Poll time: What would you think of Smith-for-Bynum deal?
Andrew Bynum has some baggage but he would give Hawks a legitimate center. (AP photo)
The other day I wrote that it might be time for the Hawks to part ways with Josh Smith– not just because he’s the most likely trade candidate in their core, but because it’s becoming clear that he’s getting tired of being blamed for everything when something goes wrong.
The Smith-bashers in town favored the column. The Smith fans hated it, some taking it as another media assault on Smith. Fact is, as I wrote, I agree with Smith that he takes more blame for the team’s shortcoming than he deserves.
Loading ...But that column sparked immediate trade rumors, including this one: Smith and Kirk Hinrich to Los Angeles Lakers for Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest. Barring other moves, that would leave the Hawks with a starting five of Bynum (center), Ron Artest (small forward), Al Horford (power forward), Joe Johnson (shooting guard) and Jeff Teague (point guard).
That trade is nowhere close to reality right now — it was concocted by media members for the sake of discussion, and because it seems plausible. The Lakers could be looking to move Bynum after his postseason meltdown, and they also may pursue a deal for Orlando’s Dwight Howard, which would make Bynum expendable. (One outlet, Hoopsworld, also is speculating whether the Clippers will pursue Smith.)
Bynum obviously has had his issues. But he would give the Hawks their first legitimate center in years and allow Horford to move to his more natural position of power forward. If the way Teague played against Chicago in the playoffs was not an aberration, suddenly the Hawks could be set at point guard and center, and when is the last time we could say that?
So I’m not saying this trade is going to happen. But since there seems to be so much interest in this topic, I figured I’d turn it over to you. What would you think about a Smith-Hinrich for Bynum-Artest deal? We’ll also put up a poll and see how the voting goes.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier: Cowardly Bettman ignoring evidence of Thrashers fans
Earlier: Countdown: Bettman, Spirit on Facebook, angry beaver, Monta’s tattoo
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
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
435 comments Add your comment
Walker, Texas Ranger
May 25th, 2011
3:45 pm
Rufus, it is worse than a mumur, they would be in need of a triple by-pass
blake
May 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
@rufus you do know that smith is a lefty right?
Golden State of Mind
May 25th, 2011
3:59 pm
Al Horford is the heart of the team. Gets All-Star selections to Keep Hawks fans happy and then exposed as a musclebound David Lee in ‘08,’09,’10, ‘11 playoffs.
Hawks fans want to be the Golden State Warriors instead of the Celtics though so its all good.
And Jeff Schultz has yet to explain how Horford is a dominant Power forward. He went to college for 3 years and has been in the NBA but needs another year to figure out how to score against quick lengthy power forwards?
He is what he is. A speed center who tries to bully smaller players and gets dunked on. Even Bob Pettitt gets more lift on his jumper. Cant shoot off the dribble, and length bothers his set shot. No fluidity.
But everyone loves him because he grabs 9 boards and gets elected as a 12 minute backup in the All Star Game. Yay! Atlanta gets false token appreciation! Mediocre!
Marvin Williams and Chris Kaman and Al Horford! Domination!
oops forgot Joe Johnson will be the 3. He was too good posting up Derrick Rose and Keith Bogans lets move him to the 3 for Hinrich and Teague. Johnson is 6′8 and can shoot 3s therefore he is 3! no rebounds, no defense!
Atlanta Suns! Golden State Hawks! small balls! F*#@K defense and rebounding!
we’re gonna play the way we play in the park. no dunks lots of 3s. Woody Harrelson ball.
yay sunshine! F*#@K defense! F*#@K winning!
Samuel Clemens
May 25th, 2011
3:59 pm
NO, Andrew Bynum is a bum and a dirty player and a douche. As a Laker fan 1st and a Hawks fan 2nd I think that the Lakers should have just released him the day after that cheap shot on Barea. If Bynum becomes a Hawk then i am done with them.
ant banks
May 25th, 2011
4:01 pm
i would not have a prob wit’ this trade if we had a better coach!!! there is noway that larry drew could handle the persona of artest and bynum
Carmelo can't guard Smith in the post
May 25th, 2011
4:02 pm
“@rufus you do know that smith is a lefty right?”
rufus srsly? Seems like your using uninformed cliches.
Josh Smith said he is willing to play the 3 but that its controversial because that means he’s saying reshape the roster (odd man out, Marvin)
yet Horford can say the banging is wearing him down.
Josh put on 15 pounds of muscle and had knee inuries this year and we get mad when he tries to take a leadership role as a 6′8 small forward playing power forward.
Clippers Fan
May 25th, 2011
4:05 pm
Hawks playing small isn’t doing anyone any favors. Trade Smith for Kaman and hope Marvin can become Lebron James and take some pressure off of Joe.
Thanks for Smith
superiorblogman
May 25th, 2011
4:06 pm
Smith or Horford for Bynum, Bogut. Smith or Horford to the Twolves for the #2 pick and a filler. Smith or Horford to the Cavs for Varaejo and the #4 pick, then trade the #4 pick, 2011-12 2nd rd pick, and 2012-13 1st rd pick to the Twolves for #2 pick and take Derrick Williams. Smith or Horford can go is the point as long as we get what we want in return.
Get real
May 25th, 2011
4:09 pm
I think more highly of a Horford/ Bynum deal.
Josh stays.
Chopper
May 25th, 2011
4:13 pm
I don’t want to trade Josh Smith, I just want him to play the way he’s supposed to all the time.
When they posted him up and ran the offense thru him, things seemed to be more fluid and successful. they got better shots and were in better rebounding position. When he shoots outside jumpshots, JJ, Teague, AND Horford are all at least 15 feet away from the basket. That equals no rebound.
Get real
May 25th, 2011
4:14 pm
Josh Smith is the heart and soul of the team. Id I know what Josh can do, Horford doesnt do anything worth noting. So trade Al Horford not josh
@superiorblogman
May 25th, 2011
4:14 pm
Horford for Bogut is good but
Derrick Williams could very well be Michael Beasley part two. He is longer and heavier and taller though so we will have to see. But you do realize you’re advocating building around Derrick Williams at the 4/5 because if we trade Smith/Horford for him. We are not getting PF/C defenders.
Get real
May 25th, 2011
4:15 pm
JJ
teague
Crawford
Josh
Bynum
D-Dawg
May 25th, 2011
4:17 pm
Josh would be an allstar if he leaves the A. Joe should have went to Chi.
Get real
May 25th, 2011
4:18 pm
Horford unwillingness to play center forces Josh to the perimeter to accommodate Horford so trade horford for a center and problem is solved. Al horford is very inconsistent and does horrible in big games.
Joycee Banicheck
May 25th, 2011
4:18 pm
BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Get real
May 25th, 2011
4:19 pm
Why in the hell would anybody want to keep Al Hoford? Dude is not only charmin soft but never shows up in the big games. backs down from challenges(amare, playing center) has a poor attitude, will force the team out of its best line up to accommodate his demands and has only average talent at best. He is the odd man out and if he is all that you say he is why are no other teams interested in him? Could it be his lack of defensive effort? He is the most inconsistent hawk. See if you can find any body other than the press who is interested in a trade for this guy. He sucks.
BabyfaceStevens
May 25th, 2011
4:24 pm
If you dont think Artest and Bynum are DIRTY PLAYERS, ask Berrea. First Artest collared Berrea with TWO SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME. WHAT FOR? Artest wanted to show everyone he was a tough guy. Bynum saw that and decided, hey that’s cool, I’m going to do it too. Only when I do it, I will drive my forearm into Berras chest. Berrea could have been paralyzed for life and could have ended up in a wheelchair. I think Berrea should sue Bynum, Artest, the Lakers organization and the NBA for THUGGERY.
samiam
May 25th, 2011
4:26 pm
how about smith for bogut and mah-a-moute (sp?)?? same health issues for bogut as for bynum, but i think bogut provides beffer offense, and luc is MUCH better than artest…
@Chopper
May 25th, 2011
4:26 pm
That’s what media and sadly even coaches fail to realize Josh can only post up small players.
He’s billed at 6′9 like wrestlers to make him seem like a traditional power forward but he’s not.
intimidator. He had no business guarding Joakim Noah.
And on the other side Noah guarded Lebron last night. How did Lebron beat him? Jump shots.
Smith Lebron and Carmelo have almost the exact same measurements. We have a special player and are telling Smith to become Dirk Nowitzki.
He really should lose weight and try to be a speed demon hustle player like Dennis Rodman or Shawn Marion.
Can you imagine Pat Riley or the Suns telling Shawn Marion (when he was with them) to pack on weight like Hawks have Smith do?
Hawks are completely inept. They let the media tell them that because Al Horford is a 2nd team center he is a cornerstone. Because he is 6′10 he can be Blake Griffin at power forward. Yet they let the media tell them that Smith cannot play the 3 because they just nullify Turkoglu with it and we even beat Miami with him there.
All the while he was playing at 245. Carmelo is 236 and only half an inch shorter. You wonder why Smith doesn’t block 3 shots per game anymore. Because he’s morphing into a center b4 your very eyes.
Trade him to Dallas, or LAC, or heck even LAL. They have size to play him at the 3.
Knowing the Hawks they’ll probably trade Horford to OKC for Perkins and play Marvin at the 4 and tell Josh he’s the SF pass to Marvin and let him go to work against KG.
lol
Joseph Allen McWhorter
May 25th, 2011
4:31 pm
This don’t sound like a bad trade at all. The Hawks would be getting two guys who have championship rings on their fingers. No member of the current Hawks can say that at all. I’m not saying a trade like this would instantly make the Hawks NBA champs, but it could very well take them to a level they have never experienced-the Eastern Conference finals!
What I want is to...
May 25th, 2011
4:34 pm
Trade JJ and Jamal (through a sign and trade) to Chi for Deng and Noah. The Bulls have alot of cap room. Bulls get a 2nd and a 3rd scorer that they need to compliment Rose. Trade Orlando: Noah and Horford for Dwight. Orlando gets 2 very good big young players to replace Howard. And I think that Orlando/Florida Fans would like to get players that they recognize if they are gonna lose the best player they have no matter what. If we have to throw in Marvin and or Zaza somewhere to make the money match up or if the Bulls want some size to replace Noah so be it.
ATL Starters:
JT hopefully could give us 12pts and 4 or 5 assist, steal
KH maybe 12 pts 4 assist,
LD maybe 15+pts and 5 rbs
JS Now that he is in the paint he should avg 17+ points, 7+ rbs, 3 assists, a block and a steal.
DH Becomes or dominate player. 24+ pts, 10+ rbs, 2 blks
Bench:
Damien
Marvin if not traded. Add in player from Orl or Chi
ZAZA if not traded. Add in player from Orl or Chi
Twin
Sy
Sign back up pg
Sign back up sg
Rufus1
May 25th, 2011
4:38 pm
@Carmelo can’t guard Smith in the post
@Blake
I know Josh is a lefty. I also know he can’t shot or unbderstand what his limits are and it has been 7 years. It Josh had Odom’s skills we would be an ELITE team, so why don’t we just try to trade for Lamar.
All you Josh lovers are waiting for him to become more like Lamar….He attemps to play like Lamar(point forward)…HE IS EVERYTHING JOSH WISHES HE WAS, BUT CHEAPER AND A FINISHED PRODUCT.
PG Teague
SG Joe
SF Odom 6′10 with the skills of a SG
PF Al
C Any scrub you want
PS. NO MORE LEAVING ARE SF ON THE PERIMETER FOR WIDE OPEN SHOTS… HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BENEFIT PLAYERS LIKE TEAGUE AND JOE?
6th man Kirk
ag
May 25th, 2011
4:39 pm
Schultz will you quit already. Trade Marvin to LA. I will take anyone or anybody.. even their pick. Al is the center for the Atlanta Hawks.
bob loblaw
May 25th, 2011
4:40 pm
Out of curiosity, does ATL have any realistic chance of signing Howard? I know he’s from the area but I didn’t know if he cared about that.
@samiam
May 25th, 2011
4:40 pm
6′8 Josh Smith for 7′0 Andrew Bogut?
Bobcats got Pryzbilla for an older but still similar to Smith player (Gerald Wallace).
no way. and Marvin Williams is traded for whom?
ag
May 25th, 2011
4:44 pm
You guys (especially Terrance Moore) did this once by writing articles to get Dominique out of here, now this? Get rid of our real problem, Marvin. Really, he should have been dealt before Bibby. Coach should have started Teague and let Bibby come off the bench (could have used the outside shot against Chicago.)
What I want is to...
May 25th, 2011
4:46 pm
@ bob loblaw. I don’t see how any player would not at least think about wanting to play in front of his hometown. I do know that he was Smoove’s best man at his wedding. So I’d hope that it helps that if he came here he would be playing in his hometown with one of his best friends. Just my opinion though.
ag
May 25th, 2011
4:46 pm
@samiam – we will take anything from anybody for Marvin. We need to rid ourselves of that contract. If we cannot get Wilson Chandler, sign Matt Barnes and offer him an opportunity to start.
Tramarci
May 25th, 2011
4:47 pm
FIRE Larry Drew…
He cost us our draft pick and JC2 by not playing Teague. JC2 put up 39 pts this season on the Miami Heat. Owe, but he wasn’t good enough to play for Larry Drew.
Larry Drew is doing the same 7 man rotation crap that Woodson did. We have all of the players we need. Give a better coach this same team and they would win championships.
marty clary's rated rookie card
May 25th, 2011
4:52 pm
I think it is great trade, especially if Sean Zarzana comes back to Alpharetta with Bynum. He was a good chiropractor!
JuliusFlannery
May 25th, 2011
4:53 pm
Terrence Moore kept writing articles to trade Dominique Wilkins. Most of those articles were ignored until Lenny Wilkins became the Hawks coach. Lenny decided there would be only one guy in the HAWKS ORGANIZATION NAMED WILKINS, so he decided to trade Dominque for Danny Manning. Danny Manning was injured and never played much and of course Dominique went on to finish his hall-of-fame career. The year Dominique was traded the Hawks had the best record in the conference and probably would have won the NBA title that season. The Hawks showed their thanks to Dominque for a great Hawks career by letting him go, literally kicking him into the streets. Im surprised Wilkins is now president of the Hawks after their horrible treatment of him.
@What I want is to...
May 25th, 2011
4:55 pm
How is Josh Smith in the paint if he plays the 4? That only works if they double team Dwight and Josh cuts.
And elite teams can afford to single cover Dwight forcing Smith to create his own shot against a longer 4 or play pick and roll.
We become the Orlando Magic the team we just beat.
Why is so many people obsessed with playing small. Just to prove our Napoleon complex’s right.
Play him at the 3 and make him do 2 a days again to drop lbs.
Btw that starting lineup adds up to 70 points pretty obvious that Dwight would have to be WIlt Chamberlain and leave at first opportunity.
Hinrich, Williams, Horford
and
Salmons, Gooden, Sanders, Bogut
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5510905043_b8d3707dd6_b.jpg
Put Josh Smith as a Post Up 3 not a 6′8 240 lb stretch 4. He’s near identical to Michael Beasley’s measurements.
Josh Smith works on his Post Moves with Hakeem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqny1IUa2Wc
Josh Smith works on his Post Moves with Beasley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqusvgu039M
John
May 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
No way! Josh Smith is not getting traded nor is he going anywhere. He is an instrumental part to our core and we need him here. Get rid of that horrible coach and put some freakin money into a real head coach. What organization fires a coach who supposedly took a team the farthest he can and then hire his top assistant as a replacement? Feel my drift…
ag
May 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
What I want is to… Sorry to let you know, but he is going to LA. I doubt he is staying in Orlando because he would have signed the extension. I beleive he will handle FA more like Anthony and not like James.
Bob
May 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
…and how much cash? Bynum is he NBA eguivalent to Chippah Jones. He’s very good when healthy, but only plays in 60% 0f the games. How ’bout including Marvin and getting Gasol?
@ag
May 25th, 2011
5:05 pm
Dumb stuff like this gets hits and more revenue from advertisements. It sells.
just like Dwight Howard said Orlando wants to get rid of him by starting rumors.
Funny how Lakers need athleticism and they didn’t ask for Horford. But…But…Horford’s an all star he’s better than Bynum!
I give Smith as a 3 or 4 a better chance to get a big man in foul trouble than Horford at the 4 or 5, no potential for FTA there.
a year from now
Hinrich+Kobe+Smith+Gasol+center (Kaman?lol)
or
Hinrich+Kobe+Smith+Odom+Dwight
Hawks think Al Horford is sacrosanct because of his “white”-collar attitude and offense (which fades at the 4 and has no defense at the 5). Too bad you need blue collar defense to win.
Smith and also Iguodala will head to the Lake Show after Kobe retires. LAKERS!!!!
ag
May 25th, 2011
5:06 pm
John, I agree, although I doubt Drew will get fired. I actually think he will be better next season – if he starts Jeff. He has no reason not to. The team will be in there second season of running the offense and should be comfortable in it. Hopefully they will buy into the success they achieved during the post season.
PD
May 25th, 2011
5:09 pm
This is so dumb. Why don’t Hawks trade Joe for Kobe instead I think they make about the same in salary
ag
May 25th, 2011
5:09 pm
I noticed that on his left bicep that Josh has a tatto of the old Hawks logo. It will be very hard to remove the tat, Josh is a Hawk for life!
Napoleon Complex
May 25th, 2011
5:12 pm
Josh Smith cannot play the 3!!!! That means he crashes boards defends guys his size and posts up smaller guys.
Shawn Marion should play the 4, Dirk the 5 ALL THE TIME
Lebron should play the 4 and Bosh the 5 ALL THE TIME
Everyone should have a Collins brother to go big though. Bogut has no offense that’s why he’s overrated. Defense has no part in the Hawks organization. 2.6 bpg lmao on the Hawks?
we’ll make him put gain 20 lbs and play the 4 Josh Smith style.
That’ll show him to play close to the basket. Go Midget Hawks! Al Horford can’t screw us no one can. except Marvin.
Oh yes and Hinrich should move Joe Johnson to the 2. Speed kills. Speed kills…
Not giving up offensive rebounds and points in the paint and defense. Speed. Matter fact ASG is on speed when they signed Marvin to $8 million.
@PD
May 25th, 2011
5:12 pm
I know Kobe is playing declining minutes but Kobe is the least likely to be traded. U cant be serious.
Harpie
May 25th, 2011
5:15 pm
No Artest!!!!!!
my right nut
May 25th, 2011
5:19 pm
I would give my right nut to see smith traded anywhere.
so much potential, being held back by even more ignorance. Unquestionably one of the dumbest players to ever grace the hardcourts.
@ag
May 25th, 2011
5:22 pm
{John, I agree, although I doubt Drew will get fired. I actually think he will be better next season – if he starts Jeff. He has no reason not to. The team will be in there second season of running the offense and should be comfortable in it. Hopefully they will buy into the success they achieved during the post season.}
problem Hinrich is $8million. Owners say he has to start. Financially invested to him as a starter just like Bibby. #HawksIneptitude
This means if Teague starts Joe Johnson plays the small forward.
“Johnson was asked the last time he played small forward. He replied: “Probably never.”- March 16, 2011 #HawksIneptitude
Horford wants to play power forward. So with JJ at the 3, GMs are hoping Smith is kicked to the curb to make room for 3 fta per game ALL-STAR, All NBA 3rd team! Al Horford.
So now we get Chris Kaman and Al Horford to play big and are stuck with a small backcourt. And no one gets to the FT line. Lateral Movement Smith is gone
Writers like Jeff Schultz move on to cover Smith in LA. #Hawks
Horford leaves twitter in embarassment for having help orchestrate the moves #Hawks
Marvin Williams joins twitter and reveals himself as a sloppy alcoholic #Hawks
Lakers win thanks to Smith who lost the weight to be a 3 and became an All Star small forward, Gasol, and a yet to be identified free agent big man. #AtlantaHawks
I lost track of how many illegitimate kids Smith has?
May 25th, 2011
5:25 pm
He can’t leave ATL, his baby mommas all live here.
@my right nut
May 25th, 2011
5:27 pm
How many 6′8 240 lb “power” forwards can open up driving lanes to score without a jump shot?
Lebron nope, Carmelo nope, Rudy Gay nope, Tyrus Thomas who has a longer wingspan than even Rudy Gay? nope, gunner Beasley hell no
Josh Smith nope>>Result “I would give my left nut to see Smith dunk on people all the time. No jumper just dunk because he’s better than Lebron who is guarded by smaller people. Smith is an ignorant lazy f**k because he’s not Shaquille. Because he’s 6′8 and can’t post up bigger guys or dunk on them”
would u give ur left nut to have Adrian Dantley play power forward for the Hawks?
Rufus1
May 25th, 2011
5:29 pm
Al -vs- Josh
Al 4 years into his NBA career -vs- Josh 7 years into his NBA career.
Josh is the same player he was 3 years ago. If you don’t think Al will develop a Left or more post moves in the next 3 years(Like Josh hasn’t), then trade him…. I would never trade AL, because if the team asked Al would become a rebounding force to win a title.(We can’t get Josh to stop taking jumpers)
The most important reason Al is better…HE IS A SMARTER BASKETBALL PLAYER>
Illegitimate
May 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
are Schwarzneggar, Thomas Jefferson’s and Scott Skiles kids down there too? smh
Jeff Schultz is a tool
May 25th, 2011
5:36 pm
Jeff Schultz is a tool