Suns Explore Trade for Josh Smith

[Jamaaliver]

The Phoenix Suns have begun pursuing Josh Smith, according to multiple sources.

The Suns have held preliminary trade talks with the Atlanta Hawks and will continue their pursuit into the offseason should they be unable to execute a trade before the deadline.

The Suns would likely build their offer for Smith around Marcin Gortat.

Phoenix could sign Smith to a new contract in the offseason while retaining enough cap space for a second big contract free agent

Via Alex Kennedy/HoopsWorld
http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-pm-phoenix-suns-pursuing-josh-smith/

[Jamaaliver]

Phoenix has attractive assets, particularly Marcin Gortat, who could play alongside Al Horford and give the Hawks one of the best frontcourts in the Eastern Conference. They also have Jared Dudley and Michael Beasley as well as the expiring contracts of Wes Johnson, Shannon Brown (whose 2013-14 salary is non-guaranteed), Sebastian Telfair and Jermaine O’Neal. Phoenix also has several first-round picks
Read more at http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-pm-phoeni ... 2Azcjfr.99

I like Gortat and think he and AL would work well togther, but I'd demand more. Maybe exchange our draft pick for theirs. Maybe ask for Telfair and/or Beasley.

Gortat's contract is a pretty good value. He matches Josh in rebounds/blocks. He has a solid post up game (right?). He'll be easily tradeable in the offseason if we want.

We really should have traded Josh a year ago when his stock was at an all time high in Feb/March.

[ATL Boy]

Phoenix has attractive assets, particularly Marcin Gortat, who could play alongside Al Horford and give the Hawks one of the best frontcourts in the Eastern Conference. They also have Jared Dudley and Michael Beasley as well as the expiring contracts of Wes Johnson, Shannon Brown (whose 2013-14 salary is non-guaranteed), Sebastian Telfair and Jermaine O’Neal. Phoenix also has several first-round picks
Read more at http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-pm-phoeni ... 2Azcjfr.99

I like Gortat and think he and AL would work well togther, but I'd demand more. Maybe exchange our draft pick for theirs. Maybe ask for Telfair and/or Beasley.

Gortat's contract is a pretty good value. He matches Josh in rebounds/blocks. He has a solid post up game (right?). He'll be easily tradeable in the offseason if we want.

We really should have traded Josh a year ago when his stock was at an all time high in Feb/March.

Smith's value is at an all time low and I'd be satisfied with a Josh for Gortat/expirings trade, if Ferry can exchange our firsts or get a first along with Gortat he would be proving that he's GM of the year. But I wouldn't explore trading Gortat this summer unless we can get Pekovic, he's gonna be our first real Center since 2001.

[Jamaaliver]

Am I crazy for still eyeing Pau Gasol. he's putting up solid nnumbers coming off the bench. he's been an all star, all-NBA, and a world champion.

Gasol is basically an expiring contract since his ends in 2014. I think he'd do great here as a #1 option and that $20 million expiring contract would be in high demand next season.

Anyone?

[Skyhawk1]

We can finally have a decent Center and maybe a pick or 2 along with that. Time to send Smoove and his crazy play away.

[ATL Boy]

Am I crazy for still eyeing Pau Gasol. he's putting up solid nnumbers coming off the bench. he's been an all star, all-NBA, and a world champion.

Gasol is basically an expiring contract since his ends in 2014. I think he'd do great here as a #1 option and that $20 million expiring contract would be in high demand next season.

Anyone?

Sorry Jamaal but Gortat/pick (lotto?)>Gasol

[Jamaaliver]

Sorry Jamaal but Gortat/pick (lotto?)>Gasol

Fair enough.

[2Mas]

Random celtic fan.

I think ATL would be very happy with a Gortat & expiring for Smith. I doubt the pick wouldn't be protected since PHX will get a top 6-7 pick.

Head into the summer with a pick around 20ish, around 40 mil in cap! Jesus. & Also, a realll solid big rotation of Gortat, Horford, Johnson, Scott.

The only thing I don't really understand, is who are you guys gonna target? Obviously Dwight but then don't trade Smith for Gortat? Iggy probably gonna stay, CP3 is gonna stay.

Idk you guys have so many options, just don't see what way you guys are gonna go.

[Jamaaliver]

The only thing I don't really understand, is who are you guys gonna target? Obviously Dwight but then don't trade Smith for Gortat? Iggy probably gonna stay, CP3 is gonna stay.

Idk you guys have so many options, just don't see what way you guys are gonna go.

That's the million dollar question. It's a good problem to have, i guess. A solid team AND cap room. I'd imagine 2nd/3rd tier players this year if we don't recruit any big dogs.

Think Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evan, Kyle Lowry, Iguadala, Corey Brewer, David West, Pekovic, JJ Hickson, OJ Mayo, AL Jefferson, etc.

Hickson or Brewer seem most likely.

[ATL Boy]

The only thing I don't really understand, is who are you guys gonna target? Obviously Dwight but then don't trade Smith for Gortat? Iggy probably gonna stay, CP3 is gonna stay.

Idk you guys have so many options, just don't see what way you guys are gonna go.

That's the million dollar question. It's a good problem to have, i guess. A solid team AND cap room. I'd imagine 2nd/3rd tier players this year if we don't recruit any big dogs.

Think Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evan, Kyle Lowry, Iguadala, Corey Brewer, David West, JJ Hickson, OJ Mayo, AL Jefferson, etc.

Hickson or Brewer seem most likely.

Ellis too, although I wouldn't want him on my team he still has to be counted as a 2nd-3rd tier player

[EB2]

I hope we're not the team you guys fool into taking Josh Smith. You guys seem finished with him and usually when a fan base hates their own player there's something wrong with that player.

[Jamaaliver]

I hope we're not the team you guys fool into taking Josh Smith. You guys seem finished with him and usually when a fan base hates their own player there's something wrong with that player.

lol

Josh is good. He just really needs a fresh start and a strong coach.

He's a great passer and finisher at the rim. Goran Dragic will love him.

[Jamaaliver]

Sorry Jamaal but Gortat/pick (lotto?)>Gasol

It just stinks because Josh's stock was so high last year. It seems like we're settling to accept Gortat and a lottery pick in a mediocre draft.

Had we moved J-Smoove last year there were soooo many better options. Even at the beginning of this season, we could have traded Josh to OKC for James Harden which would have made both teams so much better. Rudy Gay was available, Tyreke Evans is still available, NJ traded their lotto pick last year that could have netted us Damian Lillard, Harrison Barnes or Andre Drummond, I've heard CHI offered Deng a couple of seasons ago, we discussed trading Josh & Marvin for Jamison and CLE first rounder last year which could have gotten us Lillard or Waiters, Kevin Love could be available, AL Jefferson is being shopped, Brandon Jennings is still in play.

There were so many possibilities to gain some real assets for Josh in 2012. Now his stock has cooled and we end up with Marcin Gortat....

We already traded Joe Johnson for table scraps, I want to maximize what we get for Josh.

It should have been done in March 2012.

[Rip2137]

The fan base is mixed on him. Half of the guys here are just irrational...much like half the guys on your board.

That said, I don't see Phoenix moving their only Center for a PF when they have so much invested in Beasly, Scola and Morris is there as well. Sure you could move one of those guys, but with no promise to resign, I don't see them doing it.

Also, I think you guys are stat watching a BIT if you think Gortat remotely brings to the court what Josh does. On EITHER side of the court.

[Jamaaliver]

The fan base is mixed on him. Half of the guys here are just irrational...

Don't be so hard on yourself. I wouldn't call you Josh fans irrational, just...misguided.

lol

And the real appeal of this propsed trade would be a high (top 3 protected?) draft pick. Let's face it though, AL has proven he can handle the load at PF more than adequately.

[ATL Boy]

I hope we're not the team you guys fool into taking Josh Smith. You guys seem finished with him and usually when a fan base hates their own player there's something wrong with that player.

lol

Josh is good. He just really needs a fresh start and a strong coach.

He's a great passer and finisher at the rim. Goran Dragic will love him.

That and the fact that it's not up to you it's up to your GM

[EB2]

That and the fact that it's not up to you it's up to your GM

Then we're ****ed.

[RunSunRun]

I'm mentally preparing myself for the absolute ridiculous lopsided trade you guys are going to get from us. Knowing the Suns, we'll probably give up Gortat, Dudley, and our first round pick this year. At least Josh Smith can lead us back to being a perennial treadmill team fighting for those ever-so-precious 7th-8th seeds in the Western Conference.

[ATL Boy]

I don't understand, is the PHX GM that bad?

[EB2]

I don't understand, is the PHX GM that bad?

Yes.