Josh Smith trade rumors: Celtics join group vying for Hawks star

[cruzg24]

One issue with the potential deal for the athletic forward is that it would likely require the C's to give up Paul Pierce, a move that general manager Danny Ainge would likely be reluctant to make.
Smith is in the final year of his $58 million contract and will be a free agent at the end of the 2012-13 season. Any team landing him this year would likely be one in contention, as Smith could opt to test free agency in the offseason. He's reportedly looking for a max contract, but it's difficult to imagine any team giving it to him.
In 48 games, Smith is averaging 17.4 points and 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 46 percent from the field. Atlanta is 29-22 and in second place in the Southeast Division. Boston is 28-24 and in third place in the Atlantic Division after being riddled with injuries.
Rajon Rondo, Leandro Barbosa and Jared Sullinger are each out with season-ending ailments as Boston struggles to fight to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Source: SBnation.com

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Years down the road some team is going to be stuck with a bad contract.

 

[A.E]

I'm reading the Nets are holding out that a package of Humphries & Brooks is enough to get J-Smooth from ATL.

All I can say is if the Hawks give up Smith for that garbage package.....the NBA should just demote the entire franchise to the D-League now. I don't debate they need to deal Smith & get something before he walks but I'd almost rather get nothing in trade than what the Nets are offering. And the Nets need some help but they don't have shit anybody wants to trade for. Humphries is nothing but a contract, Brooks isn't anything special, and while he's improved....Lopez isn't worth that max deal.

 

[youngguru]

I'm reading the Nets are holding out that a package of Humphries & Brooks is enough to get J-Smooth from ATL.

All I can say is if the Hawks give up Smith for that garbage package.....the NBA should just demote the entire franchise to the D-League now. I don't debate they need to deal Smith & get something before he walks but I'd almost rather get nothing in trade than what the Nets are offering. And the Nets need some help but they don't have shit anybody wants to trade for. Humphries is nothing but a contract, Brooks isn't anything special, and while he's improved....Lopez isn't worth that max deal.

Lol Lopez isn't worth a max? Are you serious? Have you even seen him play this year? His numbers are through the roof. He's one of the only efficient back to the basket big men left in the NBA. There are so many worse players that aren't worth the max... Hibbert, STAT, JJ, Gordon...shit even Deron. But Brook? No, he's worth every penny.... especially with Dwight and Bynum looking like they may never return to where they once were.

 

[Pugz]

to be fair, amare was worth the max lol

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Brook Lopez isn't worth 15M a year.

 

[youngguru]

Brook Lopez isn't worth 15M a year.

Compared to Gordons bum ass he is.

 

[Pugz]

Compared to Gordons bum ass he is.

did you not know he didnt want eric gordon to get the max? lol

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Compared to Gordons bum ass he is.

Considering your response I'll assume you don't really believe Lopez is worth 15M.

 

[youngguru]

Probably not on another team. But on big market teams with money he's worth the max.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

lol

 

[youngguru]

still rather have him then any of the other players i named with the max

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I'd agree with that. Truth is there are really only a few true max players in the league.

 

[Pugz]

the market is so inflated. im in the minority that i dont think we should max greg monroe with that time comes and i think thats what hes going to get.

 

[A.E]

Exactly... nobody can honestly say Lopez is worth $15 million in this league. It's always: "well compared to..." arguments with this guy. The market for big men in the NBA is weak as shit, I know this, but that doesn't mean Brook Lopez is worth a max deal. Let the Nets regret his ass still being on their books a couple years from now. If I'm a GM, I'm going to go smaller/faster and should a big man fall into our lap via draft or trade, so be it. But like I see above, the position is so weak in this era of the NBA..........I mean whats the point? Cause Dwight Howard is doing wonders for LA, right? Forget that.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider
Hearing Hawks pulled out of 3 way deal with Bucks & Magic that would've sent Josh Smith to Milwaukee at 2:59 p.m.

 

[A.E]

I've got no problem with the Hawks holding onto Smooth.

The market was shit and I don't believe you should make a trade just to make a trade. Smith walks at the end of the season and frees up massive cap space. This cap space will do a lot more than the garbage-ass package Milwaukee was offering. None of those guys do much to help Atlanta rebuild.

 

[youngguru]

This whole "frees up cap space" shit is hilarious. Even with the cap space, no "superstar" is going to sign in ATL. Superstars these days go where they want. All the Hawks are doing is letting Smith walk to overpay another above average player. Cap space doesn't get you wins on the court.

 

[bosoxlover12]

This whole "frees up cap space" shit is hilarious. Even with the cap space, no "superstar" is going to sign in ATL. Superstars these days go where they want. All the Hawks are doing is letting Smith walk to overpay another above average player. Cap space doesn't get you wins on the court.

I agree, but maybe they have a plan


Go Cleveland/OKC mode, and get three Top 5 picks in the draft, and hold on to the cap space.

Then, when you have 3 young studs, use the FA space to sign a premiere FA, and you got a good team.


Kinda like how in the 90's, it was the Jordan era because it was only him winning pretty much. Lebron and KD have the titles mostly locked up (obviously an LAC, CHI, SA team can too, but not the Hawks or other organizations like that), so might as well build up for when those teams aren't at their peaks. And that's what Cleveland is currently doing.


They got Kyrie and Tristian in 2011, Dion Waiters this year, and will probably get an Alex Len/Shabazz Muhammed in the 2013 Draft. And they currently have a projected $28M in cap space for next year, and currently just team options the following year. You can pick up the options on Kyrie, TT, Waiters, still have Bazz/Len, and have plenty of cap space in the FA Pool that looks stronger than I've ever seen before

Lebron
Melo
Marc Gasol
Gay
Hibbert
Chandler
Aldridge
Love
Wade
Bosh
Gordon

They can potentially have the cap space to get one or two of these max guys, and even though LBJ left Cleveland because its not a huge market, who wouldn't want to play with 4 young stars and 1-2 superstars? A team of Kyrie-Waiters-James-Love-Len with TT off the bench would be the best 6 man rotation, ever.



Obviously its hypothetical and all, but in an era where you don't have a real shot to win, pull the tank mode effort. It worked pretty damn well for OKC



Edit: I realized I went off course and kinda just started talking about how boss Cleveland will be in 2016, but fuckit

 

[youngguru]

That's all fine and dandy but what plan do the HAWKS have? If their plan is to tank and get some nice players through draft picks for their first 3-4 years that's fine. But the idea that they will get superstars just because they have a decent team and cap room is bullshit these days. Superstars will go where they want to go. And according to this topic the only players that "deserve" the max on your list are Lebron and Melo.... which they aren't getting because no superstar wants to willingly go to ATL.