Hawks and Josh Smith may have had enough of each other
When Josh Smith dominates, as he did in Game 4 against the Chicago Bulls, he's a favorite of Hawks fans. (Curtis Compton/AJC).
For seven seasons, Josh Smith has shown us that he can be the best player on the floor. For seven seasons, he has shown us that he can be the worst player on the floor. The fact these opposites often appear in the same game is what makes him so maddening.
This is why after seven seasons, it’s time to say goodbye.
Smith is not the biggest problem on the Hawks’ roster, he’s merely the greatest lightning rod for criticism. He’s not the player who has crippled the payroll and just followed the richest contract in NBA history — $123,658,089 — with his least-productive season. That would be Joe Johnson.
For as much as Smith is hammered for launching three-point shots, he had a better shooting percentage from three-range this season (33.1 percent) than Johnson (29.7). Johnson battled some injuries (elbow, thumb). But so did Smith (knee), and he’s not supposed to be a three-point shooter. So who should we scream louder about?
Here’s the problem: Smith clearly is getting fed up as the Hawks’ player who’s constantly being duct-taped to a post in the middle of the town square.
I spoke to him the day following one bad shooting performance in the playoffs and he said, “I know sometimes I take shots I shouldn’t. But I’m not the only one in here who takes bad shots. I just get talked about more than anybody else.”
There is some truth to that. There’s also some truth to the fact that some of coach Larry Drew’s offensive sets leave Smith out in the corner, away from the basket, although that doesn’t mean he has to shoot from out there.
Smith’s slow boil continued when Drew called him out following a poor performance in Game 2 of the Chicago playoff series. (“I want him flying all over the place. I don’t want him sitting out there just shooting jump shots and trying to make plays off the dribble.”)
Then, following his phenomenal Game 4 performance against the Bulls (23 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, one steal), Smith seized the moment.
“The media is trying to ‘T.O.’ me,” he said, referencing NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens, a frequent target of blame.
He called his relationship with fans “a love-hate thing.” There’s no reason to believe that’s going to change.
The Hawks might finally be willing to trade Smith. But equally important is that Smith may actually welcome a trade. He needs a fresh start, with a new organization, new teammates and new fans – all some place far away from his hometown.
For as much as Smith is criticized, he is not a bad guy. He’s a good guy. He wants to succeed. He wants to be accepted and appreciated as much as anybody — if not more so, because he’s from Atlanta.
We get on the Hawks for sometimes looking like they just don’t care. That generally isn’t the problem with Smith. It’s more about him going after solutions in the wrong way.
The risk of trading Smith is that he finally turns into that consistent game-changer we’ve envisioned since his rookie season. The downside to not trading him now is if he doesn’t become that soon, his value on the trade market will plummet.
Hawks general manager Rick Sund wanted to give the core of this team one more chance to show what it can do. There was improvement this postseason – upsetting Orlando and taking Chicago to six games without their starting point guard – but this probably is as far as this unit can go.
Johnson can’t be traded because of his contract. Al Horford won’t be traded because he’s the team’s most consistent player. Jeff Teague suddenly shows promise. That leaves Smith as the only player who other teams really want. They see great potential without a long-term commitment (two years left on his contract).
Dealing Smith gives the Hawks a chance to acquire a legitimate starting center. Teague’s ascent opens the possibility of including Kirk Hinrich and his expiring $8.1 million contract in the trade.
There are options. But after seven years, Smith’s exit would be beneficial for both parties.
By Jeff Schultz
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414 comments Add your comment
Dr. Warren
May 22nd, 2011
10:09 am
Get Kevin Loughery in here and let him school Josh and the others about team basketball.
ET
May 22nd, 2011
10:17 am
Some observations:
1: Come on guys, these comments are way too long. Do you really expect me to read those?
2: Trade for Pau Gasol in the twilight of his career when we drafted him and traded him away before he ever played a minute for us? Who did we trade him for again? I keep forgetting…
3: Josh Smith is an enigma wrapped in a conundrum presented as a cryptogram.
4: Trading Al Hortford now would be as bad as trading Pau Gasol before he ever played a minute for Atl.
Kevin
May 22nd, 2011
10:20 am
Never went to college, never matured as a player, or person. What did you expect? Get Crawford as fifth started and dump this kid, let him shoot too many three’s and cry on the floor like a baby for another team
Dr. Warren
May 22nd, 2011
10:27 am
Trade Joe and Josh and Marvin and Henrich for Kobe Bryant. Even though he’s past his peak, it’d still be worth it.
Ray
May 22nd, 2011
10:44 am
Again you trade away Josh Smith we turn into the NY Knicks before Amare got there and other players got there.
Our 44-38 record will be more like a 27-45 praying that we even make the playoffs. I admit I may be going a bit overboard on the trade Al Horford, but only because I want people to understand that everyone person on this team should take blame for what happened, and not just put it all on J-smoove.
Our first priority is to cut some guys loose such as Etan Thomas and Armstrong plus add a Marvin Williams and Jamal Crawford into that group. We need garbage players that don’t mind banging down low, and also if we do get a Center he has to be a legit 7′0 that we know will perform or you go get a project C have someone that was 7′0 to work with that guy.
I still say go get Thabeet yeah he was a bust as a #2 pick, but if you work with him he doesn’t need to score just play some defense is all.
If we can find a way to get back into the draft I say we go after Trey Thompkins cause it seems like if we go out and find a center without Smith being traded he’s going to be at the SF.
Ray
May 22nd, 2011
10:46 am
You know looking back at that post I shouldn’t have said garbage players, but I mean we need the type of players that will do the dirty work.
SoorwayShoons
May 22nd, 2011
10:59 am
I just book marked your blog on Digg and StumbleUpon.I enjoy reading your commentaries.
swatguy
May 22nd, 2011
11:41 am
Trading Josh would be disastrous. He IS the heart of this team. What we need is more fire and heart. We should focus on Dwight. I believe it is a long shot for he may not want the “growing up in Atlanta” trappings. But if he is inclined, Josh would have to be here with him. With that, position for him in the interim (2012). Al is a nice trading piece. While he is coveted, Marvin should be moved with him. Move Al and Marvin to LA for Bynum, Shannon (S&T) Brown and their 1st round pick. If we fall short of Dwight we’ll have Bynum. Al gets intimidated and that will not do. Shannon Brown is gritty, physical and talented. Did I say tough? Toughness is needed.
Limbo
May 22nd, 2011
11:46 am
No one on this team should be safe and we should be looking at ALL POSSIBILITIES. The only ones who think we shouldnt are the same fools who were pushing this core concept to begin with.
Ray if we trade Josh for Zach Randolph we would be worse than the knicks before Amare ? seriously ? that makes absolutely no sense no one said cut Josh they said trade Josh meaning we would get something back.
ATL is in this exact situation and the fans are doing exactly what they always do blame the fringe players while trying to cling to this core that has proven time and time again that it has ran its course.
We actually have people who want to bring in bangers to bang for Josh and AL instead of realizing that fi they dont want to bang we should get rid of them because thats one of the core requirements of non offensive bigmen on a title team .
I dont know who we should trade them for I just know that its time for us to get serious about winning and not accepting any old thing thats tossed at us .
This team in its current form is DONE and I dont need a season of not making the playoffs to see that .
John
May 22nd, 2011
11:49 am
What legitimate starting centers are out there that can bring anything close to what Josh does. The Lakers are not going to trade Bynum for him. Teams have tried to get Bynum for years and the Lakers have resisted. They are not going to get Gasol either. What other players that are available and can play center are out there? This isn’t the 80s and 90s when productive centers were throughout the league. Do you really want to trade Josh for a Brendan Haywood type? Someone who scores about 8 points and grabs 9 rebounds on a good night.
John
May 22nd, 2011
11:49 am
We probably could have had Thompkins if we had not done the Hinrich trade while we had a great PG on the bench.
Mike is Back
May 22nd, 2011
11:50 am
Yeah, Shultz go ahead and trade Josh…I’m sure it want hard…Heck, us Hawks fans have experienced enough success…time for another ten years of purgatory…You guys, always want take the easy way out…how many teams have won a ring by taking the easy way out.
This trade suggestion smells eerily like the infamous Nigue trade…when we chose a guy with a great attitude, nice and fundamentally sound…over explosion and power…WELL, WE YOU KNOW HOW THAT STORY ENDED.
To me, that is what most are implying when say they would rather keep Al over Josh…I say wait and see if new owners…are brought in before we make such a trade…given the recent JC2 trade…I have zero confidence that Sund and ASG want screw that trade TF up…AND LEAVE US IN PURGATORY AGAIN…for the for seeable future.
EVERYBODY WAS SAYING THE SAME THING ABOUT ZBO…how many of those geniuses were right…just saying.
Yeah, Josh has been in the league for seven years…but he came in the league right out of High School…that makes him what 24 or 25…still too young to give up on.
Why not think out the box…and try getting Josh a Mentor…like Orlando did for D12…before we make that move…Josh has played for two first time rooky coaches…which if I go back and read some of blogs…you were not that impressed with…AND THAT’S…the understatement of the year.lol
I say we keep Josh and Al they are part of your foundation for the future.
Ken Strickland
May 22nd, 2011
11:51 am
I don’t think JSmith will be traded, unless some team blows the Hawks away with an offer that can’t refuse. Otherwise, I see Josh and Drew remaining together for the final yr of Drew’s contract. I believe they want to see if Drew can get Josh to play for an entire season the way he got him to play the final 2 gms of the Bull series.
Let’s face it, Josh will be just as tradeable next yr, if not more so, as he is now. LDrew needs to modify his OFF to allow Josh to play more of the center role on OFF, as far as being positioned primarily near the basket, and Horford positioned primarily in the PF role, on the wing/perimeter.
That would draw the opposing center away from the basket and allow Horford to function as a PF against what is usually a bigger, taller, slower and less athletic defender. It would also put Josh closer to the rim, in the centers normal position, against defenders he should be able to score on consistently.
This team doesn’t need to make trades that would involve drastic changes. It needs to explore making ADJUSTMENTS with what it already has. Making Teague and Hinrich our starting backcourt and moving JJ to SF are ADJUSTMENTS that would give us a starting lineup that is far superior to any starting lineup we’ve had in over a decade. It also gives us more versatility, flexibility and OFF firepower.
Making MWilliams a primary scoring option off the bench, and designing plays that takes advantage of his strengths, would give us the scorer off the bench that we’ll lose with the release of Jamal Crawford. IT’S ALL ABOUT ADJUSTMENTS, ADJUSTMENTS. And if it doesn’t pan out, and I believe it will, we can make all of the trades and changesa we want after the season, and that includes a HC change.
We do need to upgrade our bench by adding a shooter and a more athletic BIG to go along with Pape Sy, MWilliams, DWilkins, JCollins and ZPachulia. JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
North Ave Killer Beez
May 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm
Didn’t even need to read this article to know its STR8T BULLSH1T The pro’s out weigh the con’s when it comes to Smooth.
captainamerica
May 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm
Jeff-
What do you think the odds are that the Magic would be willing to deal Dwight and Arenas for Horford and Johnson. The magic would be swapping the top center for the third best, plus Horf played for the gators so that would neglect some of the bad pr. I’m sure stan van gundy would love to unload arenas and otis might be willing to take Joe in return. The Hawks could either resign Jamal to start at the two and have arenas be the 2nd Guard off the bench or Have hinrich start at the 2 and let arenas be the first guard off the bench. Either way the Hawks are better offensively and defensively and the magic get a good return for Dwight.
Paddy
May 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm
Why would any smart player admit to a love hate relationship with the fans? Even if it was true. Think things thru before you open your mouth. The fans and the media can make or break you. Does not he NBA or the team have a PR staff that goes over these important details???
Teezo
May 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm
Before thinking about trading any players, how about thinking about trading management and coach to get a new system for these guys…I agree somebody needs to be traded, because I think the players are tired of each other after 5 years of the same BS…If Smith is traded, the Hawks might as well blow up the whole team because they will not get equal value for him knowing the “ASG/Sund” resume’….My point is that one player was not the problem with this team, it was a collective effort of “non-effort” from all players besides Teague and Zaza…Get some real office ppl and coach in Philips Arena, then see what direction you need to go…This is what I see with this Hawks team “core”, JJ needs a sidekick, Horford needs to play PF, Smith needs a “real” coach, Marvin needs a new life, and Crawford needs to start…Wayyyyyy toooooo much going on with this team, a bunch of players with no cohesiveness…Peace…
winning
May 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm
we are not going to be able to afford jamal crawford so there is going to be a glaring need to have a bench. the teams that win as have been shown in this playoffs (minus the heat) have had consistent benches all season.
teague proved he will be point guard of future but he cant guard anyone yet (man do we miss jordan crawford who balled in washington).
hinrich, marvin, smith. dump em for some guys to sure up our bench. the knicks would love a running player like smith or marvin. hinrich would be an upgrade for the lakers. get a combination of players who could sure up the bench and then pursue some guys in free agency. an old ray allen who will be able to spread the floor til he is 50 and move joe to the 3 spot?
low post. go after troy murphy, krstic or maybe spend some money and splurge on dalembert.
Mitch
May 22nd, 2011
1:29 pm
As much as Josh Smith frustrated me hoisting shots (and that is the term: hoist…because he is not a shooter), what frustrated me more is seeing the coaches and teammates enable Smith’s poor decisions.
Before you sell out Josh Smith…how about seeing if therre’s a coach who actually can motivate Josh to play to his strengths, and motivate the whole team to play hard and tough.
I am sold on the “Josh is uncoachable” tag…because it seemed clar to me that the players as a whole did not respond well to Woody or LD…and neither of whom had any NBA head coaching experience when they were hired for the job by the Hawks….and neither of whom are very good at developing young players.
I would love to see an established coach come in and turn the energy and chemistry of the team around. Josh Smith is key to this team’s energy—and like others have said, Josh is still young and his best years are ahead of him.
Mitch
May 22nd, 2011
1:30 pm
I am NOT sold on the Josh Smith is uncoachable tag—is what I meant to say.
PaulieOldschool
May 22nd, 2011
2:00 pm
Please, please, please move him now, while he still has some value. And we don’t need this kind of player, inconsistent, stubborn to change, volatile, on this team. Please move him now.
All I'm Saying Is...
May 22nd, 2011
2:05 pm
Trade him for who, Schultz? Any clown can say trade x-player for a starting center (and many do on this blog) but who are you proposing we trade Josh Smith for? And anyone can be traded even Joe Johnson. What you need is a G.M. with some imagination, cap creativity, and guts. Sund has shown a few flashes (obtaining Crawford and Hinrich) but this requires a major move with multiple teams involved which certainly can be done and during the season as was proven when Melo was moved.
So Schultz, propose some specifics or otherwise you are just repeating yourself and the comments of many others about trade Josh for a fictional, never named legit center…
LET’S GO HAWKS!
joey1
May 22nd, 2011
2:22 pm
trading josh would be plain stupid…. we lose almost our whole defense… we need to trade marvin williams and horford for andrew bogut …then sign thad..young(formet gt player) for the small forward posititon..and sign a few hard nosed defenders and shooter to come off the bench…
imagaine.. teague,johnson, young, smith,bogut
bench – kirk,sign player,wilkins,sign player,zaza
teedub
May 22nd, 2011
2:36 pm
Horford’s the better trade. For some reason the perception of his game is better than the numbers show. Josh’s game has gotten better overall each year, Horfords has not. Take a chance on Josh continuing to mature and improve. Get something back for Horford while his rep is better than his performance.
Always and forever a Hawk fan
May 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
Josh is the backbone of this team. If the Hawks want to make this team better then they should start by trading Horford to L.A. for Bynum. Smith is a much better player than “Hor”ford as we saw in the playoff. Horford has reached his potential. Don’t expect an improvement at PF. Keep Josh and design plays on the low block and near the goal. He’s unstoppable.
Joe D
May 22nd, 2011
2:40 pm
People JJ and/or Josh are not the problem. The problem is No low post presence. The BEST trade offer is Hinrich ,Williams(15.6 mil), and a 2nd round pick for Kaman(expiring 11.8), a true center. The Hawks will have to take back another player to have the salaries match probably SF Gomes(4 mil).
The team needs tweating not a major overhaul. Keep Al, Josh, & Josh for at least one more year before blowing up the team. The only piece missing is bench scoring. Let Jamal walk and go after TMac.
Teague/ FA ALaw?
JJ/TMac
Josh/Gomes
AL/FA C. Hayes ?
Kaman/Collins/ZaZa
Bench: Wilkins,Pape Sy
DirtyBirdShawty
May 22nd, 2011
2:44 pm
Joey- I think Hortford & Williams is too steep of a price to pay for the often injured Bogut. Id do like Bogut because he is solid in all phases of the game. He isn’t dominant enough to trade Williams & Hortford. Williams & Hinrich + a future 1st is the most id give for Bogut or Kayman.
USMC dawg
May 22nd, 2011
2:50 pm
Josh Smith is a MALCONTENT and will be a CANCER on any team UNTIL he changes his attitude.
Next!
Always and forever a Hawk fan
May 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm
Damien Wilkens is much to valuable to let go. He is the player the hawks have that can play superb defense and can generate instance offense (without shooting each time he comes down court) if given the chance.
DirtyBirdShawty
May 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm
JoeD- That’s exactly what I’ve been saying. We should make that move happen. The only thing I disagree with is Instead of relying on an injury prone T Mac as our 6th man we should just resign Jamal.
Belcher
May 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm
Move the Hawks to Knoxville!!!!!!!!!!
Always and forever a Hawk fan
May 22nd, 2011
3:00 pm
If the hawks trade Josh Smith he will become a all-star the first year after he is traded because his new coach will design plays for him near the basket and there’s not a power forward in the league who can defend him near the basket. Can’t say the same about AL.
Could The Atlanta Hawks Trade Josh Smith?
May 22nd, 2011
3:29 pm
[...] reason (among others) is why Atlanta Journal-Constitution blogger Jeff Schultz says the two sides could part ways in a trade. The Hawks might finally be willing to trade Smith. But [...]
Marc
May 22nd, 2011
3:31 pm
TRADING JOSH SMITH WOULD BE THE DUMBEST TRADE SINCE DOMINIQUE WILKINS. HE IS A MADDING PRESENCE ON DEFENCE, THE OTHER TEAM NEVER KNOWS WHERE A BLOCK MIGHT BE COMING FROM, THAT ALONE IS GAME CHANGING. HE CAN REBOUND WITH THE BEST AND JOSH CAN NOT BE STOPPED WHEN HE GOES TO THE HOLE. JOSH ALSO BRINGS EXCITMENT, WHICH WOULD BE GONE WITHOUT HIM, THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK A JOES BORING AND SLOW STYLE OF PLAY. WITHOUT JOSH, WE CAN NOT CALL IT THE HIGHLIGHT FACTORY! WE HAVE NO ONE ELSE ON THE TEAM TO REALLY BE FEARED!
Mike Smith
May 22nd, 2011
3:33 pm
Even if they traded Josh and Hinrich, would that leave them enough money under the cap to go get a legit Center? Thats the problem with giving JJ the Max contract. There is no flexibility under the cap. Its why Lebron went to the Heat. Had he signed with Cleveland, they would be way over the cap with players that have no trade value. It would be years before Cleveland could get any new players any good in there.
Jeff
May 22nd, 2011
3:48 pm
Gotta love some of you not-so-smart Hawks fans…. are you serious? Juan at 2:56 p.m. is an example…. you ACTUALLY want the Hawks to pursue such mediocre or pathetically over-rated players like Greg Oden, Andre Iguodala, Danny Granger, or Michael Beasley? Are you out of your dang mind?
Some of you are so highlight-obsessed that you don’t even understand basketball! Atlanta’s greatest need is NOT a “legitimate starting center” or a “shot blocker.” You know what Atlanta needs? A LEVEL HEADED SUPERSTAR 2 OR 3 PLAYER WHO CAN SCORE 25 A GAME AND PLAY GREAT DEFENSE!
The Hawks’ weaknesses are defense, a true scorer, and heart. We don’t lose because we don’t block enough shots or because we’re dominated at center. Look at the teams left in the NBA playoffs… Chicago doesn’t have a dominant center or as shot blocker… OK City doesn’t have an All-Star Center… neither does Miami. You know what those teams have? Players with incredible heart, drive, perimeter defensive skills, and superstar-scoring ability (Wade, Rose, Durant, Nowitzki, etc.)
We do NOT need a cement statue like Greg Oden or another high-flying shot blocker like Iduodala… we need to find a compliment to what we already have and a person that will help address our TRUE needs (not size — defense, great scoring, and heart).
I don’t see any available player right now that answers that, but at least that’s what we SHOULD be looking for.
JP
May 22nd, 2011
3:49 pm
Yeah, look, the Hawks were screwed from the moment they re-signed Joe Johnson. If they had let him walk or done a sign and trade, they could have kept the Crawfords at the 2-guard long-term. Jordan Crawford’s numbers after the trade to Washington? 16.3 pts, 3 reb, 3.9 ast, 1.4 steals, and he’s only going to get better. Johnson? 18.2 pts, 4 reb, 4.7 ast, 0.7 steals, and he’s only going to get worse. For. the. next. six. years. Forget trading Josh Smith, or any other scenario, Johnson’s re-signing has ruined this team. I wish we could give them to Winnipeg instead of the Thrashers.
Jacque Strapp
May 22nd, 2011
4:09 pm
Delta is ready whenever Josh is, the dude’s totally uncoachable. Who the hell keeps on firing treys when its obvious that’s not where he’s most effective? Fans go crazy over rim rattling dunks only for so long, team ball wins championships, Atlanta is light years away from a championship.
Taurus
May 22nd, 2011
4:37 pm
The problem with The Hawks is that it’s a team without a leader and an alpha-dog player on that team. People say trade Josh Smith, but you don’t trade a guy that affects both sides of the court. We talk about Horford being an All-Star, but lets be honest, he’s an All-Star because how thin the center position is in the east. You basically have Howard, Noah, and Bogut in the east, with Noah and Bogut having a hard time staying healthy every season, so Horford is an All-Star by default. Here’s my proposal, trade Johnson, Hinrich, and Horford to New Orleans for Paul, Ariza, and Okafor and resign Jamal Crawford. Your interior defense becomes incredible with Ariza, Smith, and Okafor. Your scoring comes from Paul, Smith, Ariza and Crawford. Paul gives you the leader you don’t have and will have the affect you’re looking for on Josh Smith. Your bench will be deep and strong with this move. New Orleans would take the trade because they already figured they will be losing Paul, and in this trade they get back 2 All-Stars in Johnson and Horford and Hinrich would be their PG. Your team would look like the following:
STARTERS:
PG Chris Paul
SG Jamal Crawford
SF Treva Ariza
PF Josh Smith
C Emeka Okafor
KEY RESERVES
G Jeff Teague
F Marvin Williams
C Zaza
Superhawks
May 22nd, 2011
4:49 pm
Wow… The Hawks are falling apart and will soon go back to being the worst team in the NBA soon, so we need to pick things up and work together! I hope we don’t have to go back to 13-69.
puff
May 22nd, 2011
5:32 pm
Smith has shown he will never grow up as a player.
Ray
May 22nd, 2011
5:39 pm
@ Limbo
Before Amare and other players even got to NY the Knicks were pretty much known as a run-n-gun type team that played little defense they beat you scoring way too high.
As for the Center problem just keep Collins and Zaza and have either one actually start for a change. I think if Zaza started we’d be surprised at the results maybe not at first, but down the line.
If we do let either of those two start J-smoove moves to SF by default which means if we could sign and trade jamal to someone for a 1st round draft pick we need to pick up Trey Thompkins and someone like Boston might take that bait. As they have the 25th draft pick.
Let me say this again the only star that has the highest possiblity of coming here to ATL is Dwight will we get him probably not, but still it’s a safer bet than getting CP3, and also to those asking for CP3 why when we already got Jeff Teague? Would you want that guy to rot on the bench some more?
ICECOLD
May 22nd, 2011
5:46 pm
Trade Joe Johnson and al horford to Orlando for dwight Howard and j.j reddick…. starting five could be
Jeff teague
Marvin Williams
Josh smith
H. Armstrong
Dwight Howard
Bench
Kirk hinrich
Jamal Crawford / j.j reddick
Marvin Williams
Josh Powell
Zaza/Collins
Looks weird and new… I know.. exactly what the hawks need.. if you wanna trade somebody.. thats what you need to trade for… don’t trade josh smith , he is your backbone , he saves you a few baskets a game… at least 5 because people are afraid to attack him.. oh, and by the way… dwight Howard would be right their , so if another team wanna score , they better shoot threes, but then.you got Jeff teague and Marvin Williams playin great perimeter defense.. and everybody I just named would be perfect for l drew offense !!! Yep.
ICECOLD
May 22nd, 2011
5:52 pm
I got a question for ya…. anybody … if we trade josh smith … who would we get that’s going to suddenly make us play off contenders? That somebody would actually give up to us, that can make up for everything josh smith does on a good night ?… if you not getting dwight Howard for him… I don’t see nobody else that’s going to help the hawks to be a actual playoff contender !! Go ahead.. tell me .. and please don’t say bynum, the did that always stay injured… or Paul gasol who.went extremely soft this year… maybe Blake griffin… yeah… right… come on.. tell me
Steve
May 22nd, 2011
6:37 pm
I think we could get Andrew Bynum for Smith pretty easily and give the Lakers that big man they need in transition. We would have the body we need. Al could move to power forward. He has improved EVERY year and I think that is the main difference between he and Smoove. He had a bad playoffs b/c he wasn’t accustomed to shooting with that kind of closing speed. He will make that adjustment after seeing what Boozer did to us at the end of the series…
Bynum, Horford, Joe (yes, Joe at the 3), Jamal/Hinrich, and Teague would be one of the best looking lineups in the league.
Joe D
May 22nd, 2011
7:04 pm
ICECOLD, I like your trade; however, neither team would trade inside their division. Steve, I like your trade, but not Josh but rather AL. Bynum wants to become a team anchor rather than remain a support beam. AL and Henrich for Bynum and a throw player or pick is realistic for both teams. This gives a little wiggle room to resign Jamal. Or maybe, Gotrat , JChillz, and their #1 for AL, Marvin, and their original 2nd round pick necessary to match salaries. Either trade solves the Hawks biggest issue: A low post persence on both ends!
Line ups choices
Teague/ FA Or Teague/FA
JJ/Jamal JJ/Jamal
JChillz/Wilkins Josh/Wilkins
Josh/ZaZa/FA Josh/ZaZa/FA
Gortat/Collins Bynum/Collins
bench: Pape Sy, FAs
Atl Sports Fan
May 22nd, 2011
7:07 pm
Right Jeff i also believe this cores been together to long its been a nice run but its time for a new start they should try to move Marvin Williams if they can too instead of letting him live in the shadows of Chris Paul and Deron Williams which are way too big for him, but on another note if we trade josh smith here a some pretty good 7 footers.
Dalembert
Andries Biedrins
Chris Kaman
Barnaini
Bogut
Robin or Brook Lopez
MARC
May 22nd, 2011
7:09 pm
ICE COLD, I HAVE TO ADMIT, YOUR TRADE PROPOSAL IS GREAT! JOE AND AL FOR DWIGHT AND REDDICK WOULD BE A GREAT TRADE FOR BOTH TEAMS!
Joe D
May 22nd, 2011
7:18 pm
Atl sports Fan, there’s not a center on your list who is worthy of a trade straight up for Josh! People, like him or not, he’s rare bird and I mean special. Sorry, AL is clearly the odd man. Package him and Marvin for the best available center; moreover, Marvin needs to go for he and the Hawks sake, period!
Chief Nock A Homa
May 22nd, 2011
7:49 pm
How about PACKAGING Joe Johnson to get Smith, and maybe even add in Hinrich’s expiring contract for good measure…
Gotta believe somebody would take this on… Don’t you think???
If we’re going to make a move, might as well make a real change for once….