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Heard about this after the Horford deal and thought it was worth discussing. Here's the link:

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NBA&id=1057&line=141902&spln=1

We don't like to blurb every bit of speculation we hear, since maybe 10 percent of it pans out, but the money details lend some credibility to what Ford is saying -- which is that the Hawks can't afford to keep him, Joe Johnson, and Horford. We've privately been hearing that a Kevin Love-Smith trade could be in the works, but again, all of this is speculation.

Now I know it's rotoworld so let's not bother to debate credibility. What I'd like to know is how you'd feel if a deal like this were on the table and if you would ultimately do it?

What's odd is that the Chad Ford article they link to specifically says the opposite:

ESPN wrote: However, those who think Love is going to be traded soon are going to be disappointed. Sources say that the Wolves and Love have talked since the game and that going forward, Rambis won't be benching the team's best player in the fourth quarter. While Love clearly could use some work on the defensive end, he's the franchise right now until Ricky Rubio arrives (if he arrives) and the Wolves are going to do more to make sure he's happy.

It's an interesting thought. Smith would give us a massive increase in athleticism (important in a running offense and as a teammate of Rubio's) and a massive increase in help defense at the expense of rebounding, shooting, and (maybe) post defense (not as big a deal with all of the face-up 4s in today's game).

If were definitely going to move Love and if it were up to me, though, (and I expect a lot of people here will disagree) I'd much rather try to trade him with Brewer for Iguodala + a protected pick and then start Beasley at the 4.

Edit:

As for whether or not I'd do the deal. Not now, but potentially at the trade deadline. It's much too early in the season to give up on the current roster, but if Love keeps up the lackluster effort, we look like we'll fail to break 20 wins, and the Beasley/Love pairing looks like a bust, I'd start looking to shop Love, and Josh Smith would be one of the guys I would look at.

Josh Smith is a defensive beast. Totally opposite to Love. I dunno how I'd feel about the trade. I guess it'd be alright if it really went through

Chad Ford is a pansy, he's always trying to talk down on the Hawks or trade people that team. He's been wrong in the past a thousand times on the Hawks.

1. Josh Smith is untouchable unless the price is right and for Minny, that's not likely.
2. The article is written by Chad Ford.
3. Why would Atlanta do this, has he looked at the numbers. We are 8 million under the cap next season and that includes all of the signings.
4. It's Chad Ford once again, dead the talks on this idea, not happening.

It was Rotoworld, not Chad Ford, that suggested a Love-for-Josh Smith trade.

Moreover, your cap situation isn't as good as you think. Even if you let Jamal Crawford walk for nothing, the Horford extension brings ATL's payroll to $64.4 mil with only eight players. NBA roster minimums are 13, and your fans will expect you to add talent to contend, especially if Crawford walks.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... 3SXc&gid=3

Zgoda tweeted this idea today too.

Speaking of Igoudala, theoretically we could afford both him and Smith. I played around with the trade machine and came up with this;

Atlanta gets:
Kevin Love
Corey Brewer
Kosta Koufos

Philadelphia gets:
Wayne Ellington
Sebastian Telfair
Lazar Hayward

Minnesota gets:
Josh Smith
Andre Igoudala

Saves Philadelphia and Atlanta money in both the short and long term and gives them some prospects to compensate, although Philly gets a raw deal and might need a first or 2 to make up the value. After that our team would look like:

Ridnour
Igoudala
Johnson
Smith
Darko

with Flynn, Webster, Beasley, Tolliver and Pekovic off the bench. I don't know if that's a championship team but it'd be one hell of a defensive one as well as being fun to watch.

If I put my super duper Wolves goggles on ... it looks great for EVERYONE.

Nice work though ... acquiring both Iggy and Smith would be insane.

Rubio/Iggy/Johnson/Smith/Darko
Ridnour/Webster/Beas/Tolliver/Pekovic

shangrila wrote:Speaking of Igoudala, theoretically we could afford both him and Smith. I played around with the trade machine and came up with this;

Atlanta gets:
Kevin Love
Corey Brewer
Kosta Koufos

Philadelphia gets:
Wayne Ellington
Sebastian Telfair
Lazar Hayward

Minnesota gets:
Josh Smith
Andre Igoudala

Saves Philadelphia and Atlanta money in both the short and long term and gives them some prospects to compensate, although Philly gets a raw deal and might need a first or 2 to make up the value. After that our team would look like:

Ridnour
Igoudala
Johnson
Smith
Darko

with Flynn, Webster, Beasley, Tolliver and Pekovic off the bench. I don't know if that's a championship team but it'd be one hell of a defensive one as well as being fun to watch.

Looks great except Philly laughs it off the table.

he's a beast defensively but zero offense and mediocre rebounding vs Love who's heinous defensively, but A+ rebounder and seems to get 15 ppg just off 3 pointers and free throws. If they make a move for Smith, then they gotta make a move for a rebounding center. No way can you expect to get any rebounds w/ a Smith/Darko/Pekovic front court

I do not think this deal makes sense for either team.

If atlanta is trying to save money, why trade for a player that will need a massive contract extension? Or are they viewing this as a salary dump? If it is a salary dump then do not give Love. Give Brewer+Koufos+picks (or flynn if they want him).

Darko/Pek/Tolly
Smith/Love
Beas/Web/Lazar
Johnson/Web/Wayne
Ridnour/(Flynn)/(Rubio)/Bassy

Also, I think Love's spacing allows us to have Beasley attack the paint/post against smaller players. Smith would not provide this spacing.

C.lupus wrote:Looks great except Philly laughs it off the table.

agreed.

Its a interesting trade. I'd obviously be a little concerned spending that much money, but I strongly agree with the concept of moving in all at once.

You might make it more appealing to the other teams by sending more of the financial relief to ATL, who will struggle to stay under the lux next year, and sending more of the talent to PHI, who doesn't have as big financial concerns with Comcast. MIN has certainly acquired enough assets to make these trades .. they just need to spend them right.

I like the deal. I actually think Smith's rebounding numbers would increase here due to less competition for them from teammates. He and Darko would be a nice defensive combo, and Pek could give us some points maybe splitting minutes with Darko depending on matchups. I think we gain more than we lose.

Both parties should do it. But, it's more beneficial to our team because:

1. we can put j. smith to play his real position, which is SF

2. we can put beasley to play his real position, which is PF

Krapinsky wrote:Zgoda tweeted this idea today too.

He probably heard about it on Rotoworld.

fingers crossed...

That would be a good trade for you guys.

Josh Smith although has a low IQ, hes a beast on defense/blocks,steals

He averaged 8.5 rpg with a 9 rpg+ Center in Horford.

In Minny he'd average 10+ with ease, and you wouldn't have to worry about him getting blocked all the time due to his freakish athleticism, like you do with Love.

Smith has been one of my favorite non-Wolves for a while. However, I think this deal would still worry me a bit.