Josh Smith unsure of Hawks future

[HMFFL]

When word spread last weekend that Josh Smith was going to make his Drew League debut, the Twitter-verse was flooded with predictions that the Hawks' power forward would dominate in the freewheeling, up-tempo setting.

But Smith became the latest NBA player to be stymied by the top-notch competition, consistently coming up short against double teams and even getting dunked on by Colorado State University-Pueblo guard Kris Lawrie. The Drew League MC had given the honor of "Worst Drew League Performance" to Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley and Nuggets guard J.R. Smith entering play, but Josh Smith -- who laughed off his struggles afterward -- might have made a late push for that honor. (Incidentally, Miami's LeBron James and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant were deemed the best performers at the pro-am circuit.)

"It's good to be able to get some conditioning in and have some fun," Smith said. "I'm out [in Los Angeles] for the rest of the summer, working out at UCLA. This is my first time being [at the Drew League], and I'll be back."

Smith suited up for the "Kings of LA" team in this league, but is well aware that his NBA team might change when the lockout ends. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Hawks were gauging trade interest in Smith in June and are considering moving the seven-year veteran who has played his entire career in Atlanta.

Smith averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season and has $25.6 million left on his contract in the next two seasons. And while the regular season came with the frustration of losing nine more games than the previous season, the fifth-seeded Hawks upset Orlando in the first round before falling to Chicago in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"My feeling is that I'm an Atlanta Hawk," Smith said. "I'll be an Atlanta Hawk until otherwise, until they trade me or something else. I don't know. We've been with each other for a long time. We've had some success together. You never want to leave somewhere where you know that each year you're getting better and it could be something that much more special next year.

"But you never know what's going to happen. I'm just here. I'm an Atlanta Hawk right now. All I can do is stay ready, stay in my lane and stay focused and worry about bettering myself." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... nba_t11_a1

[MaceCase]

Had worries about his Drew League performance when I saw a highlight of him hoisting up a jumper, what has the world come to when we are seeing Smoove jumper highlights?

Regardless, I don't detect much if any frustration on Smoove's part regarding a trade. I doubt he demands one but it seems he'd welcome one after he described the "love hate" relationship with the fans during the playoffs and he above all has to know management's incompetency. Change of scenery might benefit him greatly but the fear as a HAWK fan is whether or not he'll just be a cap causality or we actually get value in return.

[parson]

We re-signed Joe because we couldn't afford to lose talent and we're committed to that path. We must get value for Josh Smith -- IF we trade him. Trying to save money when we have Joe's contract is stupid.

[HMFFL]

I think Sund has explored ways to acquire value for Josh Smith, but it's lead to a dead end, and draft pick considerations are option. Depending on how deep a draft is I doubt Sund moves Josh unless it's for a top 5 pick.

[MaceCase]

We re-signed Joe because we couldn't afford to lose talent and we're committed to that path. We must get value for Josh Smith -- IF we trade him. Trying to save money when we have Joe's contract is stupid.

The longterm fear is that we just let Josh walk in 2 years for nothing and not necessarily by choice.
Even without cap restraints we simply have to face the fact that Josh will have the exclusive power in deciding where he ends up in 2013 and because of that there are just so many questions. I doubt the team would be in a position to or want to make him the most lucrative offer in the league and we are already seeing the allure of being at home waning so the ultimate question will be can the team keep him and if that is in doubt will they panic in moving him? So far we've heard that the asking price for him is astronomical but it remains to be seen if management come down slightly from their desired returns and negotiate a middle ground or fear losing him for nada and take back a bag of potato chips just to say they got something.

[buckeye12]

the last thing i want the Hawks to do is to trade away their best defensive player for more offense, and turn into the Orlando Magic, who can't guard anybody.

i think getting a 10/10 center is not going to improve the Hawks, if the defense goes down, even alittle bit.

if you look at all the current contenders in the NBA right now, they all made trades that did the total opposite of what some Hawks fans want to do, by trading away Josh, and made trades that made them better defensively.

Perkins is better at defense than Green
Chandler and Kidd, are better at defense than Dampier and Harris
KG is better at defense than Jefferson
Billups is better at defense than Iverson

alot of fans who don't know anything about basketball, thinks that getting guys who can get more points will win games, but in the NBA, examples of that, always fail

[Ruhiel]

the last thing i want the Hawks to do is to trade away their best defensive player for more offense, and turn into the Orlando Magic, who can't guard anybody.

i think getting a 10/10 center is not going to improve the Hawks, if the defense goes down, even alittle bit.

if you look at all the current contenders in the NBA right now, they all made trades that did the total opposite of what some Hawks fans want to do, by trading away Josh, and made trades that made them better defensively.

Perkins is better at defense than Green
Chandler and Kidd, are better at defense than Dampier and Harris
KG is better at defense than Jefferson
Billups is better at defense than Iverson

alot of fans who don't know anything about basketball, thinks that getting guys who can get more points will win games, but in the NBA, examples of that, always fail

Looking at his Drew League performance as an indicator... he hasn't trimmed down. Cant say it enough his defense slipped from 2010 and so did his ability to beat people with speed on offense.

His true shooting % from the reg. season is fools gold because it was built on 3 pt set shots which didnt translate to the postseason.

I agree with just baout everything else u said.

[evildallas]

Hard to evaluate trade value without a CBA in place. After lockout and once the new CBA implications are known it will be possible to determine what the market value is for a player like Josh. As far as Drew League performance, Josh doesn't strike me as the type of player who would thrive in that environment. He doesn't have a strong enough handle to create for himself so unless he's on a team with a pass first, break them down PG that gets him into finishing position it will probably be a struggle.

[Rapsfan07]

How would Hawks fans feel about a Bargnani for Smith trade straight up?

[HMFFL]

How would Hawks fans feel about a Bargnani for Smith trade straight up?

Bargnani is the last player we need. If Josh Smith is moved I believe Al Horford starts at the 4 and the Hawks look to add a true center, not Bargnani.

[MaceCase]

How would Hawks fans feel about a Bargnani for Smith trade straight up?

I'd give you Marvin for Amir.

[J the Drafter]

if you look at all the current contenders in the NBA right now, they all made trades that did the total opposite of what some Hawks fans want to do, by trading away Josh, and made trades that made them better defensively.

Perkins is better at defense than Green
Chandler and Kidd, are better at defense than Dampier and Harris
KG is better at defense than Jefferson
Billups is better at defense than Iverson

All the contenders already have elite offensive players, so it's natural for them to try to improve their defense.

[Jodi]

I heard the Pistons might offer (Sign and Trade)Tayshaun Prince and a 1st rounder for Josh Smith...The trade will be a 3 team trade that includes Atlanta receiving a PG or Center in the deal too...If this happens ATL could keep Jamal Crawford

[Ruhiel]

I heard the Pistons might offer (Sign and Trade)Tayshaun Prince and a 1st rounder for Josh Smith

I heard this as well... in Nov. 2010.
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... oit_p.html

srsly link?

If this happens we will be able to keep Jamal Crawford

Josh Smith for Tayshaun and Jamal Get Buckets Crawford. We're overjoyed I'm sure


Jamal had a good year in 2010 (as did everyone else) but a 30yo one dimensional SG does not make a bench.

[azuresou1]

I might actually have to kill someone if we trade Josh Smith for Tayshaun and Jamal.

[Geaux_Hawks]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/21 ... Josh_Smith

Great article explaining why the Hawks should keep Josh in Atlanta. It's a RGM article, but I think it says a lot about what the Hawks should do concerning their "Future Plans".

[Ruhiel]

Does it being a RGM article contaminate its credibility?

I agree with some, no a lot, of his points especially with limited options between win now and rebuild.

but what he proposes is actually a downgrade.

RGM: Smith+shooting center = Smith+ shooting center+ Marvin Williams

We'd lose the Smith vs. Turkoglu and Deng SF matchups, stink on rebounding and expect the center to guard the Dwights and score on the other end.

-lose weight and return to SF size, mobility, agility
- simply sign SF Malcolm Thomas, potentially better in spurts than Josh
- shift Marvin to bully SG, he can be a Lamarcus Aldridge type. back down, dunk, hook shot. shoot 3
- 6'3 Hinrich stays at PG to give him height advantage ala Hinrich vs Jameer
- Motiejunas takes Marvin and Josh's spot as spot up shooter
- Thabeet upgrades Collins role
- Zaza more minutes, 17mpg
- Hill at PF, 17mpg

Every team can only score a certain amount of points and shooting centers are historically terrible.
Even Bynum struggles to score in Isos in the Playoffs. Hibbert is not better than Bynum. His #s are embarassing
The minutes are distributed to be a 10 man rotation, give us defense at all positions and simply having a capable role player 10 man rotation sprinkled with stars ups our point production. Like the Bulls, like the Mavs.

Replacing a Lamar Odom type star in Al Horford is a delicate process. But losing Crawford isn't. The # of points and pace we scored versus what he gave up last year AND his career makes it a no-brainer.
Resigning Crawford who unlike Marvin takes Teagues minutes and can't play with Joe would be a franchise killer.

and one thing only HMFFL has mentioned in PMs is if Horford's best position is PF. how does HOU benefit from giving up all their center assets. Scola is not a center asset, Patterson isnt

Any trade of Horford would basically have to gut their chances at getting a top 5 center to pair him with. Scola's age and the contracts/assets they have give HOU No chance of improving their center position. They are basically PORtland at best. A 50 win team w/o the size or depth to compete with Lakers or the Mavs.

And wasn't that us in 2010?