Horford Moving From Center To Power Forward

[Fordman]

Wanted to get everyone's take on Atlanta moving Al to the PF position ... Does this mean Atlanta is planning on cutting Josh Smith?

We could package our remaining trade exception (roughly $7million) + Grant Hill ($3.2Million) + Jared Dudley ($2.1Million).

Starting 5 would be Nash, JRich, Smith, Lopez, Hedo.

Bench would be Dragic, Childress, Warrick, Frye, Clark.

(LONG time reader of the Suns board, second post ever.)

[ma_falaa_50]

welcome, I think its interesting to see what happens with josh smith although it seems marvin williams may be the guy they are letting go. I think josh smith at 3 doesnt matter as much if he continues to play the way he did last season. Another thing to think about though is what does the new coach have in mind for josh? interesting.

[sunfire0112]

Hey, welcome to the board!

I think Josh Smith would be great here but there are some problems w/ your proposed trade.
-You cannot combine trade exceptions and players in a trade
-Grant Hill is pretty much untouchable.

Btw, who's going to play C then? Zaza? Powell?

[Nando88]

thought you can't package players with a trade exception???

[MaryvalesFinest]

Josh Smith is the Hawks best player, they would be nuts to trade him but than again they paid Joe Johnson more than Lebron James so who knows...

[Fordman]

I thought about Marvin being the odd man out too, but my hope is that Atlanta is trying to reduce payroll above all else.

Smith earns $5 million more, and I am not sure Smith is any more valuable at the 3 then Marvin. (Marvin is fairly atheletic and has 3-point range.) Marvin seems to be a better fit at the SF position then Smith

Atlanta picks up $7 million in savings year one, has Grant hill on the books for 1 year = $11 million savings in year two.

A grown man can dream.....

[Fordman]

Sorry....didn't realize you can't combine a trade exception with a player.

Only other way it would work would be to trade Jrich for Smith - But I would hate to lose the 3 point shooting.

[lilfishi22]

Yeah, SF0112 and Nando is right, TE's can't be packaged in a trade. Must be straight up. He would be awesome in our lineup though. I'm certain we'd switch him with Hedo and play him at the 4 instead.

However, I don't necessarily see Smith moving to the 3 as a sign or any sort of indication that he's going to get cut. I think Horford and Smith are both moving down a position to start but will probably go back to their original position as the game progresses.

[TheMan44]

No way Suns are getting Josh Smith. Suns are done making deals --- for now.

With Sarver's history, he won't take on additional money by bringing in Josh Smith.

As for Hawks, just because Horford will play PF don't mean they will get rid of anybody. Hawks are still going to sign a center (most likely a Kwame or Oberto) and will simply slide everybody down 1 slot so Horford is PF and Josh Smith is SF with Marvin coming off the bench:

G Bibby - Teague
G Joe - Crawford
F Smith - Williams
F Horford - Powell
C Zaza - Kwame

[DirtyDez]

We don't get J Smith unless Dragic or Lopez are being moved. Horford is a FA next year but we don't have enough to get him even with JRich coming off.

But one can dream...

Nash, Dragic
Childress, Dudley
Turk, Clark
Horford, Lawal
Lopez, Frye

Sweet Jesus!

[Qwigglez]

I think the Hawks are looking to cut salary and that means Josh Smith is out. I believe they have high potential for Al Horford and they want to keep him around.
I could see a straight Jason Richardson for Josh Smith type deal, where the Suns could include a future first round pick.
Or maybe even J-Rich, Dudley, Clark, Lawal for Josh Smith and Marvin Williams. Suns take on two long contracts, so I don't think any future first round picks would be necessary.

[Fordman]

No way Suns are getting Josh Smith. Suns are done making deals --- for now.

With Sarver's history, he won't take on additional money by bringing in Josh Smith.

As for Hawks, just because Horford will play PF don't mean they will get rid of anybody. Hawks are still going to sign a center (most likely a Kwame or Oberto) and will simply slide everybody down 1 slot so Horford is PF and Josh Smith is SF with Marvin coming off the bench:

G Bibby - Teague
G Joe - Crawford
F Smith - Williams
F Horford - Powell
C Zaza - Kwame

I don't think there is anyway in the world the Hawks sign another center and carry a $70 million dollar payroll into this year. Like it or not they paid Joe Johnson $119 million and that means someone has to go.

[lilfishi22]

Only other way it would work would be to trade Jrich for Smith - But I would hate to lose the 3 point shooting.

LOL are you serious? You wouldn't trade JRich for Smith because you're scared we'd be missing a bit of 3PT shooting? If there was a deal for JRich and Smith straight up and do that deal and run!

[dantian]

I guess they'd be thrilled to trade Josh Smith to us for Frye + Dudley. After all, Frye was signed being fully aware of the ensuing CBA. So, he must be a steal at this price.

[YFZblu]

Wanted to get everyone's take on Atlanta moving Al to the PF position ... Does this mean Atlanta is planning on cutting Josh Smith?

We could package our remaining trade exception (roughly $7million) + Grant Hill ($3.2Million) + Jared Dudley ($2.1Million).

Starting 5 would be Nash, JRich, Smith, Lopez, Hedo.

Bench would be Dragic, Childress, Warrick, Frye, Clark.

(LONG time reader of the Suns board, second post ever.)

I doubt the Hawks are looking to move Smith. Perhaps they're just looking to run with a more traditional front court. Not that Atlanta is a small team, but based on what I've seen, They can be out-muscled by the best teams up front.

Personally, I think Al Horford should get significantly more touches than he did last year.

[Jimmy76]

aw man id kill for smith on this team

jrich+Clark+Dudley+Lawal+2 1sts+pick swap rights draft after next

they wont do it but i can dream

[nashrambler13]

aw man id kill for smith on this team

jrich+Clark+Dudley+Lawal+2 1sts+pick swap rights draft after next

they wont do it but i can dream

Woah, woah, woah... for Josh Smith and a 1st? That is quite possibly the dumbest trade I think is possible. You are giving up

-A 20 point scorer (JRich)

-A GREAT role player who has the potential to be an All-Star and is a GREAT 3-point shooter (Duds)

-A player who is a good rebounder, will do the dirty work, and has a decent post game (Lawal)

-A player with potential. Don't hate on him, hes athletic and has "All the tools" (EC)

And on top of all of that TWO FIRSTS!?!?

For...

Josh Smith. An athletic defender who rebounds and who can't shoot.

[lilfishi22]

Woah, woah, woah... for Josh Smith and a 1st? That is quite possibly the dumbest trade I think is possible. You are giving up

-A 20 point scorer (JRich)

-A GREAT role player who has the potential to be an All-Star and is a GREAT 3-point shooter (Duds)

-A player who is a good rebounder, will do the dirty work, and has a decent post game (Lawal)

-A player with potential. Don't hate on him, hes athletic and has "All the tools" (EC)

And on top of all of that TWO FIRSTS!?!?

For...

Josh Smith. An athletic defender who rebounds and who can't shoot.

JRich is almost 30 and even if he's a 20PPG scorer next season, how long can he keep it up?
Dudley is a great role player but has zero all-star potential. Scrappy defenders almost never get voted into all-star teams.
Lawal hasn't done s**t yet. Let's not start labeling him a good rebounder with a decent post game yet just because he played a few good games in the SL.
If EC could turn into Josh Smith type player, I would be happy. If we could turn EC into Josh Smith next season, I'd do it.

That trade isn't great for us and I think Hawks would strongly consider it. But take away Dudley or EC and the 1st, and you have a steal.

[YFZblu]

aw man id kill for smith on this team

jrich+Clark+Dudley+Lawal+2 1sts+pick swap rights draft after next

they wont do it but i can dream

Woah, woah, woah... for Josh Smith and a 1st? That is quite possibly the dumbest trade I think is possible. You are giving up

-A 20 point scorer (JRich)

-A GREAT role player who has the potential to be an All-Star and is a GREAT 3-point shooter (Duds)

-A player who is a good rebounder, will do the dirty work, and has a decent post game (Lawal)

-A player with potential. Don't hate on him, hes athletic and has "All the tools" (EC)

And on top of all of that TWO FIRSTS!?!?

For...

Josh Smith. An athletic defender who rebounds and who can't shoot.

I mostly agree with you--Although I think you're overlooking some benefits of Josh Smith's game such as his passing ability and rebounding. While I hope Lawal proves valuable to Phoenix, he's still untested and at the end of the day, an unproven rookie. While Earl Clark may have "all the tools", that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be able to put it all together. IMO, the acquisitions of Warrick, Turkoglu and Childress to multi-year contracts sealed Clark's fate in a way, and indicate to me that he simply isn't ready; and perhaps may never be. I hope I'm wrong in that regard.

That said, I really hope Dudley is untouchable. This guy plays like a grizzled veteran with a great motor and a brilliant 3-point shot when put in the right situation. Not only that, but he defends and his lateral quickness is surprising...Always making the correct play it seems.

I'll never forget game 2 of the San Antonio series during last year's playoffs. The Suns were floundering, Amar'e wasn't defending or rebounding....Dudley was inserted, energized the team and IMO won the game in that regard. Gregg Popovich's comments after the game:

"Jared Dudley changed the whole game," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "He came in and he was a monster. He was committed to the boards and it was infectious and for that period they really got after us on the boards, and that changed it for the first half."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... me2-100505


[Note: You DID mention Josh Smith's rebounding. I didn't see that initially.]

[nashrambler13]

JRich is almost 30 and even if he's a 20PPG scorer next season, how long can he keep it up?
Lawal hasn't done s**t yet. Let's not start labeling him a good rebounder with a decent post game yet just because he played a few good games in the SL.
If EC could turn into Josh Smith type player, I would be happy. If we could turn EC into Josh Smith next season, I'd do it.

I'm fine with trading JRich, but him and Dudley and firsts is WAY too much.

Lawal will be a fine rebounder. I don't think that someone who is so smart and athletic and who tries so hard CAN be a bad rebounder, right?

That trade isn't great for us and I think Hawks would strongly consider it. But take away Dudley or EC and the 1st, and you have a steal.

I agree, but Dudley should be untouchable.

JRich/EC/lawal/1st for Josh Smith/1st is a great trade for us for sure.

Dudley is a great role player but has zero all-star potential. Scrappy defenders almost never get voted into all-star teams.

Charlie Rosen's words, not mine. And don't worry, I hate him too.