Sixers May Look into Dealing Jason Smith

[HicksvsKnicks08]

Source: SI.com

The signing of Elton Brand has left Philadelphia with a bit of a logjam at power forward. With Brand, who has averaged 38.3 minutes in his career, expected to log heavy minutes at the position, incumbents Reggie Evans and Jason Smith will be fighting for the backup minutes.

If Sixers GM Ed Stefanski is looking to trade one (and there have been no indications that he is), Smith has value. The 6-10, 240-pound forward averaged 15.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in a superb summer league. Several scouts were impressed by Smith's improved ability to knock down the mid-range jump shot with regularity.

"He's a starter in this league," an Eastern Conference scout said. "No question."

Smith will make $1.3 million this season, and with team options at $1.4 and $2.2 million the following two years, he is one of the league's best bargains.

Bird , please, please find a way to get this guy. He is not a need now in Philly, they have Brand/Spreights and could be had. He is cheap, a tough guy, solid rebounder. I think he could be a great addition.


What could we offer entcing?

Foster and a 2nd rd pick? or Stephan Gram and a pick?

Get it done!!!

[Bucky O'Hare]

I wouldn't give up anything of real value for him, but if he came cheap, why not?

[HicksvsKnicks08]

I wouldn't give up anything of real value for him, but if he came cheap, why not?

Bucky,

I agree, and I dont think we would have to give up much. That is why I think it could be a really good move

[cdash]

I would not give up Foster for him.

[HicksvsKnicks08]

yeah, I agree foster is too much, but something similar could work

[cdash]

From reading Bird's comments, I think we are more in the market for a guy who can score in the post. Smith is nice, but he seems more like a perimeter oriented guy. Not sure he fits all that well here, besides the fact that he is white.

[Scoot McGroot]

What could we offer entcing?

Foster and a 2nd rd pick? or Stephan Gram and a pick?

Get it done!!!

A Jeff Foster deal wouldn't work financially unless we were willing to take back Willie Green and his contract (which I wouldn't be).

The Stephen Graham deal would come close, and could be worked out using TPE.


To be honest, we do have a $2.3 million or so TPE from the JO deal that we could use to absorb the salary of a guy like Jason Smith. We'd have to give up something of value though.



Maybe a Shawne Williams + multiple 2nd round picks or a top 10 protected 1st round pick straight up for Smith using a TPE would work.





I'd be ok with adding a guy like Smith. It never hurts to have big men who have potential, so long as they can at least do something else while they're working on their potential. I'd gladly do a straight up trade of Shawne for Smith, but with Iggy and Thad Young, I don't see Philly having a ton of interest in Shawne.

[HicksvsKnicks08]

I didnt realize he was more peremiter orientated, in that case I say probably not. The other guy would could target is Brandon Bass from Dallas. Supposedly strong, tough, good rebounder and at 750K

[Scoot McGroot]

It would take a whole heckuva lot for the Mav's to move Brandon Bass at his miniscule salary.

[joew8302]

I wouldn't be overly interested in Smith. Yes, he is a good player, but we already have a young center in Hibbert and our roster does include Rasho and Foster. I can't see Smith playing anything but the 5 and I do not see the point in having two young centers on the team at the same time. Charlotte would be a very good fit for Smith IMO. They have some wings they could part with to make this deal happen.

[basketballwacko2]

Scoot that's twice in one day you've used the word miniscule! I believe you're over the limit on that one. I don't know much about Smith but I wouldn't trade foster for him and it won't work financially maybe if Philly was still under the cap, but not now that they've signed Brand. offer them a 2nd or 2 2nds if you love the guy but we need foster and don't need a willie green.

[MillerTime101]

I wouldn't be overly interested in Smith. Yes, he is a good player, but we already have a young center in Hibbert and our roster does include Rasho and Foster. I can't see Smith playing anything but the 5 and I do not see the point in having two young centers on the team at the same time. .

Smith at the 5? He is an undersized 4 and plays away from the basket, he would never play at the 5.

Brandon Bass would be great but like Scoot said he would cost an arm and a leg.

[joew8302]

7 feet tall is an undersized 4? I really can't see him playing that position. He would get absolutely killed on defense.

[HicksvsKnicks08]

Scoot,

i love reading your posts, it foces me, at times to consult my dictionary

[Bucky O'Hare]

If you go strictly by the NBA pre-draft measurements, Smith is plenty athletic to play PF. He was rated 8th best athlete in the 2007 class, which is especially impressive when you consider the measurements are biased towards guards and small forwards.

Honestly, I don't know what it'd take to get him. I'd probably give up a heavily protected 1st (top-20, at least), or Diener and/or McRoberts and a second rounder. I'd maybe give up Shawne, but he wouldn't be of much use for Philly, unless they thought it was too good of a value to pass up.

[Bucky O'Hare]

There's a thread on the Sixers' board about trading Jason Smith with an SI.com "Inside the NBA" mention.

4. The Sixers have some trade bait

The signing of Elton Brand has left Philadelphia with a bit of a logjam at power forward. With Brand, who has averaged 38.3 minutes in his career, expected to log heavy minutes at the position, incumbents Reggie Evans and Jason Smith will be fighting for the backup minutes.

If Sixers GM Ed Stefanski is looking to trade one (and there have been no indications that he is), Smith has value. The 6-10, 240-pound forward averaged 15.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in a superb summer league. Several scouts were impressed by Smith's improved ability to knock down the mid-range jump shot with regularity.

"He's a starter in this league," an Eastern Conference scout said. "No question."

Smith will make $1.3 million this season, and with team options at $1.4 and $2.2 million the following two years, he is one of the league's best bargains.

Anyways, the Sixer fans seem to be looking for another swingman who can shoot and play some defense, so maybe a Smith-for-Shawne deal is realistic after all. After reading the SI hype piece, I'd be satisfied if it happened.


Edit: nevermind, I see the SI.com piece was in the original post.

[bravesatl]

he's an upgrade over mcroberts and baston

[HicksvsKnicks08]

Bucky,

I hesitate to give up on Shawn so quick, even though usually if your boy got some herb, there is usually a passing ritual involved. Either wy to me it's minor (anymore and I would have to move this to the "thin ice thread" The bigger concern is if he understands that if he farted in public, it would get back to Bird Co. before the smell came. We have now a bunch of, what appear to be , strong positive personalities, and I think they can hopefully reach Shawn. As i said in an earleir post, having a collection of average to slightly above average people is nice, but it doesnt win championships. Shawn has real talent, in terms of physical ability in my opinon more than even Granger. Difference is Granger's work ethic. If Willliams had Granger's mental make up, I think he could be a top 10 SF in this league

[CableKC]

Bucky,
I hesitate to give up on Shawn so quick, even though usually if your boy got some herb, there is usually a passing ritual involved. Either wy to me it's minor (anymore and I would have to move this to the "thin ice thread" The bigger concern is if he understands that if he farted in public, it would get back to Bird Co. before the smell came. We have now a bunch of, what appear to be , strong positive personalities, and I think they can hopefully reach Shawn. As i said in an earleir post, having a collection of average to slightly above average people is nice, but it doesnt win championships. Shawn has real talent, in terms of physical ability in my opinon more than even Granger. Difference is Granger's work ethic. If Willliams had Granger's mental make up, I think he could be a top 10 SF in this league

This is where you are mistaken. If DW was still here....I think that he would be standing on the "Despite all the PR issues that Shawne has....I would prefer to keep Shawne cuz of his potential" side of the fence....whereas Bird isn't so tied to his potential and would move him in the right deal.

I think that Shawne's trade value to the team is at the point where Bird would not hesistate to move him IF he was included in a trade as sweetner. It doesn't mean that we will take him for nothing.....but I think that Bird ( unlike DW ) is beyond the point where he would keep him solely for his potential.

If a trade of Shawne for Jason Smith ( who at worst...sounds like a slightly more athletic version of Murphy )...then I have very little doubt that Bird would pull the trigger. In all honesty....I think that Shawne has the potential to be a better scoring ( but not all around ) SF then Granger is....the problem is that he hasn't gotten to the point in his career and maturity ( after 2 full seasons ) where I think ( primarily due to the continual black eye that he is giving the Pacers PR ) that he is worth it.

Before this last incident....which I truly believe would have been a minor PR incident IF he was on any other team.....I would have agreed with you.....but it's becoming clear to me that he's not worth keeping......even if he can become the next TMac in a few seasons.

If we could get a young scoring PF that still has some potential despite not being a true Low Post scoring PF.....I would do it in a second.

I agree with most here....I would at least try to call up the Sixers to see if a Shawne for Jason Smith trade was at all possible....if they laugh and hang up....at least we tried.

[joew8302]

I think if Shawne had the potential to be as good as McGrady or Granger he would still be here and on good terms despite this incident. This incident, combined with him being a bust is what is going to be the end for him in Indiana.