Are the Jazz looking at Josh Smith?

[GP]

Smith is one of the up and coming players in the league, he is incredibly athletic and a great defender. That being said, he would be a horrible fit with the jazz, atlanta's offense is more free flowing and open, which plays very well to Smith's player traits. I am guessing the possible teams in the west are the mavs and the lakers. They can offer either howard or odom and both the lakers and Mav offense would make better use of a player like smith.

[JStockLivesOn]

Lamar Odom might jump off a bridge if he's traded to Atlanta, but LA does seem a likely suitor, given that they were rumored to be looking to swap Odom for Artest.

[schneiderjazz]

Yeah, people seriously overrate Josh Smith. Great stats, awesome highlights, not the team player you think he is.

Seems like the Hawks were better when he wasn't playing.

+1.
I'm not sold on Josh Smith either. He wants maybe a little less money than AK is getting right now. If we're gonna give him that much money, why not just keep AK? Can someone please tell me what exactly Josh Smith brings to the table that Ak doesn't?

[carrottop12]

My guess is Houston is the Western team they are talking too. They have someone who they are looking to trade in McGrady, and it's obvious the Mac/Yao combo is failing.

[gonzo]

Interesting to check out the LA thread on this. Calling Smith's defence over-rated ala AK, back and forth whoes better, etc, etc. I'd be really surprised if it's us. Even with a cheaper contract than AK and Deron, would there be enough left for Boozer and Okur?

[Racer X]

Interesting to check out the LA thread on this. Calling Smith's defence over-rated ala AK, back and forth whoes better, etc, etc. I'd be really surprised if it's us. Even with a cheaper contract than AK and Deron, would there be enough left for Boozer and Okur?

Dont forget Korver (with an opt out) AND Millsap who people seem to never mention, but whose contract is up next summer also.

[JStockLivesOn]

If we're going to trade AK, I'd really rather it was for an expiring.

[Ern III]

First of all, why are Atlanta keen to move him? He was a key component to their moderate level of success last season, and he's supposed to be improving for a few years yet. If it's because the Atlanta Spirit Group are still refusing to commit bulk money long term, then they surely don't want Andrei Kirilenko in return.

Secondly, he doesn't fit the Jazz in a basketball sense. He's probably more of a PF than SF, and we already have three starting-calibre PFs. We might be playing AK out of position, but swapping him for Smith would only be a step sideways at SF in my view. They're both far better defending the rim than perimeter players, but Andrei's a very smart player with a more accurate - if seldom used - jumpshot. Smith's a far stronger finisher, but shoots relatively poorly from any sort of distance, and regularly attempts dreadful shots. Even if Boozer or Okur - two far more enticing propositions to the parsimonious ASG - plus parts are shifted, then we'd still be shoehorning our SF and C.

Provided Smith is getting Kirilenko money, that's really the only plausible explanation for any Jazz interest: that we're trying to move either Boozer or Okur before they clear out next offseason. O'Connor would have to have had an assurance from one of them that they wouldn't return for him to consider shifting them now.

It all seems a bit far-fetched.

[HolyToledo]

Josh Smith is looking for 11-13 million range...basically from Boozer (11 million) to Ak-47 (13 million)level for this past year. Jazz would improve defensively...big risk trade if Boozer and NY #1 pick (or Millsap) which is what it would likely take...Ak-47 (& Millsap) for him makes no sense as Jazz cannot afford to pay Memo, Smith and Boozer tons of money for one of them to come of the bench. Assuming Korver or Miles would start in Ak-47's place.


Assuming AK-47 and Millsap for Smith (and another bench player to equal out contracts)
Jazz lineup: (Smith be happy to come off the bench?)
PG Williams Knight Price
SG Brewer Miles Almond Price
C Memo Smith Collins Kosta Fess
PF Boozer Smith Kosta
SF Korver Miles Harpring

AK-47, Price & Harpring for Smith & Speedy not enough to entice Hawks unless NY pick included

[fivas14]

HolyToledo, JS can play SF that's his natural positon.

[fivas14]

And we're not trading NYK's pick.

[JStockLivesOn]

Smith at back-up C. How's that peyote treating you, HT?

[QuantumMacgyver]

Why would anybody ever even think about trading the NYK pick(other than NY of course)?! Would you trade away D-Will and AK for Josh Smith? Cuz if the Knicks play the way everyone is expecting then thats essentially the same idea. Trading a better player and a potential great for a nobody, stat stuffer. Smith will not end up here and the Jazz understand that they don't want to play against AK. They may trade him but only if they have to or if they get an offer they can't refuse.

[lapassione]

a) no to JS. please no.
b) why is everyone giving away decent players and/or a very valuable NY pick for JS? Atlanta is running the risk of loosing him for nothing and they are going to get far less than whats been offered in this thread.

[loserX]

Just a reminder...we actually cannot trade the NYK pick right now even if we want to. There's a chance the Sixers could get it (if it's low enough) in the next 2 years, and you can't trade the same pick twice for obvious reasons.

As to the OP, I don't see the Jazz being the suitor either. There are financial and on-court implications that I think make Smith an unlikely target. I agree with the poster who said it's probably LA or Houston.

[fivas14]

I bet he goes to Dallas for Josh Howard.

[babyjax13]

When was the last time the Jazz made a blockbuster trade?

Jeff Malone for Jeff Hornacek? (hardly a blockbuster, but, that's the most risky trade I can remember them making)

I doubt it's us. It's probably a team that is prone to trades and turnover.

I'd be willing to bet money that it's Dallas trying to get him, maybe Josh Howard for Smith...