Hawks don’t see trade deadline as Josh Smith deadline
Josh Smith could help any contender, but it's not likely the Hawks will comply with his trade request. (Sacramento Bee photo)
Teams generally fall into one of three categories at the trade deadline: 1) buyers; 2) sellers; or 3) “Wait, there’s a trade deadline? That’s today?”
The difficulty in categorizing the Hawks as we approach Thursday’s NBA trade deadline is that it really doesn’t matter how they view themselves because they have only one player of significance that other teams want — and he’s probably not available.
Josh Smith wants out. That was reaffirmed publicly recently, even if behind the scenes it wasn’t news. He has wanted out all season.
The only thing that really has changed is why Smith wants out. Before, he wasn’t happy that he was viewed as the weak support beam seemingly every time the Hawks crumbled. Now it’s more about needing a new start, wanting to play for a true title contender, his perceptions of the way the Hawks have dealt with him in negotiations (contrasting with teammates), a general lack of appreciation.
Here’s the Hawks’ dilemma: Those no-no-Josh-don’t-do-that moments are few and far between now. His game has matured. His head has matured. He has morphed, dare we suggest, into the team’s strongest support beam. He’s playing three different positions for the Hawks, who are 24-17 despite playing without Al Horford for most of the entire season, Joe Johnson for six games, Kirk Hinrich for 18. (Smith and Jeff Teague are the team’s only two players who’ve played in every game.)
So what kind of message would it send if the Hawks dealt their best and most popular player six weeks before the playoffs? And do you really want to see Smith, an Atlanta kid, go elsewhere right now and see him potentially flourish with a title contender?
General manager Rick Sund and coach Larry Drew have few options with the team's roster. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
There’s little reason to believe Smith will re-sign with the Hawks at the end of his contract. But he has a year remaining on his deal. So the Hawks know they can always trade him after the season when more teams are willing to restructure their rosters (and payroll).
If the door to Smith is closed, there’s little motivation for other general managers to phone Hawks general manager Rick Sund right now.
Sund acknowledged Tuesday he is having “ongoing discussions” with other teams. Not surprisingly, he didn’t get specific (”I never publicly discuss teams or players”) or context (”It’s a great time to have dialogue, even if it’s for something you might do [after the season].”)
If there’s no player other teams want or can get, there’s no possibility for the Hawks to make a trade of significance. Consider their non-Smith assets:
• Johnson: He should be the Hawks’ best player, but he’s viewed mostly as an anchor on the payroll. Contenders would love him as a second scoring option, but no other team would be willing to take on his contract. Remainder after this season: four years, $89.2 million. Honest.
• Horford: Even being undersized and with flaws in his game on offense, Horford is a great piece, and the Hawks figured to take a dip without him. Other teams would love him — but not injured. Any trade for next season can be made after this one.
• Marvin Williams: He has first-string talent and a second-string heart. Then there’s his contract: two more years totaling $15.7 million. (Technically, the second year is a player option, but Williams isn’t dumb — he’ll trigger it).
• Teague, Hinrich, Zaza Pachulia: All are serviceable players. But the Hawks wouldn’t get a difference-maker in return for any of them.
That’s it. The Hawks are stuck.
Given Smith’s play this season and the level of resiliency the team has shown despite injuries, the Hawks would’ve been an interesting team to watch in the playoffs at full strength. But they’re not built for greatness now and, Smith’s pleas notwithstanding, an earth-shaking deal from Sund isn’t likely.
The Hawks don’t feel any pressure to move their best player right now. This week’s deadline is not their deadline.
By Jeff Schultz
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66 comments Add your comment
Trojan
March 14th, 2012
9:29 am
Don’t that picture of Larry Drew and Rick Sund inspire confidence?
Trojan
March 14th, 2012
9:29 am
Good article Jeff.
Still Laughing at Mike Bianchi
March 14th, 2012
9:43 am
when the Hawks started to climb out of the celler a few years ago you just prayed that they didn’t end up stuck in the upper-middle range and unfortunately that looks like that’s what might happen.
after getting better every year, the climb has stalled and you just hope that the walls don’t fall in
MR
March 14th, 2012
9:55 am
Jeff do you think a Joe Johnson and 1st round pick for Carmelo is plausible? Reunite Joe with Amare and D’antoni while giving Carmelo a fresh start away from ruining Linsanity.
ct
March 14th, 2012
10:09 am
it dont matter anyway until we get new ownership and gm but until den expect failure
Troy Everett
March 14th, 2012
10:54 am
@ MR
I’ve been thinking the same thing. Carmelo and Lin are not compatible. I’d go a step further and contend that Amare and Lin are also not compatible. Especially with Chandler clogging the middle. Sund and ASG should take a strong look this off season to swap Horford/JJohnson for Amare/Carmelo. This way, the Knicks would get two players better suited to D’antoni’s system, and ATL would get two marquee players in need of a fresh start. Because ever since they returned to the line-up, the Knicks have stinked.
This would also give the Hawks the opportunity to grant Smoove his request of being traded. I like Smoove, and he seems to be turning the corner basketball-wise. But the kid wants out. Don’t hold him here against his will. He will be an extremely valuable asset this summer. The Hawks could really make a big splash this summer by getting quality players in return for Josh (knock-down shooter, quality center, etc.)
Come on Sund. Think outside the box this summer. Don’t be lazy.
A Father
March 14th, 2012
10:58 am
Schultz: PLEASE take over the writing about Univ of Ga sports. Chip Towers article about the contracts with Mark Richt and Todd Grantham is so wrong and misleading to the public. Pleaese step in, you and MC credibility is being ruined by CT.
Rick James
March 14th, 2012
11:04 am
@Troy Everett
@ MR
I’ve been thinking the same thing. Carmelo and Lin are not compatible. I’d go a step further and contend that Amare and Lin are also not compatible. Especially with Chandler clogging the middle. Sund and ASG should take a strong look this off season to swap Horford/JJohnson for Amare/Carmelo. This way, the Knicks would get two players better suited to D’antoni’s system, and ATL would get two marquee players in need of a fresh start. Because ever since they returned to the line-up, the Knicks have stinked.
This would also give the Hawks the opportunity to grant Smoove his request of being traded. I like Smoove, and he seems to be turning the corner basketball-wise. But the kid wants out. Don’t hold him here against his will. He will be an extremely valuable asset this summer. The Hawks could really make a big splash this summer by getting quality players in return for Josh (knock-down shooter, quality center, etc.)
Come on Sund. Think outside the box this summer. Don’t be lazy.
————————————————————————————
Your point is well taken but you have to understand that no team in the NBA wants to trade for Joe Johnson.I’ve read the Golden State offered Monte Ellis for Josh and the Hawks countered with Ellis for Johnson and the Warriors said no thanks.The biggest problem the Hawks have right now is Johnson’s contract not Josh Smith.
KevinM
March 14th, 2012
12:27 pm
There is no way i even loo at Melo and his pouting ways. He has just been exposed in the NY market and its amazing he cannot play with Lin and Amare. The Knicks should just dump Melo on the Rockets or someone else and take back junk….just to get him out of the equation.
Back to us, I am totally buying into the fact that LD cannot coach elite talent. He wants balance and wants each player to score 15 points. He doesnt want a superstart to take him past the 2nd round, and you get what you paid for when you signed both Sund and LD. To move Josh would be huge mistake. I know the favs are Joe and Al, but we’ve proven we can compete without either, so move their contracts and get some potential talent instead of banking on 2 guys who aren’t helping us past the 2nd round.
The only upset potential I see in the playoffs this year: the team we beat up every game: Orlando.
They play well against both MIA and CHI, unlike us, where other than Josh, we don’t have guys that other teams can’t match up with.
LD will keep his job based on his success with Orlando and the lower tier teams in the league. Trouble is, he is a #2, but is not a #1.
With the ASG, its all about the cheap wtih them with leadership. Tell Levenson his comment is worthless. I trust nothing these guys say.
True Hawks Fan
March 14th, 2012
12:39 pm
All you Sund haters need to look at the roster that he assembled out of everyone’s castoffs. Hawks have one of the deepest teams in the league (except at center). Pargo, Ivan, Vlad Rad, Willie G., T-Mac and even Stack have all contributed and helped this team stay afloat despite the Horford injuries and JJ’s up/down performance. The sign of a good GM is putting a competitive team on the floor and assembling a team that fits together. Sund has done that and more. He also made the good decision to not throw a bunch of money at one-dimensional Jamal Crawford, who is now out of favor in Portland. As for signing JJ, he is the only legit all-star that was going to come to ATL and all these bloggers who are now complaining about his contract are the same ones who would have ripped ownership for being too cheap if they had not ponied up the $ to re-sign him. Let’s just appreciate this team and the consistent effort that they are giving each night. Let’s also show J-Smoove some love so that he doesn’t end up bitter like Dwight. Josh has been great and it’s time to show him that he’s appreciated in the ATL.
Reality
March 14th, 2012
2:31 pm
Wait any longer and will be dealing with the same issue Orlando is and its guaranteed the package won’t be as good then!!!
Saltsh8ka
March 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
Enter your comments here
Saltsh8ka
March 14th, 2012
3:24 pm
JOSH SMITH IS THE TEAM !! Take him out of this LINEUP an see what we got left. A LOT OF
PROBLEMS…JOSH COMPETES EVERY GAME , FROM GOAL 2 GOAL.. SCORE, REBOUND,
BLOCK SHOTS, ASSIST AND GOOD DEFENSE. THE only problems he have is his free throw
shooting, AND SOME HATING FOLKS, WHO DON’T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BALL’N. STOP HATING PEOPLES… HE GIVE US OUR MONEY WORTH. REMEMBER ” NIQUE”?
Saltsh8ka
March 14th, 2012
3:44 pm
THIS TEAM SHOULD BE BUILT AROUND JOSH SMITH. IT DON’T MAKE SENSE TO GET
RID OF PLAYERS LIKE HIM. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY TRADED
“NIQUE”? WE’RE JUST GETTING OVER THAT. “SALT SH8K’N KNOWLEDGE”
Mismanagement
March 16th, 2012
11:12 am
Marvin Williams is like the Tin Man in Oz, no heart… 6th man at UNC & 6th man as a Hawk…
Mismanagement
March 16th, 2012
11:15 am
Trade deadline gone and no Kaman,nothing. Sund is waiting on Horford and gambling he can play center. We’ve seen this episode before… Horford CANNOT play center in the playoffs against the likes of Deng,Bosh,etc. \
By doing nothing the Hawks are going nowhere…