza,
I disagree with you about Joe. He may not have the will but he definitely has the skill. Joe just seems too stupid to realize that he got that money to be the leader of the franchise and not just the best player. Attitude and approach can make up for talent when a good one makes all the players feel like good things can happen through effort.
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:28 pm
Well, he isn’t garbage at defense, but he doesn’t seem to put much effort into defense. Like when he alowed Blake Griffin to dunk on him, TWICE IN ONE GAME, and he didn’t try to contest it.
random
June 27th, 2012
9:29 pm
air zaza you forgot what u wrote after that about bosh and his rebounds there? Bosh had a higher rebound there because barg didnt rebound much. Hes an offensive center. So whos the dumb one now?
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:29 pm
@O’Brien
It’s on his scouting report. His game film. It’s a rare trait that he has. Coaches around the league notice. Toronto fans notice. Most causal fans don’t but how many NBA fans watch the Raptors play?
Al and Joe for Dwight too much. Joe and Josh or just Al. Can’t have Al and one of our core players.
Astro Joe
June 27th, 2012
9:30 pm
Funny, “big and physical”. For what, for who? Ewing, Admiral, Olajuwon and Mourning? We just watched two teams in the Finals that were capable of executing on both ends of the floor. Two teams that demonstrated an ability to listen to direction, play hard for their teammates and stay focused on the ultimate prize.
But alas, this report is old news. The Hawks called the Lakers a good 3+ weeks ago. Earlier today, a report surfaced that the Lakers were gauging interest in moving Gasol for a top 10 pick and an established player. So it doesn’t take too much to figure that the Lakers have decided that they rather fish for something better than what the Hawks are offering. Some are acting like Josh is too much in exchange for Gasol while the Lakers have been sitting on that offer for over 20 days.
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:31 pm
The only deal(s) that make sense for Josh Smith is Josh Smith for Joakim Noah.
Chicago is trying to clear cap space, and Josh brings just about the same defense but more offense than Noah so it would make sense.
Sautee
June 27th, 2012
9:33 pm
“Sautee, you know damn well that we can get a better deal than this anytime.” – airzaza
Better than a 3 time All-NBA player? And those years were the 3 previous to this past season.
LOL, go ahead and name who else we could get for Josh that has been an All-NBA player multiple times.
I’ll wait.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:34 pm
random, shut up stupid. You can be as offensive as you want but if you are around rebounds, it will be hard to get them. Look at Josh offreb%, it’s weak since he spends a lot of possessions wandering around the perimeter. But Bargs is generally around the basket. He is generally blocking out, clear things for others to get a chance. No matter who you are, if will be hard to get offensive rebounds if Josh is your partner. Rebounding is a part of partnership for bigs in the front court. If you can get boards from SF, that’s needed. If you can get them from PG or SG, that’s a plus but rebounding more than just who the player is and what not. His partnership matters as well. If you are next to Dwight or Love, you aren’t going to get as many boards, I don’t care who you are.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
random, shut up stupid. You can be as offensive as you want but if you aren’t around rebounds, it will be hard to get them. Look at Josh offreb%, it’s weak since he spends a lot of possessions wandering around the perimeter. But Bargs is generally around the basket. He is generally blocking out, clear things for others to get a chance. No matter who you are, if will be hard to get offensive rebounds if Josh is your partner. Rebounding is a part of partnership for bigs in the front court. If you can get boards from SF, that’s needed. If you can get them from PG or SG, that’s a plus but rebounding more than just who the player is and what not. His partnership matters as well. If you are next to Dwight or Love, you aren’t going to get as many boards, I don’t care who you are.
hawksfancents95
June 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
i think all of these talks about gasol and josh is all dependent on what GM DF thinks is best for the hawks going forward. asg and josh seem to be fraying but if GM DF thinks josh should be re-signed he can step in and mend their(asg js5) relationship and let josh play this season out and see if we can meet standards established by asg GM DF and josh smith this off-season for this upcoming season. we are in good shape and with everyone healthy and back with a few new role players/draftees we can be a 2 or 3 seed in the EC. and besides if we let josh go now we wont get all this great and unselfish play so he can get a max type contract on the open market, we all win if he stays for this season, unless WE get the better end of a major deal.
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
No one is stupid.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Look at Josh on tape, he rarely boxes out. Zaza does occasionally as does Horf. No one is really good at it on our team. In LA, Gasol doesn’t box out much either. That is okay next to a 7′1 290 pound guy and the player on you is 6′8 240 but when you have a 6′9 245 guy and the person on you is 7′0 260. It makes the world of difference.
PD
June 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
This is a Bad Trade! Pau Gasol is on the decline. Josh is entering his prime. Trade Joe and Marvin…….maybe even “Oh my boob hurts!” Al Horford
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
from espn.com;
The Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics are all actively pursuing a trade for Portland Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford, according to a report by Comcast SportsNet Northwest.
According to the report, which cites a league source, the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns also have shown interest in the veteran guard..
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
@SQUAWK:
random is really stupid. Maybe some others here but no one really stands out but random.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
9:39 pm
No matter who you are, if will be hard to get offensive rebounds if Josh is your partner..
Josh Smith takes alot of jumpers, so shouldnt that help you get more rebounds if you are around the basket?
And last year, Al averaged 9 rpg alongside Josh.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
9:41 pm
Air Zaza,
How come Gasol has averaged over 10 rpg the last 3 years, despite playing next to Bynum, who also averages double digit rebounds?
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:44 pm
Al would be a 11-12 rpg with most true centers. If anything, it hurt Al. With Gasol, he would be at least over 10rpg but his defense would greatly suffer without Smith and Gasol replacing him. You noticed how Zaza is much better on D with Smith than with Horford. Smith covers for slow non movement bigs. Smith covered for Bibby and Jamal so many times. Smith is a much better defensive player than even he gets credit for.
justahawkfan
June 27th, 2012
9:44 pm
Air Zaza,
I disagree with you about Joe. He may not have the will but he definitely has the skill. Joe just seems too stupid to realize that he got that money to be the leader of the franchise and not just the best player. Attitude and approach can make up for talent when a good one makes all the players feel like good things can happen through effort
Let me think now. Joe is getting paid 20+ million dollars per year and he seem too stupid. Makes me say hmmmmmmmm!
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:46 pm
Doesn’t hurt to have your opinion, even if you think it’s “elementary thinking/logic”.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:47 pm
Bynum is 7′1 290 pounds with solid athleticism. Both of these players have above average rebounding fundamentals so of course he is getting boards by there combined size alone. That’s hard to deal with for most front-courts. Acting like Bynum=Horford is stupid because one is so much bigger than the other and can battle with anyone size wise Al can’t and never have been able to either.
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:47 pm
Joakim Noah or hell no.
SQUAWK
June 27th, 2012
9:48 pm
Just like Pau Gasol, he’s been rumored to be on the trade block, and I believe Atlanta can give them one of the best deals for him.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:49 pm
Joe is a very good player. But why pay a player who is #2 option at best and isn’t elite at nothing that kind of money when you don’t have a Kobe, Lebron, or Wade as #1. Joe contract wouldn’t bother me if he was a legit #2 option.
Sugar Ray
June 27th, 2012
9:51 pm
LOL You can tell knows basketball based on these responses.
Pau Gasol is a championship PF, modern day Kevin McHale.
Josh cstill an’t even make his case to get into the all star game after, what, EIGHT years?
Pau is “declining” yet his numbers are still better than Josh last season.
This is hilarious.
Slimjr
June 27th, 2012
9:53 pm
Sautee, interesting Stats you posted…
Bosh could average 25-28 pts. a night with his offensive skills if he were the #1 or #2 option.. He’s [holding back] to [fit in] with Miami’s schemes….
But I will agree with you that the stats posted basically say they are a wash.
I’d just rather go younger and draft a potential star or two? Gasol and All aren’t taking you to a Finals or ECF. Just do not like those two playing together….
I believe Danny will not pull the trigger on that one..
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:54 pm
LOL, McHale>>>Gasol. You smoking that pipe son. You mentioning that soft POS who like to wander to the FT line constantly to a legend like Kevin McHale much less a dude who is also regressing.
You know what Ray, let’s say McHale and Gasol are close? Gasol is clearly regressing but whatever since we are speaking in hypotheticals. Who is our prime Larry Bird or prime Kobe Bryant?
Sugar Ray
June 27th, 2012
9:55 pm
“Josh Smith is more impactful and has more elite traits than Gasol”
LMAO! So the guy who was the focal point for Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, that won back to back championships, is not as impactful as Josh Smith, who has accomplished what exactly?
Elite traits? LOL
Slimjr
June 27th, 2012
9:57 pm
That was the most incredible poster dunk on Gasol in the last 10 years by Griffin..
It was surreal…. More to come?
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
9:58 pm
There is nothing elite about Pau Gasol. He is a Robin. He has no real weaknesses which is his biggest strength. Just like Joe Johnson. Josh is elite at running the court for his position, protecting the rim, off ball defense, court vision for his position, athleticism and finishing. Gasol is very skilled and a multi-faceted talent.
Wabe
June 27th, 2012
10:00 pm
Gasol doesn’t do anything for me…
Not sure why you’d go this direction. He’s past his prime. Seems to be on the downside.
But, makes sense if you’re the Hawks, huh? Trade a player that’s on his way up for a guy that’s either on his way down or knockin’ on that door.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
10:00 pm
Odom ran the triangle offense and Kobe was the most important and the best player in the triangle. You know who created a lot of Gasol shots? Odom and Kobe.
Sugar Ray
June 27th, 2012
10:02 pm
“There is nothing elite about Pau Gasol. He is a Robin.”
LMAO! You must have missed those championships Pau was leading the Lakers to when Kobe was stinkin’ up the joint. And what was Josh doing in that time? Oh yeah, another early exit. Atlanta will never win anything with that crybaby Josh around.
Sautee
June 27th, 2012
10:03 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.” – Air Zaza
I did. Gasol did nearly as well without Bynum (10.4 to 9.8)
“Do you guys understand anything about Basketball? The bigger bodies can clear out the lane for others to scoop in and grab boards.” – Air Zaza
So, if a big body next to you is a prime factor in what’s necessary to get rebounds, how is D12 getting all those rebounds with 6′7″ Brandon Bass next to him?
Maybe I just don’t understand anything about basketball.
just a thought..
June 27th, 2012
10:03 pm
You would think that one of the reasons why Gasol “regressed” is because he wasn’t playing the triangle offense anymore.
Astro Joe
June 27th, 2012
10:05 pm
Lakers want a better deal. LOL. Kupchak is looking for a top 10 pick and a player rather than make the trade for Josh (that has been sitting on his coffee table next to the May issue of Esquire Magazine).
billyBobjacket
June 27th, 2012
10:06 pm
Can we just sell the hawks to an out of town owner and just start over from scratch?
Sugar Ray
June 27th, 2012
10:07 pm
“Odom ran the triangle offense and Kobe was the most important and the best player in the triangle.”
Tell me what the Lakers accomplished the years before the Gasol trade.
Odom was there, Phil was there, Kobe was there. How far did they go before Pau showed up?
Nevermind, you don’t know anything about the NBA and just love overrated Jumpshot Josh. Carry on.
just a thought..
June 27th, 2012
10:07 pm
This is just speculation from the LA times.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
10:07 pm
@Sautee
Josh had next to Zaza 9.6 and in the playoffs 13.6.
Dwight can get double teamed and still get the rebound because he is that fundamentally sound, that big, that athletic, and that good at rebounding. Dwight is one of the greatest rebounders to play Basketball. Dwight can play next to anyone in partnership unless he’s going up v. Bynum. Then it matters a little but due to Dwight not being able to just out size Bynum like he does with others.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
10:08 pm
The Lakers had Kwame Brown.
Pau Gasol>>>>Kwame Brown
Astro Joe
June 27th, 2012
10:09 pm
Sautee, 6′7″ Brandon Bass gave way to 6′7″ Glenn Davis and tall & slender Ryan Anderson (in lieu of tall & slender Rashard Lewis).
Get Real
June 27th, 2012
10:10 pm
Gasol is light years better than Josh Smith. (I can’t believe there is actually a debate about this!)
BUT
Gasol is nowhere close to Kevin McHale. McHale was probably one of the 4-5 most unguardable players in history (along with Wilt, MJ, Kareem, ?) He was able to defend both the low post and regularly went out on the floor to check Bird, Dr. J, Worthy, Nique and others.
Sugar Ray
June 27th, 2012
10:11 pm
Pau Gasol has a chance to go to the Hall of Fame. The only hall Josh Smith is going to is the poolhall.
Air Zaza
June 27th, 2012
10:11 pm
Josh Smith is better than Gasol right now. Gasol was light years better in 2005, not even as good as him in 2012.