Trade Josh Smith NOW!!!

[Jamaaliver]

He's on an unbelievable tear right now. His trade value is up at the moment.

But that's because the jumpshots are falling right now. This will stop, and so will the applause. After 7 years, we know this will happen. It always does.

Josh Smith has played a pretty fantastic stretch and is deserving of praise. But he still shoots too many jumpers and he still plays too emotionally.

We won't contend with Josh Smith as the primary player. We'll win a few games against good teams. And lose a few games against bad teams. It always happens.

In the past 5 games, Smoove is averaging 20 ppg and 12 rpg. Phenomenal numbers!

But he's still shooting less than 40% during that span (39.6% to be exact) which is atrocious for a big man.

Let's get something while the gettings good.

I'll take a steady, consistent effort every game over alternating brilliant/boneheaded performances.

[Hood President]

But that's because the jumpshots are falling right now.

Stopped reading right there. Obviously you haven't watched the last 2 hawks games.

[Jamaaliver]

Friday against Milwaukee Josh did (mainly) stick to the painted area on offense.

Saturday night saw him stepping back out and shooting that mid-range jumper repeatedly. Thus he ended up missing 12 of his 22 shots.

The link to his shot chart for the OKC game: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=320303001

[Geaux_Hawks]

Please do it so Hawks fans can realize we need Smith more than anybody on this team..

[Hood President]

Please do it so Hawks fans can realize we need Smith more than anybody on this team..

Thats what I'm thinking. Lol the threadstarter forgot the 13 FTs.

[parson]

Andrew Bynum.
Marc Gasol.
Andrew Bogut.
Brook Lopez.
Nene.

Otherwise, why bother?

And it HAS to be a big man. The only big men we have are Smith and Horford. Look at the trouble we're having with just Smith. It'd be same way if it were just Horford. We must have at least 2 big men.

[Hood President]

Andrew Bynum.
Marc Gasol.
Nene.

Otherwise, why bother?

And it HAS to be a big man. The only big men we have are Smith and Horford. Look at the trouble we're having with just Smith. It'd be same way if it were just Horford. We must have at least 2 big men.

[Jamaaliver]

Please do it so Hawks fans can realize we need Smith more than anybody on this team..

Need him for what? A championship? Can a guy who has a career average of 15 ppg and 8 rpg REALLY be considered irreplaceable?

In the last 10 games Smith is averaging 18.7 ppg and 11.5 rpg. Pretty impressive numbers. In that same span we as a team are 4-6. Even with his impressive play we're still a below average team. We get embarrassed pretty much every time we play on national TV.

A list of guys with comparable production to the irreplaceable J-Smoove:

J. Smith: 16.6 ppg 9.9 rpg 44.7% FG%
Kris Humphries: 13 ppg 10.5 rpg 50.9% FG%
Greg Monroe: 16.7 ppg 10.1 rpg 50.7% FG%
Marcin Gortat: 16 ppg 10.4 rpg 56.1% FG%
Paul Milsap: 15.7 ppg 9 rpg 50.1% FG%

Not exactly Hall of Fame company.
Not exactly All-Star company.

I just don't understand how a guy who's never won anything, a guy who is NOT well regarded amongst his peers and NBA experts, a guy who is moody and inconsistent and literally quits on plays when things go poorly, can elicit so much loyalty.

I would love to see him keep up these types of performances. But he's broken my heart too many times.

[fullcourt]

^ Greg Monroe would be a great teammate for Hofo, but he is way too young for the Pistons to trade him away.

[Rip2137]

Please do it so Hawks fans can realize we need Smith more than anybody on this team..

Need him for what? A championship? Can a guy who has a career average of 15 ppg and 8 rpg REALLY be considered irreplaceable?

In the last 10 games Smith is averaging 18.7 ppg and 11.5 rpg. Pretty impressive numbers. In that same span we as a team are 4-6. Even with his impressive play we're still a below average team. We get embarrassed pretty much every time we play on national TV.

A list of guys with comparable production to the irreplaceable J-Smoove:

J. Smith: 16.6 ppg 9.9 rpg 44.7% FG%
Kris Humphries: 13 ppg 10.5 rpg 50.9% FG%
Greg Monroe: 16.7 ppg 10.1 rpg 50.7% FG%
Marcin Gortat: 16 ppg 10.4 rpg 56.1% FG%
Paul Milsap: 15.7 ppg 9 rpg 50.1% FG%

Not exactly Hall of Fame company.
Not exactly All-Star company.

I just don't understand how a guy who's never won anything, a guy who is NOT well regarded amongst his peers and NBA experts, a guy who is moody and inconsistent and literally quits on plays when things go poorly, can elicit so much loyalty.

I would love to see him keep up these types of performances. But he's broken my heart too many times.

Not one player on that list makes the defensive difference that Josh makes. I notied you didn't include the blocks, steals and assist. So...yeah. Basketball is more than scoring dude. Also, those other teams records(with their entire teams intact) vs our record while missing 1-2 allstars, in addition to multiple bench players and another starter some nights.

I agree with the other post up there. Marc Gasol, Nene, Andrew Bynum, (I would add Brook Lopez to the list) Somthing to include Dwight Howard or why bother?

[JJ13]

Suns fan here...would you do Smith for Gortat? Not saying I would, but interested in your thoughts. ATL might have to throw something else in from my perspective. Horford + Gortat would be beastly.

Suns fans hoping we can lure a top FA with our cap space this summer...thinking Smith is a better draw than Gortat to get a Howard / Dwill (I know I know, these guys probably don't want to come to Phoenix, but one can dream)

Thanks for your thoughts

[Superiorblogman]

Suns fan here...would you do Smith for Gortat? Not saying I would, but interested in your thoughts. ATL might have to throw something else in from my perspective. Horford + Gortat would be beastly.

Suns fans hoping we can lure a top FA with our cap space this summer...thinking Smith is a better draw than Gortat to get a Howard / Dwill (I know I know, these guys probably don't want to come to Phoenix, but one can dream)

Thanks for your thoughts

LMAO, Suns would need to throw something else in. Gortat has a elite PG making him look better than what he is. No-one is going to be fooled by that. Nash and Gortat for Smith, Hinrich, and a future 2nd. Nash and Gortat are a package deal. Gortat is not worth Smith by himself.

[Rip2137]

Nash isn't making him hit those jumpers or score well around the rim. If you watch suns games, his lack of explosive athletisim is actually making the Pick and roll less effective, meaning he is scoring ON people and not so much getting open like Amare and Marion used to do.

Nash has an effect, but his rebounding and shotblocking and midrange jumper are all there because Gortat was good.

Lets not pretend that Dallas wasn't ready to PAY this dude in free agency because they saw how good he was backing up Dwight.

Phoenix wouldn't give up a solid Center for a undersized PF.

[JJ13]

Yea, that would be a huge "no" from the Suns...this post is titled "Trade Josh Smith NOW"...his value is nowhere near Nash+Gortat. Would consider Gortat+ one or two other pieces (besides Nash) for Smith+Hinrich

[Superiorblogman]

Nash isn't making him hit those jumpers or score well around the rim. If you watch suns games, his lack of explosive athletisim is actually making the Pick and roll less effective, meaning he is scoring ON people and not so much getting open like Amare and Marion used to do.

Nash has an effect, but his rebounding and shotblocking and midrange jumper are all there because Gortat was good.

Lets not pretend that Dallas wasn't ready to PAY this dude in free agency because they saw how good he was backing up Dwight.

Phoenix wouldn't give up a solid Center for a undersized PF.

Truth of the matter is Gortat is just solid at best and Josh is a lot more than just solid at best.

[Superiorblogman]

Yea, that would be a huge "no" from the Suns...this post is titled "Trade Josh Smith NOW"...his value is nowhere near Nash+Gortat. Would consider Gortat+ one or two other pieces (besides Nash) for Smith+Hinrich

The thread title matters little it is just the opinion of one person. I really would not do Josh+Kirk for Gortat and any Sun other than Nash. We simply don't get any better with trading Josh for Gortat straightup or for any combination other than Gortat and Nash. We are a playoff team trying to move up the ladder. The Suns are a franchise that is doing nothing. Keeping a guy they should trade for the betterment of the franchise in Nash really does not make sense and Gortat is not a game changer unless you put him on Miami.

[Rip2137]

Nash isn't making him hit those jumpers or score well around the rim. If you watch suns games, his lack of explosive athletisim is actually making the Pick and roll less effective, meaning he is scoring ON people and not so much getting open like Amare and Marion used to do.

Nash has an effect, but his rebounding and shotblocking and midrange jumper are all there because Gortat was good.

Lets not pretend that Dallas wasn't ready to PAY this dude in free agency because they saw how good he was backing up Dwight.

Phoenix wouldn't give up a solid Center for a undersized PF.

Truth of the matter is Gortat is just solid at best and Josh is a lot more than just solid at best.

Yeah, but Solid at best Centers will always be worth more than Above average - good PF's.

[evildallas]

On the Phoenix ideas, Nash isn't that valuable to Atlanta. Why you might ask? He's expiring and has no ties here. The odds of resigning him are slim at the end of the year. That makes him a rental. Everything he brings is mitigated by the short time he'd be here. Would the offense have enough time to adjust to get the full benefit of his skills? The time to trade for Nash was last year so that you could get time to affect the offense, sell tickets for a full season and potentially win him over for a longer stay. The cost to get Nash just isn't worth, so he stays in Phoenix.

Gortat by himself is debatable as whether it is enough (Position differences match up value), but the simple truth is more salary has to be added in to make work. If that salary is dead weight (Josh Childress) then it won't work because it is too negative to our cap. On the other side, the Suns probably would balk at a useful throw in like Jared Dudley. That leaves Grant Hill as the likely other player as he's expiring and hasn't had a great season.

If I knew that Al Horford would be back for the playoffs, I'd do a Josh Smith and salary filler for Gortat and Hill. Ownership would want to throw in 2 minimum contracts to get beneath the luxury tax in the deal. If I don't believe that Horford will be ready to play in the playoffs then I think I hold onto Josh and make a decision about what I can get Draft day. The thing that gives me pause is that Gortat has an ETO clause so his affordable deal only lasts another year. If he was locked in at that price until Marvin expired it would be more attractive because it would spread the financial decision out.

[truehawksfan121]

Josh smith has been playing good basketball but he still needs to be traded. The only reason is him and al horford play the same position. Josh is not quick enough to play the 3. Al horford is the future and its about time he play the four fulltime. I wouldnt trade him before the deadline. We need him this season since al is still hurt. But in the summer he is gone. We need better comlimentary players around jeff joe and horford. When we make trade josh, marvin needs to be included in the deal too.

[johnny878]

what has al done to prove he can play the 4 better then josh is now? He has 0 post game. he couldnt post up any of the magic's 4's last postseason

and probably be open alot less then now for his midrange game.