J Smoov NOT to be given an extension this year.......

[dms269]

Celts fan here. Not trying to stir anything up (honestly), but the whole 'non-extension' thing did get fans on our boards thinking about trying to trade for Smith.

In terms of what we should offer (that would be fair and realistic) the options put forward seems wildly spread. He's just one of those guys who divides opinion, I guess.

Anyways, interested in;

1) If offered a decent package, would you think it's a good move to trade him rather than risk him walking? (based on what I've read, there is still a decent chance he'd resign with Atlanta...I think...?)

2) What type of package would you consider decent? Not so much interested in names, as what would you be looking for (eg. lottery pick and a young swingman, or A centre, so Horford can play PF, plus whatever...etc)

I will say that what some of the Celtics Fans are offering (Bass, Lee, Sully/Melo) would be nowhere near enough. It wouldn't make any sense for the Hawks to trade Smith for basically backups and give him to a team in the east without getting a big deal.

If Smith is traded the team will need to decide what direction, and I believe that falls on Horford. It would be hard to tank with Horford on the team. Getting a true center would be nice, but the hit in terms of talent Atlanta would have to take to accomplish that (in terms of a Smith deal) makes that out of the picture. If Smith is traded Atlanta can always move Horford to the 4 and start Zaza and be fine.

I think Atlanta would need a big deal that blows them away if they are to trade Smith.

[LewisnotMiller]

Cool...thanks for the opinion on that.
Like I said, what Celts fans seems to think would be needed varies wildly, and some of the more common assessments don't seem to make a lot of sense for Atlanta. It's not just a matter of packaging some talent, it's a matter of getting something that fits with Danny Ferry's future plans, and middle-of-the-road, middle-of-their-career talent doesn't seem to fit with the phase you're in...at least that's an outsiders view.

What you mentioned there (Bass, Lee, Sully/Melo) is the most common offer on the lower end on the Celts boards. Some others are including Jeff Green and/or Avery Bradley.

*shrugs*

For what it's worth, I'm not convinced we could offer anything compelling. We'd have to hope he started pulling a D12, and you were worried he'd walk for nothing, and then hope no other teams had a blow-you-away offer either. Seems a stretch to me...lol

[Jodi]

Pistons fan here, I come in peace...Dumars is going to open his wallet to Josh Smith this summer...I just wanted to give you guys a heads-up...

[PandaKidd]

Josh will be one of the most sought after offseason acquisitions IMO. IF he plays like last year, this team is much more suited to his talents. This SHOULD be his all star year.

That being said, i firmly believe hes gone at the end of the year because Ferry will not offer him a max contract and duplicate what he just undid in terms of the Joe Johnson curse. Josh Smith will not be worth a max contract unless he puts up LBJ numbers this year.

I think he will walk because he is going to be easy to lure away. Atlanta will not make the same mistake again, but another team will sign him for the max they can offer IMO in an attempt to take him to a "better" team. The real problem for josh is going to be how good the hawks could be this year, and next year in FA. Its going to be hard to walk away from a team, that given all the signs, is FINALLY headed in the right direction.

The only MAX CONTRACT i see coming here is an already established superstar like a Chris Paul or something. I dont think Josh Smith is well known outside of the SE personally.

[Rip2137]

Josh Smith Max is not Joe Johnson max though.

[PandaKidd]

Josh Smith Max is not Joe Johnson max though.

his max will be 5 years 19-20 million isnt it?

[cnv2855]

The dude is going to end up a Celtic, if not before the trade deadline then absolutely in next years free agency.

You're smoking some sort of **** if you can't see the blatantly obvious, that he wants to play for Boston with Rondo.

Take any combination of green, bass, sullinger, lee, or bradley and picks and be done with it... or lose him next year for nothing. There's absolutely no chance he remains a Hawk.

[dms269]

The dude is going to end up a Celtic, if not before the trade deadline then absolutely in next years free agency.

You're smoking some sort of **** if you can't see the blatantly obvious, that he wants to play for Boston with Rondo.

Take any combination of green, bass, sullinger, lee, or bradley and picks and be done with it... or lose him next year for nothing. There's absolutely no chance he remains a Hawk.

Oh where to start...

1. How can Boston sign him in free agency next year? They have 39 million being eaten up by 3 players. Then add in the 26 by 4 more players they are looking at 71 million in contracts for next season. The Celtics do not have the power to demand that any player is traded to them or he can just sign inf free agency with them because they can't.

2. Blatantly obvious? I am guessing you can back that up with a link where he said it?

3. Smith has said he wants to be in Atlanta over and over. It never made sense for him to sign an extension when he can make more money for longer if he became a free agent.

4. How about the Celtics trade us Rondo if they really want to play together?

5. Boston has some bad contracts that they are trying to dump on a team for an all-star like player. Green's contract is horrible and Lee's contract is bad so they have no positive value. Atlanta has done a lot to cut salary and they are not looking to add a lot of long-term salary for players who are average at best.

6. Atlanta is better off staying put and gambling with Smith. They will have a large amount of cash to spend in the offseason that they can use to convince Smith to stay. If he bolts? Fine, at least Atlanta wouldn't be stuck with some bad contracts like Boston is trying to dump.