Josh Smith wants out of Hawks — and it’s hard to blame him
Josh Smith's 30 points led a recent upset of Oklahoma City, and he has been the Hawks' best player this season. (AP photo)
By the end of last season, the criticism had started to become too much for Josh Smith.
When something went wrong, he got blamed. When the Hawks lost, he got blamed. Certainly, any time he did something silly and made one of those pouty, lower-lip-touches-the-tip-of-the-nose boo-boo faces, the city’s basketball fans held their nose in disgust and screamed, “Feh!”
At some point, it all figured to be too much for the hometown kid – and now it is.
Smith wants out of the Hawks. Out of Atlanta. I don’t blame him. I wrote a column following last season’s playoff exit that it might be best if the two parties went in opposite directions, and that was meant less as criticism of Smith than it was a read of the unhealthy situation. It was clear how he and those in his camp felt about the situation.
Our Michael Cunningham reports that, while external criticism of Smith has significantly diminished this season, the forward wants a fresh start with a new team, and he has let the Hawks know of his desire to be dealt before the NBA’s March 15 trade deadline.
The irony here is that Smith has had the best season of his career. He has averaged 17 points, almost 10 rebounds, 3.5 assists and two blocks. When center Al Horford went down early this season, Smith stepped up and took on a bigger role. When guard Joe Johnson went down, Smith went on to carry this team.
Is Smith great every night? No. But what we’ve witnessed this season is a smarter, far more mature and polished player than at any time in his eight-year career. When training camp opened following the league’s lockout, Smith showed up 25 pounds lighter, wearing a smile and having a seemingly new perspective on things.
He denied that criticism ever prompted him to ask for a trade in the offseason, but cracked that at times he was tempted to “get lost. Punch the GPS a few times.”
“I’ve been here a long time,” Smith continued. “I’ve never lashed out at the organization. All I ask for sometimes is, when I raise my hand, maybe somebody can help me up, so I’m not always the person who’s trying to [defend me from criticism]. It would be nice if somebody else said, ‘This guy’s a pretty good player.’”
He certainly has shown that this season. Now he wants out. Figures.
How does this look if you’re the Hawks?
The kid from College Park doesn’t want to play for the hometown team. Dwight Howard, an Atlanta native, doesn’t want to play here, either.
It’s one thing when hockey players from Russia (Ilya Kovalchuk) and Slovakia (Marian Hossa) want out. But two guys who grew up playing pickup games on the city’s black tops?
Neither Smith nor Howard have a problem with Atlanta itself. It’s more about perceptions of the franchise and the ownership. As players move on in their career, winning titles becomes more important. Smith wants to play for a franchise more committed to winning a championship — or at least one that leaves the impression it knows what it takes to get there.
The Hawks have been an undersized team with Horford as their center, but their inability to make significant roster fixes can be traced directly to ownership’s decision to give Johnson a $123.7 million contract.
Smith has been the Hawks’ best player this season. He got jobbed in All-Star game selection twice — first when Eastern Conference coaches picked reserves, then when commissioner David Stern inexplicably chose the suspended Rajon Rondo over Smith to replace the injured Johnson. Smith apparently holds the Hawks at least partially responsible, believing the organization didn’t do enough to promote his candidacy.
My guess is that perceptions of the younger, immature, underachieving Smith still linger with some and had more to do with his exclusion. But Smith has been a treasure to watch for most of this season. Now he wants out. It was easy to see coming.
By Jeff Schultz
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185 comments Add your comment
ro
March 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
first
Trainwreck
March 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
That…. Really… Suks
ro
March 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Ho Hum!!! Wake me when Braves season starts!
bryan
March 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
First! DO you really think this ownership and GM have the stones to pull off a big trade? Marvin to Cleveland seems more likely.
therddler
March 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
Alright then…
mike
March 8th, 2012
5:01 pm
Josh is definitely under-appreciated in ATL… anywhere else he would be welcomed and praised..also, if he tones down the all the jumpers he will help his cause
Allan in Austin
March 8th, 2012
5:02 pm
What can the Hawks get in return? Perhaps Rondo and a 1st rd pick from Boston? Thoughts?
ClemsonBrad
March 8th, 2012
5:03 pm
Jeff, Do you see the Hawks trading him? I don’t. How can you trade your best player when your currently in the playoff hunt? I know they don’t realistically have a chance of going deep in the playoffs…but I still can’t believe the Hawks would trade him.
Altanta, GA. USA
March 8th, 2012
5:06 pm
What??? Smith is the FRANCHISE PLAYER, getting him out of this city will be a disaster for the team. He is a homegrown player, he brings energy and enthusiastics to the game.
J dubb
March 8th, 2012
5:06 pm
The Hawks will never get above mediocrity (early playoff loss) until the ASG gets lost. They are a joke and all of NBA knows it. Hell, even Stern has a problem with them.
I like J Smoove and I feel as sorry for him as I can for a millionare (not much).
steve brown
March 8th, 2012
5:07 pm
Package Smith, JJ and Marvin and start over. Although it would be interesting to see if Marvin would flourish if he was given more freedom, more responsibility and more shots as Smith has blossomed with his added responsibility. Unfortunately, it appears JJ has peaked and he is all he will ever be.
some sense
March 8th, 2012
5:08 pm
Just let him go and start over…again.
SPORTSGIRL
March 8th, 2012
5:08 pm
Jeff its amazing how u left out the fact that your counterparts and yourself have killed this team and the players no matter what they did. All while praising the falcons and braves for doing what exactly?? Because the beloved Matt Ryan has yet to get his team to a playoff victory and the braves whateva. So yes ASG is to blame but so is AJC and the Local Media oh yeah and plz tell Mark Bradley I’m especially talking to him.
DrH
March 8th, 2012
5:10 pm
ESPN’s BS Report (with Bill Simmons) released a podcast this week with Simmons interviewing Mark Cuban. Listening to Cuban talk for one single hour made me think about how I’ve NEVER heard an Atlanta sports team owner even come close to being as knowledgeable and involved with their team as Cuban obviously is. Whether you love him or hate him as an outside observer, that’s the kind of owner every player would want to play for…in other words, the exact opposite of the buffoons that own & run the Hawks, and ruined the Thrashers.
It’s no shock whatsoever that every talented player who has options elsewhere will leave the Hawks. Obviously JJ staying is an exception, but I guess the Hawks can only afford one guy at those rates.
Grandmaster JeJe
March 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
FIRE ASG
FIRE SUND
Hawks Fan
March 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Don’t blame him either. ATL fans have been ripping him for years while boring Al gets all the credit even though his numbers look a lot like Z pach’s numbers. If Al is such an all star then let’s trade him for a real center or small forward. Hang in there Josh. You are the best player on this team.
Jesus christ
March 8th, 2012
5:12 pm
Jrue Holiday is coming.
Grandmaster JeJe
March 8th, 2012
5:12 pm
The Hawks don’t market their players?!?!?!?!
I saw that Hawks billboard in Cobb.
FIRE LD
no sense
March 8th, 2012
5:12 pm
I loooove how the fans (bloggers) blame the AJC writers for how bad a team or a player performs. SPORTSGIRL, you are ridiculous. We are all waiting to read how dumb your next comment is. Please, entertain us with your wisdom!
john
March 8th, 2012
5:14 pm
Any Hawks fan would say, trade Management/ownership, keep Josh Smith.. To bad ‘Atlanta Spirit’ is run more like a popsicle stand than a multi-million dollar business.
no sense=SPORTSGIRL
March 8th, 2012
5:14 pm
dumb, dee-dumb, dumb….
teedub
March 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
I second Hawks Fan and john
Why would you write this?
March 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
Why would you write this if you are a hawks fan? Are you trying to screw the hawks? Because if you truly loved this team you wouldn’t be stating reasons he should leave. You would be giving reasons for him to stay.
Larry
March 8th, 2012
5:30 pm
Josh Smith is a loser…let him walk and take that stupid 25 footer with him!
GSU is in Atlanta
March 8th, 2012
5:31 pm
Too bad we can’t get Howard here and keep Smith…I just woke up from a dream
Why would you write this?
March 8th, 2012
5:34 pm
So this seems to me like you are trying to get players to not come here. Isn’t your job supposed to be where you say good things about the Hawks, not bad? I have yet to see a positive argument for them. You criticize the Hawks and yet you are writing horrible things trying to make this team seem bad.
On another front. Why do you like the Braves and Falcons, but you hate the Hawks? The falcons are cheap, and you call them big spenders. The Hawks are big spenders and you call them cheap, owners who don’t want to win. You say the falcons have great playoff success, they haven’t made it out of the second round since “Matty Ice” came here. You say the Hawks have had terrible seasons the past years, They have gone farther in the playoffs each year.
And finally I really thing you should take a look at this from a Hawks fans perspective not some writer who criticizes everything a team does
Seattle Hawks fan
March 8th, 2012
5:35 pm
Dammit! I wish our owners would sell! Trade teague, Marvin, Horford for D. Williams…. J-smoove plus D. Williams, Johnson would convince Howard to come here!
Trojan
March 8th, 2012
5:36 pm
The ASG is horrible at managing a NBA team. Sund is the least expensive GM available. Larry is the least expensive coach. The whole rebuilding process was horribly done. Josh is the only “player” on the team. The Hawks are a terrible team to even pull for.
Josh can carry a team. Look at the effort of the past few games. We are undermanned but by running the offense around Josh, we can complete with anyone. But instead we will end up with soft Al Hortford at forward and we will again resort to ISO Joe pounding the ball and getting his 17 points per game.
The Hawks are locked in to a horrible contract.
Watch the attendance fall. Can you imagine how BLAND the Hawks will be without Josh.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Seattle Hawks fan
March 8th, 2012
5:37 pm
I can’t believe with all the superstar rappers and celebrities can’t buy the hawks! Where is C-low Green!
Joey
March 8th, 2012
5:40 pm
Josh has been great the past 2 seasons. Don’t blame him for wanting to go play for a contender. Sadly, it won’t happen here.
Sad, because it took a legendary team (Bird and Co) to keep the Hawks from The Finals back when our legend (Dominique) was here. Now, big-market teams have stacked their decks to keep a really good (when healthy) Hawks from advancing.
It will take a billionaire (not Ted Turner, who would rather give the idiotic UN $1 Billion) to come in and be willing to pay the luxury tax to get the stars. And those billionaires will go to the big cities before they ever come to the ATL.
It’s just a shame that any competent GM would have gotten more than one or two good players out of all of those high picks when the Hawks were lousy – geez – Deron Williams or Chris Paul vs Marvin??
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
5:40 pm
Bryan — If management thinks they will lose Josh when he becomes a free agent after next season, they’ll trade him before then just to ensure they get something for him. Same as the Dwight Howard situation.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
5:41 pm
ClemsonBrad — Do I think they’ll trade him? Yes. When is the question. Agree that doing it now will take some guts. The might wait until offseason. But I think it largely depends on what the offers are. If the Hawks can get a player to build around, then they have to look at it.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
5:43 pm
Sportsgirl — I think you need to look back and see specifically what I’ve written and then get back to me. I’ve criticized team for lack of size. I’ve praised play this year of Josh, praised Drew, praised Teague in playoffs, said Horford injury was crusher … what specifically are you referring to? Or are you just looking to throw something against the wall and see if it sticks?
Hayman
March 8th, 2012
5:44 pm
The hawks are so stupid they would trade josh and a 1st rounder (if we have any left) for some more junk
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
5:44 pm
J Dubb — Not race-baiting please. Deleted your comment.
Joey
March 8th, 2012
5:45 pm
Larry (5:30) is a loser and a dumbass. Get that idiot off these blogs!
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
5:46 pm
Seattle Hawks fan — Actually you bring up an interesting point. With all the folks in the music/entertainment profession — many of whom are NBA fans — who live in Atlanta now, you would think some could be enticed to be investors, at least.
Joey
March 8th, 2012
5:48 pm
SPORTSGIRL, reading comprehension is your friend . . .
HedgesHaven
March 8th, 2012
5:51 pm
Jeff,
Does trading Smitty with another year left on the contract perhaps gives the team a little more leverage?
Hugo
March 8th, 2012
5:51 pm
I personally would love it if the hawks trade him. I am tired of watching a 6ft 9 in shoot 3’s like it’s a layup. Mine u he makes about 3 out of 20. And take em at the wrong time. Please, somebody take him. I’m tired of seeing him whine so much too. Can we throw in a dog too with the trade?
"Chef" Tim Dix
March 8th, 2012
5:55 pm
Is it possible to tear down Phillips and forget any of this happened?
Larry
March 8th, 2012
5:58 pm
Seattle Hawks fan
March 8th, 2012
5:37 pm
“I can’t believe with all the superstar rappers and celebrities can’t buy the hawks! Where is C-low Green!”
Because after all the money spent on jewelry, tattoos, cars, wheels, baby mommas, and dope there isn’t enough left to pay the functionally illiterate Joe Jonhson and Josh Smith contracts!
Vito
March 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
i know they do in football n baseball but can Joe redo his hiis contract he got to no they will never win wit it no one can come help there is no money n we cant trade him no one wont to pay that money
Mike
March 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
I think a new ownership needs to come in and clean house because i know that josh smith isn’t perfect but at least he tries and ASG don’t even care about get to the finals, they are worry about their other stuff. So ownership needs to go.
So do anybody think that Josh will be trade before March 15?
Larry
March 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
Vito must be Joe Johnson’s offspring…OMG!
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
6:05 pm
HedgesHaven — Yes, it’s better than trading him during next season. They would’ve had more leverage before this season. Could have more bidders after season than now because more teams can restructure their roster, but it’s hard to say for sure.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
“Chef” Tim — My time machine has been on the fritz, sorry.
PLASTICMAN
March 8th, 2012
6:07 pm
Sad news to here Josh and Dwight don’t want to play in Atlanta partly because of management. Could of had something special here with a home grown talented team invested in the community. With Al down for the year now is the time to blow it up and may be our best chance to package JJ and get out of this ridiculous contract. I’d love see the Hawks possibly make a trade for Greg Monroe or with Minnesota and pick up Kanter and Favors.
Skydawg
March 8th, 2012
6:09 pm
We still have a basketball team? I thought they left with the Thrashers. Go Dawgs, Go Braves, Go Falcons…Hawks….just go.
JSS
March 8th, 2012
6:12 pm
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
5:46 pm
“Seattle Hawks fan — Actually you bring up an interesting point. With all the folks in the music/entertainment profession — many of whom are NBA fans — who live in Atlanta now, you would think some could be enticed to be investors, at least.”
People miss this over and over again… There is on the book value, and then there is real value. None and I mean none of the Atlanta movie magnets, song impressarios, performers have “real value” needed to pull off a deal, that includes the Foxworthy’s, Tritt, and Jackson’s too for those who like to play the race card or Anti-Atlanta demographic card. It is the one real why no minority owners have stepped up to purchase either the Hawks, Phillips Arena, or the the departed Thrashers… Oh by the way, there were minority “rich” hockey fans. But the fracture in Thrashers fans scared them away…
kevkat
March 8th, 2012
6:12 pm
2012, the end of the world, josh wants out..it’s all falling into place
Nick
March 8th, 2012
6:13 pm
Don’t believe I recall seeing anyone blame him, people were saying he shouldn’t take long range jumpers, but its Joe “I’m taking all this teams money and not doing anything for it” Johnson that I blame.
ATLiens Don’t Want to Be Hawks « coming up small
March 8th, 2012
6:13 pm
[...] Writes Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports columnist Jeff Schultz: “Neither Smith nor Howard have a problem with Atlanta itself. It’s more about perceptions of the franchise and the ownership. As players move on in their career, winning titles becomes more important. Smith wants to play for a franchise more committed to winning a championship — or at least one that leaves the impression it knows what it takes to get there.” [...]
Nick
March 8th, 2012
6:17 pm
Course who cares, if you waste a dime on the Hawks you are stupid. This team hasn’t shown me they want my money since Nique retired. And they sucked back then.
Trojan
March 8th, 2012
6:17 pm
Wow, what a mess. Perhaps we should hold onto Josh, and trade everybody else, especially the ASG.
bulldogbubba
March 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
Any body seen Clusters? Being an overpaid athlete has to be hard on that person. I admit I have no clue as to what they go through but if you sell yourself at a job interview and you don’t fulfill what you tsay you can do people are not gonna be happy and management tends to cut you loose eventually. Now if you loose the ball in the lights and the team puts up little victory flags you are playing on a different team.
Paddy
March 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
some sense……..get him out of town and start over, you say. You want the ASG to start over with this team? Is not once enough for you? It is for me!
Chuckman
March 8th, 2012
6:21 pm
Jeff,
Is there anyway the Hawks can amnesty Joe Johnson and free up our roster options with the extra cap space? Why won’t mgt do this? Obvious improvement and flexibility.
Dean
March 8th, 2012
6:22 pm
It’s such a shame the shape of basketball in this state. With all the high school talent, large, affluent African American base, and entertainment icons. This franchise could be something special. As it is, it’s just boring. I don’t blame Smith but I’ll sure hate to see him go.
Sfrantom
March 8th, 2012
6:25 pm
Jeff, Do you think Josh would change his tune if ATL made a trade to make the team better? I think if ATL could trade JJ and Marvin for a big man he would stay and be happy. I don’t think anyone on this team likes playing with Marvin.
TexExInGA
March 8th, 2012
6:25 pm
The leadership painted itself into a corner in slow motion with the JJ contract while we all watched. They paid him because it was the least risky thing to do. They were not diligent, savvy, or bold enough to find another way to make the team better. And maybe they were too stubborn to admit Belkin was right.
Players have lost patience — no blaming J-Smoove, he has worked hard to get better the last couple years and no one has noticed. I would be upset too.
Fans have lost patience. There’s plenty of blame to spread around and there was some bad luck — in the draft, injuries, the aborted sale, etc.
I don’t have any ill will toward anyone involved, including the ownership, but I think it all needs to be blown up — lose JJ, sell the team, see what’s left and go from there. Wake me up in a couple years… hopefully the Hawks will stay in Atlanta and it won’t take as long as it did last time to get back to respectability.
JSS
March 8th, 2012
6:26 pm
Nick
March 8th, 2012
6:13 pm
“Don’t believe I recall seeing anyone blame him”
Oh Phil!!!
Matt the Brave
March 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
Is it just me, or is this team really close to the drain now? I mean, we’ve been circling for some time, but it really seems that if our best player currently on the team (no affront to Horford, but he’s hurt) want out, it’s a pretty bad sign. I think we’d all better get ready for another 13 win season here soon.
Michael
March 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
Investors? Are you kidding? Who in their right mind would want to throw their money in and join themselves with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb running the show now? There is no way anything gets better until those idiots sell and get out completely. But that’s not going to happen until they have run this franchise into the ground too.
Trojan
March 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
Dwight Howard is sounding more like a head case everytime he speaks now. He will be as popular as Kang James when he took his talentz to South Beach.
Dwight said today that he wanted to go somewhere where he could be the one to take the last shot.
He is already there and he had accomplished nothing so far.
Trojan
March 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Who had confidence in any aspect of Hawks management? No one. Not a single person believes in the handling of the Hawks.
GA FAN
March 8th, 2012
6:46 pm
For some reason the song “Georgia” comes to mind. At least we can still support the college, high school and little league teams. Jason Heyward was the escape for the Braves. Roddy White the escape for the Falcons and Josh Smith for the Hawks. WoW!!!!!!! Falcons paid a rookie qb
$65 mil. Braves paid Chipper Jones $90mil (to stay hurt) and Hawks paid Joe Johnson $123Mil. The point is………….. it takes more than one to win a championship. Spread the wealth!!!!!!!!!!
tonyb
March 8th, 2012
6:48 pm
Funny, on my home from work, when I heard the news on the radio, the very first thing I thought was of Hossa and Kovalchuk, and their feelings toward the Thrashers ownership. Now, the very same thing is happening with the Hawks. The ASG likes to pound their chests and talk about all of the great things they do for the Hawks. Yet here we are, just like the hockey team, we see the top players trying to bolt at first opportunity. What can an Atlanta sports fan to do. Our hockey team is now lost. I hope for better for the Hawks.
slimtebow
March 8th, 2012
6:53 pm
T.I. needs to buy the Hawks him and that sweet dude tyler perry they are stoopid rich enough to do it.
JSS
March 8th, 2012
6:53 pm
@ GA Fan…
“Falcons paid a rookie qb $65 mil. (really $72 million), Braves paid Chipper Jones $90mil (to stay hurt) and Hawks paid Joe Johnson $123Mil. The point is………….. it takes more than one to win a championship. Spread the wealth!!!!!!!!!!”
I’ve been saying the same for years… But hey, I’m called a “troll.”
JSS
March 8th, 2012
6:55 pm
T.I. needs to pay a good therapist and hire a better personal assistant!
GA FAN
March 8th, 2012
6:59 pm
@JSS
And stay out of PRISON!!! Lol!
rollo lawson
March 8th, 2012
7:06 pm
This team needs to be sold quick, fast, and in a hurry. This ownership is an embarassment to the City of Atlanta and State of Georgia. They are not basketball fans. Heck, they might not even be sports fans for all we know. With all the celebrities and affluent african americans in Atlanta, selling basketball to the masses should be a piece of cake. Instead, they have turned this city into an NBA wasteland!! Makes me sick to my stomach. If I owned the Hawks, Philips Arena would be the place to be every home game. Stop being freaking stingy and put a competitive team on the court and the money/sponsors/notoriety will come.
JSS
March 8th, 2012
7:07 pm
Perry has $350 million dollars tied in servicing construction and purchase private bonding for the next 30 years (that is what it took to build Tyler Perry Studios) and carries bonding for over $250 million dollars for productions. Yeah, “stoopid rich” equals working capital…
JSS
March 8th, 2012
7:08 pm
@ GA Fan…
Thus the therapist and the personal assistant… Some time a genius needs some help….
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
7:11 pm
Chuckman — I’m not a new CBA/amnesty expert. But I remember talking about this with Michael Cunningham after the lockout and I seem to recall it wasn’t really worth it for another year or two. I did Google and find this written on Hoopinion, which seems to summarize things pretty well (blog from November 2011). But consensus seems to be that it’s not worth Hawks using their amnesty clause for a year or two.
http://www.hoopinionblog.com/2011/11/amnesty-options-for-atlanta-hawks.html
jcwfalcon
March 8th, 2012
7:12 pm
As a lifelong fan of ATL sports I cant help but agree with Josh. ATL teams PEAK at 2nd or 3rd tier. They are never the best (except one Braves season). I wish I could trade myself to another city and pull for their teams that actually occasionally have a team that is THE BEST. Unfortunately my heart is too much into the Falcons, Hawks and Braves (and I would have to get my only tattoo, a Falcons logo, removed).
If I were Josh, I would want to go someplace else too. Its sad to say. I wish it wasnt true. The odds of bringing back a championship to the city of Atlanta are REALLY slim in any sport. Odds of making the playoffs=very high. Odds of doing anything in the playoffs=very low. Its just how it has been for a long time and I dont see it changing.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
7:12 pm
SFrantom — I’m not sure what trade the Hawks could make that would appease Josh, especially with one of their most tradeable players (Al Horford) injured.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
7:13 pm
JSS — I’ve never called you a troll. A few other things, probably, but never a troll.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
7:16 pm
JSS (and others): Here’s the thing on owning sports teams: They’re really not great investments. With few exceptions, sports franchises don’t make money, particularly in the NBA. Any money that there is to be made is in the arena, not the team. But really, anybody who gets into sports ownership does it more for the ego trip and to live out this life-long fantasy of being a sports owner. It’s certainly not an “investment.”
Delbert D.
March 8th, 2012
7:24 pm
Maybe Minnesota world be better for Smith. Or, Sacramento. He could be a hero. They would love him.
falCANS
March 8th, 2012
7:26 pm
speechless…..awl I can say is told ya. #5 fa president
Aaron
March 8th, 2012
7:27 pm
The Atlanta Spirit kills another spirit.
hbcuclassics
March 8th, 2012
7:28 pm
HBCU Classic Sports
2012 Draft Preview
Corey Berry, DE, Howard
http://hbcuclassics.com/hbcu_showcase
blazerdawg
March 8th, 2012
7:34 pm
“Smith has been a treasure to watch for most of this season.”
Most true – love his effort and skill. Deeepressing that he wants out. Hawks are becoming the Clippers of the 80s and 90s.
Zing
March 8th, 2012
7:47 pm
I wish the Hawks had worked a sign-and-trade rather than sign JJ to that absurd contract… it was clear back then that Josh was the more important player to the team, and building around him might have stroked his ego enough to cause him to stay. Think about it: if the Hawks had done a sign-and-trade with, say, Dallas, they would’ve gotten a player like Caron Butler back and also been able to re-sign Jamal Crawford (or someone else–say, a big center like a Tyson Chandler). Which team would be better? I know my answer.
Zing
March 8th, 2012
7:49 pm
As it is, the Hawks have to hang on to that amnesty right to waive Johnson when the relationship between his production and his pay just gets so far out of whack that they’ve got to cut him.
If the Hawks could work a smart trade of Josh for maybe a high draft pick and a solid veteran guy, it might actually work out all right. But I’d hate to see him go–he’s been an exciting (if occasionally weird) player to watch.
Nookah
March 8th, 2012
7:53 pm
Perhaps this may have been brewing a long time ago. Josh may have spoken to Dwight which may be the reason we were never on his list anyway.
However, I can’t say I blame Josh as the ASG are certainly pathetic. For the Hawks sake I hope we can get valuable assets in exchange.
Go Hawks!!
tyger
March 8th, 2012
7:53 pm
Hawks championship window…is non-existent
Current core (JJ, Smoove, Al, Marvin) wont get it done…
ASG shown no inclination to spend over luxury tax…
Championship caliber teams (Dallas, Lakers, Boston, Chicago, Magic, Spurs)
All pay luxury taxes, i.e. to win a championship you have to pay luxury taxes…
Smoove 8 yr. vet – due extension next season – at end 12/13 yr vet…
Is there any reason to believe ASG will change its spending over next 4/5 yrs?
NO. JJ escalates to $20M+, Horford locked in, Marvin 2 yrs. + Smoove max +
Zaza due raise, Teague due raise – where’s change going to come from?
It’s not. ASG spent first 4 years in court, then tried to sell to the pizza man,
all after reneging on the used car dealer, who’s next? Jenny Craig?
As much as I hate to see him go, he deserves a chance at a chip…
This franchise has been resurrected from the urn of Kasten/Babcock…
And now is mired in the mediocrity of Joe Johnson’s contract…
No one should have to suffer through that but Joe and Rick Sund.
Diego
March 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
Actually, Jeff, Smith has been great EVERY night lately. He really did get screwed out of the All-Star game–and had a nice claim to it the last 2 years too. Josh is more valuable to the team this year than a healthy JJ. And Josh had better years the last 2 years than Horford, but the fact that there are VERY few centers (Hibbert this year?) means the All-Star game is easilty attainable for Al. Josh has got jobbed 3 years running, and should have been named to at least his 2nd All-Star game this year. (I know. I attend at least 40 Hawks games every year–in the pricey seats.) I hope we can keep Josh; in contrast, the way Zaza is playing lately, I’d move Al in a heartbeat for a fair trade.
LakeDawg
March 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
Hass Josh Smith’s improvement occurred because he’s finally maturing or is he trying to make himself attractive to other teams? I don’t know the answer, but I’ve seen too much of him and JJ. Let him go. The only time I care about the Hawks any more is when they’re playing all of their backups. Most of the back ups are past their prime or second rate, but they bring it every night like true pros.
Sage of Bluesland
March 8th, 2012
8:03 pm
I refuse to subsidize the incompetence otherwise known as the Hawks. Not a single dollar of mine iwll go into their undeserving pockets…
Jimmy Crack
March 8th, 2012
8:03 pm
Jeff is absolutely right about the owners. They are the true fanatics, watching their bank accounts dwindle yearly by the tens of millions all because they want own their favorite NFL team. They want to make their team the best team they can be with the best players available, but the salaries are getting ridiculous and some modern fans wouldn’t go to a game in their stadiums if you gave them free tickets, for a number of reasons including the advent of 50+” HD Televisions. Most owners lately have been paying in one way or another for the seats in their own upper decks to lift blackouts, but that may be included in the local television contracts as a caveat. All I know is going downtown is a pain in the Assenmacher.
Jimmy Crack
March 8th, 2012
8:05 pm
And basketball owners too, of course. lol
Diego
March 8th, 2012
8:13 pm
Sorry. I’ve just got follow up again. Jeff, I highly doubt if you watch a lot of Hawks games. (I’ve never seen you with the press there.) Yes, Smoove has had a fine season–and his best season yet. But he has had great seasons the last 2 years also, and this year has not been a quantum leap for him at all. You are oddly negative towards the Hawks, and seem to be in that same idiotic camp of casual Hawks fans who seem to equate Josh’s play the last few years with his early years of throwing balls away and extensive turnovers. Even his ball handling these days is quite good, and this evolution of Josh occurred 2-3 years ago, not particularly this season. You truly are part of the misinformed faux Hawks followers that have got Josh itching to go elsewhere. He is the best player on this team–even if we had a healthy Al and Joe (who is looking to be like the Hawks’s Alan Houston).
huh...
March 8th, 2012
8:29 pm
Didn’t the Hawks move to Canada?
Two Handed Set Shot
March 8th, 2012
8:37 pm
Does anybody really give a rat’s arse about the NBA anyway? Bring on the Falcons and let’s get past these putzes…………
Derrick
March 8th, 2012
8:45 pm
So, amidst all of this positive/negative prism of back-and-forth jabbering, what would be a concise, truthful, assessment of what Josh Smith could bring via value for the Hawks to obtain a very good player for him?
Someone mentioned B. Lopez from the Nets. He seems to be a piece of paper and is always injured, so that would be questionable, but if it’s true that Smith wants to team up with Dwight and Williams in Brooklyn, this wouldn’t surprise me.
This SuperTeam mind-set has become a true black eye casualty for the NBA. Seems like a team isn’t winning, that player “demands a trade” and suddenly wants to join a team where other stars have gravitated towards, rather than trying to build a name for themselves from whence they arrived.
I love Barkley’s criticism of LeBron, and how he should have stayed in Cleveland.
Suddenly all of these players are demanding or hinting towards trades, and if they aren’t doing that, they hint towards it via their lackluster, weakling-like play on the court. Body language is tell-all in psychology. Just look at Stephen Jackson in Milwaukee.
Now Brandon Jennings wants out of Milwaukee.
And it’s on and on the merry-go-round goes. Thank God Kevin Love stayed and signed in Minnesota, rather than looking to join a SuperTeam.
I suppose Kobe should join up with the Heat? Maybe have Dwight go to the Heat, as well? While we’re at it, let’s just send Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to the Bulls.
Sickening.
froggy
March 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
Re: professional sports economics, Jeff is a smart and talented guy, but like nearly all sportswriters he’s either clueless or uninformed about the economics that underpin professional sports. That should not be the case. This information is not hard to find — a 10 second Google search will turn it up. No one should be confused by the accounting shenanigans that claim a franchise lost money in a particular year. Look at the increasing value of the asset. This is from the most respected annual study of professional sports economics:
The average value of an NFL franchise continues to outpace other major sports in North America. Key factors for this growth include the NFL’s revenue-sharing model, revenues generated from new stadiums, and lucrative national TV rights fees which pay over $3 billion annually. The NFL’s average team value rose by $599 million overall at a 9.2% CAGR during the decade. However, the other major sports leagues also enjoyed considerable growth during the past decade. MLB’s average team value rose by $258 million overall and increased by a 7.7% CAGR during the period. The NBA’s average team value rose by $162 million overall and recorded a 5.9% CAGR during the period. The NHL’s average team value rose by $80 million overall and increased by a 4.4% CAGR
during the period. Franchise appreciation is underpinned by ever-expanding revenues, which continued to grow even during the recession. Indeed, revenues in three of the four sports grew at more than a 5% CAGR over the prior five years,with the NFL and NHL leading the way at a 6.6% CAGR. See Figure 9. Three of the four leagues’ operating income also grew, albeit at a slower pace than revenue growth or franchise appreciation.
Source: Forbes, WRHambrecht+Co
Believe me, if your home, or your IRA, appreciated in value at a compound annual growth rate north of 9 percent, you’d be pretty excited — especially in this economy. Better, more informed reporting, might discern the real reason that rich guys buy sports franchises. Jeff, I’m certain you can raise your game!
Vito
March 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
No Larry i hate Joe he suck if u r da star on da team u should get 20 every night even on a bad nigh
zorba
March 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
Jeff, please write about what the Hawks gave up for Hinrich, who is now our fourth best guard. Even Pargo is outplaying him. And what did Pargo cost. And, if the Hawks trade Smith, our best and hardest working Hawk, day in and day out, I’m finished with any interest in the boring Hawks with their lack of management expertise. Knight was atrocious, and the present guy has done nothing but overpay JJ.
Disgusted
March 8th, 2012
8:59 pm
I don’t want Favors, he is a bust. He was not even that good in college and he would have been smarter to stay in school another year.
favors has stunk in the NBA. The numbers speak for themselves.
Disgusted
March 8th, 2012
9:01 pm
Can we just lose the Atlanta Spirit LLC for good? And get thenm out of the arena management business too, a still fairly new building that is aging before its time.
Slimnjr
March 8th, 2012
9:02 pm
“People miss this over and over again… There is on the book value, and then there is real value. None and I mean none of the Atlanta movie magnets, song impressarios, performers have “real value” needed to pull off a deal, that includes the Foxworthy’s, Tritt, and Jackson’s too for those who like to play the race card or Anti-Atlanta demographic card. It is the one real why no minority owners have stepped up to purchase either the Hawks, Phillips Arena, or the the departed Thrashers… Oh by the way, there were minority “rich” hockey fans. But the fracture in Thrashers fans scared them away…”
JSS, your the man full of wisdom and reason.. What you just said probably went right over Neanderthal Larry’s head… What an embarrassment to his Mother….
froggy
March 8th, 2012
9:03 pm
Part 2 of Jeff’s economic education: Rankin Smith bought his NFL franchise in 1965 for $8.5 million, considered an outrageous price at the time. His heirs sold the Falcons 37 years later for $545 million — a CAGR of over 12 percent. And they extracted a profit all along the way. A darned good investment for you or me…
The Truth
March 8th, 2012
9:05 pm
“Neither Smith nor Howard have a problem with Atlanta itself. It’s more about perceptions of the franchise and the ownership.”
Jeff, I know you love to jab at the Hawks owners so here’s your chance again. I’m no fan of them either but don’t give the readers the notion that Hawks ownership are cheap, they are not. As the list below show, the team payroll is ranked 9th in the league so don’t suggest they are cheap. A better description of them is unwise for keeping their asset management (GM) Rick Sund around for so long. Like his predecessor BK, he’s been horrible at trading and drafting players. He get paid to manage, consult and give his advice (among other things). He has lead ownship to their current cap problem.
Team Payrolls
1. Boston Celtics $86,819,383
2. Orlando Magic $85,155,030
3. Los Angeles Lakers $84,960,538
4. Miami Heat $79,383,475
5. Portland Trail Blazers $76,495,430
6. New York Knicks $75,652,328
7. San Antonio Spurs $74,674,863
8. Dallas Mavericks $71,082,003
9. Atlanta Hawks $69,239,904
poondaddy
March 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
asg are a group of idiots instead of building this team around jj it should have been built around josh smith hes a way better player then iso joe…. if they trade josh it would be crazy he has more energy then anyone else on the team…. yes he takes wild shots but hell were is the center to rebound.. id trade joes bad contract and keep josh. marivn sucks to dump him, hinrich and collins play mcgrady more with stack and they would be a decent team to watch they lost to miami by 3 without joe and lost by 20 with him that tells you something
Dawg A
March 8th, 2012
9:20 pm
The Atlanta Spirit group are idiots! Please sell the team before we lose all of our players! Jeff… what type of player would Josh Smith bring in a trade? Any names?
Yawn!!!
March 8th, 2012
9:24 pm
Atlanta Sports scene:
Hawks…..What?? Atlanta has a NBA team?…..never noticed….go figure. I hear the owners suck
Braves…..the owners suck there too, just never know who they are. I hear Chipper will be paid $14 million per year until he hits 65 and collects social security
Falcons….great owner, overrated GM, clueless coach, franchise QB that can’t throw more than 15 yards
Bulldogs…..greatest potential, but you got Boss Hogg (president Adams) and Roscoe P. Coltrane (Mark Richt) running the program…..hopeless
Other than that, city has a GREAT sports scene…..
Mr Charlie
March 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
Does Atlanta even have a basketball team? I did not know.
Mr Charlie
March 8th, 2012
9:36 pm
Yawn, lets not forget the team with the genius coach, and the stool pigeon students who get robbed by the natives daily.
Josh Smith
March 8th, 2012
9:55 pm
Hey, Hawks fans,
Thanks for all the support over the years. I may be playing on another team in the future, but I wanted to thank you for the advice about not shooting so many 75-footers. ‘Preciate it.
Slimjr
March 8th, 2012
9:57 pm
“Yawn, lets not forget the team with the genius coach, and the stool pigeon students who get robbed by the natives daily.”
Funny, sounds like a perfect description for that chop chop organization called the Braves…..lol
Slimjr
March 8th, 2012
9:59 pm
Braves= 40 year old collecting 14 million to play what, maybe 80 games?
Figures……..
Long Time Fan
March 8th, 2012
10:04 pm
I for one am sick and tired of these millionaire cry babies. Your signed to a contract, paid to do a job, its not your option to whine about being traded. Shut and play ball!
KevinM
March 8th, 2012
10:17 pm
If you’re going to consider trading Josh, the time to do that is now. You aren’t trading a hurt Al and you aren’t trading a ‘taking it easy for now’ Joe. You have to get the most you can for Josh.
It would be best to send him to the West where he won’t come back to haunt the ‘Highlight Factory’ too often.
And the HF will cease to exist because Teague won’t be able to do it alone.
And its not a PG we need; we need a C, SF and backup shooting guard more than a PG.
Waiting on Rick Sund to make a decision….like the one last year that cost us Jordan Crawford and a #1.
We are best at squandering cheap assets.
Give the current roster more ammunition, even if it takes Kirk and Joe to do it. I’d consider Rashard Lewis’ monster deal if it meant Joe and Marvin would be jettisoned. We rid ourselves of bad decisions much sooner than standing pat.
As we stand today, we will pay 6 players roughly 87% of next year’s cap.
So we need to find 7-8 guys with the remaining 8-9M.
More of the same next year, so no one on the lower part of the roster should expect a raise from this team.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
10:24 pm
Diego — Josh has been very good last two years. He could’ve made the All-Star any of the last three seasons (including this one). But this year HAS been a huge leap in terms of maturity. Ask anybody on the team or his coach. And the fact that you would spin this into a “negative” column on Josh affirms that actually you’re the one who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
10:29 pm
Froggy — The NFL is on another level from the NBA. Don’t compare the two. Huge differences in rights fees, merchandising, etc.. .. Sorry, am I going to fast for you? I can use smaller words if you like.
Brad
March 8th, 2012
10:29 pm
How can the 9th highest payroll be considered cheap?!? They’ve made mistakes, biggest being not drafting Chris Paul, but EVERY franchise has made mistakes and bad draft choices.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
10:31 pm
The Truth — In the case of the Hawks, it’s not about total dollars spent on payroll but rather how it’s spent. Ownership/management made a huge investment when they signed Joe to that contract, but it was the wrong investment. And now, any significant move they would make would put them well into the luxury tax, which they won’t pay. So they’ve got no flexibility.
Jeff Schultz
March 8th, 2012
10:33 pm
Brad — Asked and answered.
heartofdarkness
March 8th, 2012
11:14 pm
Did Victor Hugo write this tale of woe?
JSS
March 8th, 2012
11:16 pm
Slimnjr
March 8th, 2012
9:02 pm
“JSS, your the man full of wisdom and reason.. What you just said probably went right over Neanderthal Larry’s head… What an embarrassment to his Mother….”
Larry and I have a truce, I have no comment…
BulldogBen
March 8th, 2012
11:26 pm
Flaming tire fire of a franchise.
I don’t blame Josh one bit.
Crusted
March 8th, 2012
11:34 pm
Can we just get rid of the whole team?
welikebaseball2
March 8th, 2012
11:35 pm
I hear you guys talk about letting Josh go & trading Marvin & getting someone to build around. My problem is this: No one worth building around wants to come hear thanks to the buffoonery that is ASG. Secondly, even if they did, I’m sure ASG would find a way to screw things up to where we wouldn’t have the available resources to get the pieces to surround that player with. Thirdly, even if ASG openned their pockets in attempt to make up for the mistake of signing Joe to a max contract, I’m in no way convinced Sund has the ability to assemble a championship roster. Basically, I’ve relinquished hope of the Hawks being a true contender as long as ASG is at the helm.
welikebaseball2
March 8th, 2012
11:35 pm
oops…”here” not “hear”…LOL
Joey
March 8th, 2012
11:41 pm
Watch him go to the lakers and lead them with kobe to the finals and win it all and win the finals mvp and he didn’t make the all star team. lmao
Slimjr
March 8th, 2012
11:43 pm
Trade Chipper..
IlliniDawg
March 9th, 2012
12:12 am
Hey Schultzie:
Any sense that Joe Johnson has any understanding or at least recognition of the fact that his stupid max contract has killed, is killing, and will continue to kill this team? I don’t expect the guy to do a Warren Buffet and offer to give up a huge chunk, but it would be nice to see him do what Chipper did twice and offer to restructure. If things don’t change he will be the scapegoat for everything going wrong with the franchise.
Whopper Dawg
March 9th, 2012
12:14 am
Any player of note should want to get away from the Hawks.
froggy
March 9th, 2012
12:24 am
Oooh, Jeff, methinks you’re getting a little agitated. I think you meant to type “too”, not “to,” I hope. You made a broad comment, originally, about all franchise owners — I believe that would include the NFL. But NBA owners have done quite well, too. Just look at the data. I was taught at the Grady J. School 35 years ago to learn the material. That’s all I’m saying — not a cause to insult your readers, friend.
4 Jacks
March 9th, 2012
12:32 am
Who cares, sell the Hawks. With the ownership that is in place they will never be contenders for anything other than a 4th or 5th seed in the playoffs and that is as good as it gets. Wish the ASG and Guerin and the crew would sell the team and they would all pick up and move out of the ATL. The ASG are all idiots and liars and have ruined this city’s chance for ever having another hockey team and they have proven that they have no effing clue or committment to bringing a championship calibre team to Atlanta…wish they would all eat s&$t and die. These are the guys that have given Atlanta a bad rap in the media as a sports town.
The Truth
March 9th, 2012
2:00 am
“The Truth — In the case of the Hawks, it’s not about total dollars spent on payroll but rather how it’s spent. Ownership/management made a huge investment when they signed Joe to that contract, but it was the wrong investment” – Jeff Schultz
Once you added Ownership/management than I really can’t disagree. In fact it’s no different than what I’m suggesting. Ownership is correct when they say they are top spenders but they seem to be unaware that they don’t spend wisely; the JJ contract maybe but one example. The Marvin contract is certainly another.
I jab at GM Rick Sund because technically these types of responsibilities (drafting, trades, etc.) should fall under the GM job title. Any owner influence into this process would be speculation unless you or I have inside information about such matters. Assuming we both don’t, perhaps we should avoid suggesting things we know little about.
Technically the owners should just write checks and set goals. But the owners’ bad PR from their court drama and botched sales doesn’t help their public imagine. Perhaps this is really your “bone of contention”. Far be it from me to defend them.
However, beware that these owners are not the only stakeholders in these Hawks. The communities of Metro-Atlanta are as well. Be careful with your representation of these Hawks because WE CARE.
David Beall
March 9th, 2012
5:34 am
If the NBA went bankrupt tomorrow I wouldn’t blink an eye. I do not watch it and haven’t for years. The league is full of thugs who couldn’t find a coherent sentence with both hands and a flashlight.
dmr
March 9th, 2012
5:56 am
Let’s see Michael Gearon, Jr. go ahead and lay this on the fans….again! In Gearon’s mind, the fans don’t understand ownership or how basketball works or the fact that Smith should have been playing alongside CP3 a few seasons ago. This ownership group sucks. This is not Smith’s fault and I don’t blame him.
GTT
March 9th, 2012
6:19 am
I’ll bet the Yearwood-Brookses have the real value to buy the team.
Paddy
March 9th, 2012
6:46 am
rollo lawson……you can’t sell the Hawks quick. It is not that the Hawks are not a saleable team, nobody with money is interested in buying a NBA product. The sport itself is very unattractive in its present form. It is too bad, it used to be a fun sport to watch, not anymore!
Josh Smith | NewsTrendr
March 9th, 2012
7:13 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Road Scholar
March 9th, 2012
7:59 am
Package Smith and Joe Johnson…
LA Bound
March 9th, 2012
8:17 am
josh need to head to LA with dwight–partying 24/7, with wild hollywood chicks everywhere, parties at beach mansions, record and movie execs at courtside every night, endorsement millions…. Head to la josh!!
Billy
March 9th, 2012
8:19 am
why would anyone wanna play for the Hawks?!
Bill
March 9th, 2012
8:29 am
The Joe Johnson contract would cause even competent ownership problems.Let alone the ASG.Then again competent ownership would not have made that contract.
I know this is not Sund’s fault but every time I see Chris Paul light it up I feel like running to the liquor cabinet..
Jeff is the price for the Hawks so prohibitive no one is interested beyond the failed attempt last year?
juice sourcer
March 9th, 2012
8:34 am
As I have said over and over, the Hawks are just a pathetic organization. Here’s another example.
Spud Webb
March 9th, 2012
8:36 am
Let him take his 3 pointers for someone else!
Can he take Marvin with him?
rollo lawson
March 9th, 2012
8:52 am
Paddy, explain why basketball is “unattractive”?
Sonny Clusters
March 9th, 2012
9:10 am
Bernie Casey wanted no part of the Falcons and Atlanta. Greg Olson got his opportunity here because a LA Dodger catcher refused to come to the Braves and Atlanta. What’s a big deal about a player wanting out? We was thinking how the franchises are better than they were but still not storied and still not top-tier. Give Arthur Blank time. The Braves will need new ownership and so will the Hawks. The proof of a great organization is in the results, not the little signs in the outfield. “Wild Card Champs.”
Jcard120
March 9th, 2012
9:26 am
Josh Smith is the most exciting player on this team and puts fans in the seats. The team is more fun to watch when he’s the number one option instead of ISO-Joe. Trading him now would be rediculous unless the return value is impossible to turn down.
Eraserhead
March 9th, 2012
9:35 am
Ship Josh to the Lakers for Gasol.
ATLien
March 9th, 2012
9:40 am
Has anyone else noticed how much more the team plays together without Joe Johnson? They’re putting up just as many points, the offense doesn’t seem to stall at times while Joe dribbles around, and he’s no more consistent than Josh was early in the season. Why isn’t ATL even considered in trade talks for D. Howard? He’s an ATL native, who I’m sure would love to play with Smoove (his boy)! Trade Johnson, another player(s) & draft pick(s) for Howard. It’s not like our picks are ever good, because this team is just good enough (in a weak Eastern Conference) to make the playoffs, resulting in late picks that never make an impact! For 5 years, if not more, ATL has NEVER attempted to bring in a true center, which I feel is the missing piece for us to have a championship team! Trade for Howard. Move Horford to PF. Smith stays at SF. Teague @ PG. Fill in SG with role players (McGrady, Stackhouse, Heinrich) until next free agency and then sign a SG.
However the best off-season acquisition would be a new owner(ship)!!!!!!!
timthebrave
March 9th, 2012
9:42 am
If you could work for the spirit group or anyone else what would you choose
AnotherThree
March 9th, 2012
9:49 am
Is Josh’s season similar to a baseball players year before going free agent where his numbers go sky high, signs a BIG contract and than disappears. Either he is improving or using this extra effort to improve his stock while demanding a trade. If he stays and signs a long term contract which player will you have. Last year or this years version.
Devil's Advocate
March 9th, 2012
9:55 am
SPORTSGIRL nailed it on Page 1. The Falcons get a pass for accomplishing nothing. The Braves get a pass based on the now distant 14 year run with 1 WS Championship. The norm in Atlanta for my lifetime has been that the Hawks are the dependable playoff team in town while the Braves and Falcons could make a run. I will say the Braves are in much better shape these days than before The Run and the Falcons are much better off than when owned by the Smith family but both franchises get way too much credit by the local media. Even the Thrashers got more praise than the Hawks and they only made the playoffs 1 time, getting bounced in short order.
On the other hand, I don’t blame the media for slamming the Hawks if their motivation is their relationship with the ASG. But that’s what I don’t understand about the high praise for the Thrashers…
J Dubb
March 9th, 2012
10:07 am
Sorry Jeff. I was just trying to sound as stupid as that post (in a sarcastic way). Some people read into your and MB’s articles however they want because they’re not very intelligent.
I knew what she was getting at; so did you.
I will behave from now on.
JSS
March 9th, 2012
10:22 am
GTT
March 9th, 2012
6:19 am
“I’ll bet the Yearwood-Brookses have the real value to buy the team.”
He just spent 3 years suing a community hospital over $500,000. He had to give half of net worth to ex Sandy Mahl back in 2000. The same goes for Yearwood who did not have a pre-nup husband number 2. So $325 million + $40 million (best guess sourced net worth) = $365 million in net worth…
Still feeling so confident in your statement? Oh by the way, you stand a better chance if you said the OKC Thunder and Clayton Bennett’s Professional Basketball Club LLC since he and the Yearwood-Brookses are such close buds!
nash
March 9th, 2012
11:05 am
This would be the best chance to send him to the west coast. He could go to L.A. for Paul Gasol and, a draft pick or Paul and, a another player
Rupe in DC
March 9th, 2012
11:13 am
Call me crazy but…….. Has anyone in the Hawks organization ever approached Joe Johnson about a contract redo in order to be able to afford some of the missing pieces? Or is that just a pi-in-the sky notion on my part?
I guess the answer is obvious.
John
March 9th, 2012
11:15 am
This article is completely falsified. I have spoken with both the Owner, a personal friend of mine, and Mr. Smith, both of which have said this rumor is COMPLETELY FALSE. If you can’t find accurate facts and are struggling to write an article, write it on something true please. Lies like this simply prove that you are even a greater scumbag than people thought before. Leave our city and our paper, because nobody wants you here.
Sonny Clusters
March 9th, 2012
11:21 am
“We haven’t had the lineup all together really with the exception of the first [spring] game,” Jones said. – So, who’s fault is that?
“So the lack of production down here is kind of a mirage.” – We don’t think so. Neither was last September a “mirage”.
“But I don’t care how we’re swinging it the first week, I care how we’re swinging it the last five or six games. That’s what is important to me.” – We was thinking he didn’t swing much the first week so his first week hasn’t even started.
“If these guys take three or four weeks to get going, that’s OK as long as they get going before April gets here.” – We was wondering more about when Chipper’s going to get going.
Therein lies the problem.
DM
March 9th, 2012
11:33 am
The Hawks management team should do whatever is necessary to trade Josh Smith and work vigorously to trade Joe Johnson too. The Hawks team and fans deserve players who are team players with a desire to win, not individual whinny show-boats. Make it happen Hawks management.
what of it?
March 9th, 2012
11:36 am
It says Atlanta Spirit is for sh!t
HUH???
March 9th, 2012
11:39 am
Atlanta has a NBA team??? Who knew???
GoooDawgs
March 9th, 2012
12:05 pm
Rondo for Smith, straight up. Return of Horford next year, Rondo can be the missing PG that we desperately need to form this into some semblance of a “team”, couple of free agents, our mid-first round draft pick, etc.
Trojan
March 9th, 2012
12:14 pm
Would a trade for Boras Diaw and their #1 pick be a good trade for Josh and our #1 pick?
Wayne stuck in AL
March 9th, 2012
12:36 pm
I’m glad to see Atlanta Hawk fan finally see what Thrasher fan had to suffer through the last several years of the franchise.
Hawks brass blo
March 9th, 2012
12:42 pm
Anybody else notice how Josh has elevated his game since he was snubbed for the all star game? And how hes elevated his game since he decided he wanted to be traded? So what Josh, you finally decided to start really trying after you got mad? What a chump! Bye! And take big booty Marvin with you!
Hawks brass blo
March 9th, 2012
12:44 pm
Incredibly selfish player. I say good riddance. It is so obvious now that he hasn’t been trying to play as hard as he can till now when he wants something. Get rid of his arss!
tmc
March 9th, 2012
12:56 pm
The smart thing to do would be to trade the disgruntled player now while you can get the most for him. This player has a lot of talent and potential, but has been nothing but the most inconsistent performer in Atlanta sports. I say that because of the wide range of performance and effort given by Josh Smith.
He can be great…. he can also disappear in any and every game.
Since it would be the smart thing to do… i’m sure ASG, or whatever they are calling themselves now, will screw it up!
Something tells me that neither Josh or the Atlanta fans will get what they want in this situation.
warfalcon
March 9th, 2012
1:17 pm
If they trade Josh what will the P arena be called then THE LOWLIGHT FACTORY.
UGASlobberknocker
March 9th, 2012
1:50 pm
We fans want out, too.
UGASlobberknocker
March 9th, 2012
1:52 pm
@Trojan NO
Atanta Fan
March 9th, 2012
2:13 pm
Fire the owners. and by the way sports girl you are a dumb a@#
Jermaine
March 9th, 2012
2:16 pm
The fact of the matter is you are dumb as hell to pay a avg joe all that money. We need a coach that knows how to coach and josh smith needs to stop shooting those jumpers and stop crying. The hole team needs to be tossed in the ocean. But I will keep Al , only the rest needs to be thrown out plus the owners because I can promise u if these owners still own the hawks in 10yrs the hawks will never make it to the FINALS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Jermaine
March 9th, 2012
2:21 pm
People want to know why people never go to a hawk game is because the owners dont want to win they are scared to pay a real coach or a real GM
Andy
March 9th, 2012
2:28 pm
I think we should trade Josh for whoever that is standing behind him in the photo–who has A BASKETBALL FOR A HEAD! How cool would that be?
Cry Baby Josh
March 9th, 2012
3:26 pm
Bye Bye Baby
Ray Bud
March 9th, 2012
3:37 pm
It’s a shame to see a talent like Josh Smith wanting out. We already screwed ourselves with the Joe Johnson contract. Am i the only one who noticed that since Joe signed that big contract, his numbers has went down. It’s almost as if he was finished once the ink dried on the paper. Trade Joe Johnson….Trade Marvin Williams….Horford and Smith are the reasons for our success. Trade everyone else on this team except those two.
Ken Strickland
March 9th, 2012
3:38 pm
I think it’s totally rediculous to blame JJ’s contract as the reason for us not bringing in what we need. The real culprit is ownerships UNWILLINGNESS to pay a luxury tax, period. If ownership was willing to pay a luxury tax, we could already have another proven backup center.
Big Ray
March 9th, 2012
8:55 pm
This is the ultimate indictment on the current Hawks ownership, and ensures no big name free agent will come calling willingly (might get traded here unwillingly).
That said, there’s no reason why we should STILL be talking about Smith’s immaturity and inconsistent play.
So yeah, both sides benefit from a change of scenery. Thing is, as long as Gearon and Co are here, we’ll continue to get the worse end of the deal.
Waffle House or Bust
March 9th, 2012
11:47 pm
Why would anyone want to play for the Hawks? But I find it funny Josh wants out when he does not give 100% every night. If he did (and the rest of the team did as well) this team would be what we all expected four years ago. If the owners would’ve gotten rid of Woodson earlier and hired a real coach then we might be in a batter place. But they did not and we are not.
thrashers fan
March 10th, 2012
4:17 pm
im glad to see hawks fans experience a small bit of what thrasher fans went through
corporate tv ball sux
March 10th, 2012
8:50 pm
this is one fan that apprectiates seeing a player block shots on one end and then running the floor to get the slam on the other end. and this is one fan that has appreciated josh smith since the first day his sneakers hit the hardwood floors of the highlight factory. oh wait, the highlight factory was built by josh smith. and dont forget that we havent seen a defensive presence since theo ratliff or deke! ill say it again, basketball is a team sport. teague/kirk/josh/ivan/zaza al will be back soon. trade joe or put him at 3 or 4. all the money in his pockets seem to slow him down(and the rest of the team) when playing hawks basketball.
Dlew
March 11th, 2012
9:34 am
Why is Josh Smith just now being seen as the best player of this team, He has been that since he was drafted. Smith should have been advertised more as the face of the hawks because he is a home grown talent and would have been an all-star in which he deserves. The only player on court showing effort has been Josh. Joe Johnson is not the answer and never will be, should have had a push on Rudy Gay last summer before giving Joe Johnson all the money, now you stuck with him and no Finals run. I sure wouldn’t mind seeing Monte Ellis in a Hawks uniform creating buzz for the city.
sam
March 12th, 2012
10:27 pm
Thanks, Jeff! The lack of appreciation (to say the least) of Josh’s talents the last two years has gone way beyond ridiculous. The owner’s should be on their knees to him, thanking him for providing the spark for the team. Last year was enough of a travesty when he didn’t make the All Star Team. I have no words to explain the absurdity this year, other than Chris Webber’s wonderful tweet – call 911.
Also, we must not forget that, prior to this year, Josh was actually guarding at least TWO people at one time – his man and Mike Bibby’s.
The effort and emotion and talent he has given us these last few years cannot be matched.
A certain announcer, for some reason, does not seem to understand basketball at all, as he, as well as the owners, should be held responsible for the utmost in stupidity.
Please don’t leave, Josh!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!
Hawks don't see trade deadline as Josh Smith deadline | Jeff Schultz
March 13th, 2012
4:31 pm
[...] Josh Smith wants out. That was reaffirmed publicly recently, even if behind the scenes it wasn’t news. He has wanted out all season. [...]