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
Harry from da Burn
May 22nd, 2011
7:58 pm
Send the Hawks to Canada!!!
falconfan58
May 22nd, 2011
8:06 pm
your idea to trade Josh Smith is just another example of what is wrong with the Hawks. Like management, you also have no idea of what you are doing. You don’t trade your second best player unless you can get a lot in return. It is bad enough that the hawks chose to sign Joe for an unreal sum of money. Joe is a good player, but not a great player-a long ways from LeBron and even futher from Jordan or Bird. Management really sucks–look at what they have drafted and given up on in the last 10 years. Like the computer guy said “Garbage in garbage out”.
Chuck
May 22nd, 2011
8:47 pm
Anyone who watched the Hawks in the playoffs knows Josh Smith should not be traded. Al Horford should be traded. Horford disappeared in the playoffs. If Dwight Howard becomes available then Sund needs to make a call to the Magic. We may not have the the players other teams could offer, but what if we told the Magic we would take Arenas off their hands? Howard would then get to play with his best friend Josh Smith.
Howard, Arenas, Redick
Horford, Williams, Pachulia, Hinrich and 2012 1st round pick
This would give the Magic cap space in 2012 with Hinrich’s contract expiring and getting rid of Arenas.
Realistically I know this would never happen, but as a Hawks fan I can dream.
johnny
May 22nd, 2011
8:47 pm
bet the new team won’t put up with Josh’s crap… Let him take his jump shots from another city and when he comes to Atlanta instead of everyone yelling no Josh don’t shoooottt they can yell shoot your open you know u got game you can hit it go big guy shoot it shoot it….
steve
May 22nd, 2011
8:51 pm
I would rather see rick sund and larry drew go before josh. He has never had a coach Mike Woodson,Larry Drew are not good coaches.
Big Ray
May 22nd, 2011
9:52 pm
Hilarious. People always scream like bitten by a poisonous snake when it comes to trading Josh vs. trading Horford.
You have two young guys who should be playing the same position. One is a two-time all-star and a first time all-nba player. The other has yet to make it to an all-star game. You keep the proven product, people…the word “potential” is French for “ain’t done $hit yet”….
Big Ray
May 22nd, 2011
9:53 pm
Yes, by all means let’s keep our top shot blocker and let our top rebounder go. Because as we all know, blocking shots is way more important in the playoffs than getting rebounds.
Ray
May 22nd, 2011
10:31 pm
Big Ray at this point I got to disagree maybe we shouldn’t trade neither, but still Al Horford is only and all-star by default, and at what position the Center.
Look at on the eastern part of the NBA how many other teams have great Centers or even above average? Charlotte no, Miami no, NY no, and the list goes on only teams in the east that have superstar type centers, or at least better than average centers are the bucks, magic, and us with Horford.
If you put Horford at Center in the west coast he wouldn’t even survive over there he’d deal with Bynum, Nene, Chandler, Kaman, Gortat, Perkins, and the list goes on. I do admit some of these guys aren’t that great and only average at best, but still my point is he wouldn’t be an all-star out of the west conference at center.
I know some people may be going overboard with all these trade scenarios, but let’s be real does Horford affect the game as much as Josh from both sides of the ball?
Saltsh8ka
May 22nd, 2011
10:58 pm
Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams is not the problem. Josh is the best all around player we have on this team. JD,still have to get JJ to keep the ball moving. Instead of taking 25-30 shots a game.Joe forces to many shots, when he is off that kills the momentum. He need to share the ball more for this to become an elite team. Trading Josh would be the worst move this team could make.
RICK SUND has already made a PETE BABCOCK move by trading J Crawford and our #1. While
Jeff Teague sat on the pine. The Hawks need better garbage men coming off the bench. DO NOT trade your best player. Everbody on the team need to take better shots.
WOW!!!
May 22nd, 2011
11:25 pm
Seriously, despite Bynum’s size, why would we trade one of most electric players in the nba for an injury prone, soft player? If Bynum didn’t play for la and wasn’t a seven footer, you would never hear his name….
Joshua Barlowe
May 22nd, 2011
11:32 pm
It’s not going to matter – the Hawks are dead for a long time because of the Joe Johnson contract. He will be an albatross around our necks for a long, long time.
G. Tampa Bedwetter
May 23rd, 2011
12:24 am
Bring back Tree Rollins
patience
May 23rd, 2011
12:26 am
If you are worried about Joe Johnson’s contract making it impossible to add a center, why don’t you just wait and see what the new CBA says. It might include an amnesty clause that would allow you to just cut him and you wouldn’t have to pay him. Of course, it would allow every other team to just cut a player, too, so you might face some competition for centers. I wouldn’t count on dealing for Bynum….The Lakers wouldn’t have a center then. Gasol clearly prefers to play power forward. It’s a possibility that you could deal for Gasol. But he doesn’t like playing center.
Stizz
May 23rd, 2011
12:27 am
You have two young guys who should be playing the same position. One is a two-time all-star and a first time all-nba player. The other has yet to make it to an all-star game
You also had one guy who actually shows up in the playoffs and another who did a vanishing act. One has been lights out when it comes down to the postseason and he doesn’t care if he plays the 3 or 4, whatever betters the team. The other didn’t show up and seems to be locked into the mindset of playing one position.
I’ve got my answer on who I would want to stay.
HawksDieHard.
May 23rd, 2011
12:31 am
I agree with ‘Juan from Chi.’
I said the same thing earlier.
Joe’s contract prevents the Hawks from making any significant moves. No matter what moves we make, we can never be a contender.
I am not sure what the Hawks should do. Develop Teague, plan for the future, something like that. Maybe something similar to what New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Miami, etc. did to get their team ready financially for one of the big free agents.
Limbo
May 23rd, 2011
12:33 am
There are quite a few bigmen in the nba who if you play them 36 mpg no matter what will get you 9 rebounds per game .
At this point after 4 years of playoffs they both have shown that they should be traded but its simply not feasible in todays nba market .
Thats the dilemma that we are in . Weve come to the end of the road with this current group but are not in a position to use them to get anyone that can take us further .
We are 4 straight years into the playoffs and we are still wondering who will show up …but theyve all got there money though and these guys are the captains of the team.
Sund would have to be a complete idiot to think that after the way we finished last season that somehow those 3 players are gonna find the motivation to win 40+ games again .
They are not bad players in fact I think they are all very good but this team has gone as fast it can with those 3 in charge of it .
Last year
HawksDieHard.
May 23rd, 2011
12:35 am
Oops, meant to say I agree with ‘Joshua Barlowe.’
Chime in
May 23rd, 2011
12:50 am
I have to agree the press is trying to push their favorite child, Al horford. They are clearly not interested in making the hawks better. Al horford is not as good as Josh regardless of the press favoring him.by adding him to the 3rd string All NBA,( for what I dont know I guess 12pts career average, nothing about al says allstar or all nba). The fact that a coach saw fit to add him as a reserve to the allstar team doesnt make an allstar. Al prove it was a fluke by scoring a total of 2 pts in the game. Al did not show up in the playoffs. In fact he stunk up the place.In fact he never shows up for the big games. Thats why Amare called him out. Al is the weakest defender among the starters and to keep him over the better than him josh smith would not only be stupid, it would doom the hawks to mediocrity with Al in the pf position. It would also weaken a floundering fan base. This is Josh’s city and team. Like it or not. If anyone goes its got to be Al horford.
But of course the hawks, (or Schultz for that matter) havent made a good decision in so long you kind of expect this type of stupidity coming from them.
Bibby’s looking great and will probably get that ring to crown his career. The hawks will be rebuilding so….funny how things work out.
REALIST
May 23rd, 2011
12:52 am
SMITH is the Hawks MOST DYNAMIC PLAYER. Josh is also the ONLY DEFENSIVE THREAT on the entire team. On any given night Smith can produce a double double or a triple double. Smoove can also score 20 or 30 points a night. And the Hawks should give all that up for what? Because most of you JEALOUS couch potatoes say so?? GTFOH !!!! He should be a focal point of the Off.
JOSH ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS WORK ON YOUR HANDLE A LITTLE and develop that GERVIN FINGER ROLL and perfect a slashing runner in the lane and you will become a BEAST. He was less than 2 rebs. away from averaging 10 boards a game. Smith was also 2nd on the team in rebounds and led the team in blocked shots and double doubles and steals. What more could you Douche bags want from 1 man? You need to look further down the bench for trade remedies and try finding a real GM and Coach that knows how to build a championship caliber team. It would have been nice to have JASON TERRY ON THIS TEAM INSTEAD OF WATCHING HIM HELP THE MAVS WIN. Another BRILLIANT MOVE for the HAWKS. And you wonder why they can’t win??????
yodaddy
May 23rd, 2011
12:53 am
This article is trash….trade Josh Smith…yeah freakin right….That’s why Sund is keeping his job and Schultz is about to be fired
Chime in
May 23rd, 2011
1:01 am
getting 9 rebounds is such an unimpressive stat. I means some one else played the defense and free loading Al pick up the garbage. Gee why am I not impressed. Id be more impressed if he block 2 or 3 shots a game and knocked a couple guys on their butts. I dont care that he got the rebound when Josh played the defense. How able big 6′101/2″ Al play some defense for a change. So josh isnt liked by the press or Schultz. Well his dictatorship is what is ruining the city. Hes ran Woodson and Vick out of town and now hes after Josh.
It would be nice if we could trade Schultz.
Chime in
May 23rd, 2011
1:04 am
*How about big 6′101/2″ Al play some defense for a change.
And why dont the AJC ever fire sports writers?
Chime in
May 23rd, 2011
1:05 am
*How about big 6′101/2″ Al play some defense for a change.
Ken Strickland
May 23rd, 2011
1:08 am
Man, bring up the idea of trading JSmith vs AHorford has certainly brought out the HATERS and DILUSIONAL MORONS on this blog.
bjrufino
May 23rd, 2011
1:08 am
sign greg oden
trade josh smith for micheal beasley
Ghost Chaser
May 23rd, 2011
1:22 am
If you’re gonna say go for a Gasol, make it Marc, not Pau. Andre Iguodala would be a great pickup for the hawks. Josh Smith has got an attitude problem. Face it you guys, He simply will NOT PLAY the whole game, he DOES pout, & he’s the most inconsistent player the Hawks have. Al Horford may have had a bad go in the playoffs this year, but he was the Hawks most dominant player this season. We do need a center, & Pachulia just ain’t gonna cut it as a starter. screw it, go for YAO……….. *laughter* that was a joke guys. But seriously, we need someone who can dominate the paint, & get the offensive boards.
REALIST
May 23rd, 2011
1:26 am
1st of all keep in mind that this is not the 80’s or 90’s where you had an abundance of great big men.
Where is the legit big man that everyone keeps speaking of? Howard is the best low post player in the NBA. Other than him, no other Center named can contibute a double double and play effective defense. The Centers that have been named are all injury prone, soft, overated and definitely overpaid. I’d rather go with the core of what they have now and focus on becoming a running team. The bench could use some scoring help but that is about it. They should emphasize the uptempo game and create mismatches that benefit this team and hope that the coaching improves.
PD
May 23rd, 2011
1:32 am
Don’t trade Smith he is not the problem
Presham from Port Arthur
May 23rd, 2011
2:17 am
find some kind of way to get ne ne in here.
E43
May 23rd, 2011
4:39 am
I don’t think either will be traded. I bet that the hawks will just return with Jason Collins and Jeff Teague as starters and then they’d call it a day until the trade deadline in possibly Feb. I find it hard to talk trades when there’s a labor dispute and lets not forget the potential sale of the thrashers, hawks (dream) and Phillips operating rights. I wont be surprised if their priority chips are Jamal and Kirk then Josh.
tony
May 23rd, 2011
5:53 am
UNBELIEVABLE! A person can’t even give his or her opinion without getting bashed by a few mean spirited fans. Most of these opinions are quite amusing. Besides, Billy Knight is responsible for drafting too many forwards and he is responsible for not surrounding them with proper leaders(Jason Kid, Steve Nash, Ginobili Mana, Chauncey Billups or Baron Davis) to mentor them……so why bash the fans? Rather you like it or not, changes probably will to be made this offseason. All we can do is hope for the best.
Eric C.
May 23rd, 2011
6:01 am
Yep, trade Josh Smith
JustAThought
May 23rd, 2011
6:57 am
Orlando will not just sit back and watch Dwight Howard leave them high and dry like Shaq did, I predict they will trade Dwight Howard to the Lakers in return for Bynum or Gasol. The trade will most likely take place during next season before the trade deadline, or they will do a sign and trade after next season.
bynum rules
May 23rd, 2011
7:01 am
horford—overrated–too soft inside. Trade him and smith for bynum and gasol.
JustAThought
May 23rd, 2011
7:06 am
Joe Johnson hugh contract is a bit of a problem, but I think there are a couple of teams that would trade for him. The Nets is the team I hope that he’s traded to (so the New York Media can roast his sorry azz). The Clippers, Timberwolves (They ain’t gonna trade Kevin Love) and the Jazz are the other teams that I think would be interested in JJ. A realistic option this off season for the hawks is Greg Oden, I think he will be available for a real good price.
myrak43
May 23rd, 2011
7:13 am
Jeff
May 22nd, 2011
3:48 pm
I don’t know what to say about your post. but the Hawks do need a center. they don’t have to have a superstar at the center position. they just need someone who can rebound and defend the center position.
The Bulls have that Noah. The Heat really don’t have that but they have three All stars on their team. you really can’t compare that team to any other team in the NBA. and OKC has Perkins, although he may not get many rebounds he scares the chit out of people and boxes out allowing his teammates to get rebounds. and they have Serge Ibaka who is kind of like Josh Smith. I bet OKC fans would never what to trade Ibaka. OH yeah Smith is why better than Ibaka on the Offensive end and just as good on the defensive end. and we all know Dallas has three 7 footers.
so you see every team left in the playoffs has the 5 spot covered except Miami. the heat are the only exception to the rule.
myrak43
May 23rd, 2011
7:15 am
that said center will have to be able to score 10 points and grab 7 to 10 rebounds a night
SALVADOR
May 23rd, 2011
7:49 am
AL IS NOT 6′10 1/2″!!!! AL IS ONLY 6′8 3/4″ WITHOUT SHOES!!!!!!
HE IS REALLY TOO SMALL TO BE A NBA CENTER!!!!!
Hatfieldgeoff
May 23rd, 2011
7:57 am
Jeff, you mention everything but a new coach which is what is needed most. The Atlanta Spirit Group or hopefully the new owner should spend the money and bring it a good strong coach. I have criticized Josh for his 3’s but most of the blame should go to the coach. Do you think Phil Jackson or Pat Riley would allow these shots? And I am sure they could get Josh’s attention and make him the player he is capable of being. Larry Drew is probably going to get an extension because the Hawks made the second round. But its obvious this team won’t live up to potential under Drew because he doesn’t command the respect of the players and quite possibly because he doesn’t have the coaching ability to do it.
Truth
May 23rd, 2011
8:02 am
Stop with the Howard and Bynum trade talks
Howard does not want to coem here and LAKERS would never trade Bynum unless they get a great C in return
Howard is going to the Lakers and Bynum to the Magic
superiorblogman
May 23rd, 2011
8:02 am
Anybody that says let’s trade Josh Smith, I invite you to a no holds barred bare knuckle brawl to the end. Anytime, anyplace, so I can beat some since into you.
djthescorpian
May 23rd, 2011
8:12 am
JustAThought: ” A realistic option this off season for the hawks is Greg Oden, I think he will be available for a real good price.”
A good idea, but Greg Oden was the biggest bust in the NBA because he stays hurt or injured all the time. At least Yao Ming, as hurt as he is-has put in more work in the NBA than Oden. I have to admit, he’ll look good more on our bench than Portland.
re: Jeff
May 23rd, 2011
8:15 am
Jeff, you missed some important things about Josh in the article.
1) Smith is completely uncoachable. Lets not forget that Smith had Woodson fired after a pushing match. Woodson made the mistake of trying to COACH Josh, and it led to a fight, and then tantrum (which led to Smith being benched to 2 days)
2) He refuses to listen. Drew has been on Josh all season to lay off the bad shots, and to play to his strengths. Smith’s reply was that he had a good long game, and when LD benched him, no surprise – this uncoachable prima dona told LD to go “*&^$ his mother, himself”. Smith quickly apologized, but anyone who’s been to a game this season has witnessed him shouting, throwing his water bottle, and towel when LD speaks directly to him….see item #1 above.
3) Smith as a self-disciple problem when it comes to work outs and practice. This has been said of Smith for years and years. It is very clear he has gained some weight. At his age now, he needs to start increasing his workouts, and watching his diet. Two things Smith has a well documented problem doing. Lazy in the NBA isn’t good.
4) Smith has spread his cancer to the other players. Reports of Smith being a disruption in the locker room surfaced throughout the season. Hard to have a winning team, when your “superstar” is complaining, arguing, fighting with his teammates.
This is not a quality person were’re dealing with here. Sure, in the paint he a good player (yes, not an all-star).
Trade him now, while he’s still worth something.
mj
May 23rd, 2011
8:21 am
Send him to Milwaukee for Bogut or LA for Kaman. If we sent him to LA for Kaman maybe we can get two players out of the deal since Kaman is not as productive as Smith and he is close to 30. Maybe someone like Aminu (played with teague at wake forest). Brooks Lopez would be on my wish list too but that would be nearly impossible because he is too productive, very young and really cheap. New Jersey would be crazy to let him go.
Ray
May 23rd, 2011
8:26 am
You know I say we just bite the bullet go after a project center like Hasheem Thabeet 7′3 and 263 pounds he’d just pack on a few pounds more to be 275, and you get someone in here, or maybe have Jason Collins teach him since he’s getting up in age.
I think given the right mentors Thabeet could be a beas, butt in today’s NBA if you aren’t a beast coming out of college it seems you’re never given a chance. Look what happened with Teague he rotted on the bench for 2 years basically and you see what happens.
Why would we want injury prone Greg Oden that would be a mistake at least with Thabeet we don’t have to pay him so much.
Bibby Vs Smith
May 23rd, 2011
8:43 am
Bibby didn’t like Smith. Felt he was an immature half-wit:
watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab9aoQkMVls
Bibby’s feelings are mirrored by all of his teammates. Sadly, Bibby made the mistake of letting his feelings be known – and now bibby is on his way to getting a ring with Miami (maybe).
Josh is a man-child who thinks he knows more than his team mates and the coach. Just ask him, he’ll tell you.
John
May 23rd, 2011
9:04 am
I agree with above poster. Jamal coming in has really taken Marvin out of the offense mroe than anything else. You can only have so many guys averaging around 15 a game, which Jamal does and Marvin did. I have said it before, nothing against Jamal but he does not need to be resigned.
lovetravel
May 23rd, 2011
9:07 am
Don’t blame no one at all!!!!!!!!!! Don’t put the blame on Smith either not Harford. There something that other team can do and can’t do. Not all team can do better with better player. It’s not anyone fault that I can be reason to fault. Please try to bear with each and every one of those player and team. Look at Miami they got 3 great player what happen? They aren’t great player and guess who doing the dirty job for them. All I am say please watch what you are say and mention, and it does not happen over night, you can go ahead trade and then look what’s going to happen. Do you all rememebr Terry trade to dallas? He better off than when he was in Atlanta, did you anyone ever think about how he doing for dallas huh? Don’t blame no one at all. I would suggest to bring Terry back home
D-Man
May 23rd, 2011
9:12 am
First, J Smoove needs more of a change in attitude not location. Those comments he made about the media wanting to T.O. him just makes me ill. Take the high road and leave that garbage alone. You did have a nice game that night and now you want to brag after the boneheaded game the one before? Just plain silly. Saying stuff like that makes you the lightning rod you are, you make yourself a target. No one WANTS to target you more for taking bad shots, its just your bad shots are WORSE than all the other bad shots combined and thus you are criticize justly so stop shooting them. I’ve never EVER seen a crowd of people gasp when a player got ready to shoot a jumper. That should tell you something Josh. I know you could hear that and yet you kept shooting anyway.
That definitely tells US something about you.
4buck Chuck
May 23rd, 2011
9:26 am
was at a charity event last year with Smith. They needed him to read a line for a promo they wanted to put on their website. I was shocked. It appeared he could not read. No kidding, it was really sad. He struggled with every word, and had someone helping him with every word.
I get the feeling Smith isn’t very smart. I don’t blame him for not being smart, but his IQ is part of the problem.