Josh Smith Scouting Report

[Mattya]

I didn't watch many Hawks games this year. I heard that he was playing more small forward the past year. So I was interested in hearing some opinions of how he did. As a Wolves fan there is a lot of talk about other players like Iggy, Gay, Batum, Martin, Wallace, etc etc. I also have interest in Smith if he can play SF. We have some decent ungarunteed contracts, Derrick Williams, two decent point guards available, the 18th pick to try to make a deal. So thanks for you input.

[Rip2137]

I don't think he could guard the SF position full time honestly.

That said, the 18th pick, Derrick Williams and a point guard (all of that) wouldn't be able to get Smith as you would have to upgrade at least one position and none of that would be an upgrade.

[azuresou1]

I'd trade Smith for Williams, the 18th pick, and Ridnour.

[parson]

^Williams is a SF/PF tweener, like Josh Smith, the 18th won't get a better big man for us than the 23rd would and Ridnour would cause us to drop Pargo, who did pretty well for us.

Where's the benefit?

To answer the OP, Smith dropped about 25lbs in order to play SF this season, only to see that torpedoed by Horford's injury. We think he can play SF. He can certainly guard most SFs. The question is whether you'll have to play a zone against the faster, quicker SFs. We haven't been able to play Smith there enough to know.

[azuresou1]

Derrick Williams has shown flashes of being really, really good. The mid-1st pick is a mid-1st pick, and could get us, oh, a better SF than Marvin. Pargo is meh, I'd rather have Ridnour who's just better in general.

[Rip2137]

A: No the 18th pick isn't going to be better than marvin. People watch Marvin all the time and get to nitpick while not undertanding how much better he is than ALOT of SF's in the NBA right now.
B: Derrick williams has shown flashes. At best, would he give you 18-9 with 2 blocks 2 steals and 4 assist? If williams plays up to his potential he WILL be Josh Smith.

I do agree Ridinor>Pargo.