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Josh Smith has been a borderline All-Star for years in Atlanta but that is different from being happy — he feels he is the scapegoat of the Hawks problems among the fans and media. He doesn’t feel like he has the backing of the organization or that they do things like promote him as an All-Star.
Those frustrations have bubbled over to him requesting that Hawks trade him, ideally before the March 15 trade deadline, according to Michael Cunningham at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Even as Josh Smith is having a strong season for the Hawks he has let the team know he wants to be traded as the March 15 deadline approaches, according to people with knowledge of Smith’s thinking….
As the trade deadline approaches, the Hawks have taken calls from teams interested in acquiring Smith—Golden State is among the teams who have inquired. But the Hawks so far have given no indication that they intend to part with Smith, who likely would command a high price in a trade.
Smith is making $12.4 million this season and a fully guaranteed $13.2 million next season. That may make him challenging to move as teams have been slow to take on salary at the trade deadline due to the new CBA. That said, there are not a lot of big men as productive as Smith so there will be interest.
Smith should have made the All-Star team this year and is averaging 16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He’s athletic and can run the floor and might fit best with a team that takes advantage of that. Smith is a force around the rim who has an unfortunate addiction to shooting long two pointers — he is taking six shots a game between 16 feet and the arc this season and hitting just 31 percent of them. He’ll take about one three a game too even though he is shooting 28 percent on those.
There certainly would be interest in Smith, if not at the deadline then next summer. With it sounding like he wants out the Hawks will need to move him before next year’s trade deadline or risk getting nothing for him. But that doesn’t mean he’ll get moved in the next six days.
The Hawks have been active, however, looking for a taker for Kirk Hinrich as well, according to multiple reports.
Those frustrations have bubbled over to him requesting that Hawks trade him, ideally before the March 15 trade deadline, according to Michael Cunningham at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Even as Josh Smith is having a strong season for the Hawks he has let the team know he wants to be traded as the March 15 deadline approaches, according to people with knowledge of Smith’s thinking….
As the trade deadline approaches, the Hawks have taken calls from teams interested in acquiring Smith—Golden State is among the teams who have inquired. But the Hawks so far have given no indication that they intend to part with Smith, who likely would command a high price in a trade.
Smith is making $12.4 million this season and a fully guaranteed $13.2 million next season. That may make him challenging to move as teams have been slow to take on salary at the trade deadline due to the new CBA. That said, there are not a lot of big men as productive as Smith so there will be interest.
Smith should have made the All-Star team this year and is averaging 16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He’s athletic and can run the floor and might fit best with a team that takes advantage of that. Smith is a force around the rim who has an unfortunate addiction to shooting long two pointers — he is taking six shots a game between 16 feet and the arc this season and hitting just 31 percent of them. He’ll take about one three a game too even though he is shooting 28 percent on those.
There certainly would be interest in Smith, if not at the deadline then next summer. With it sounding like he wants out the Hawks will need to move him before next year’s trade deadline or risk getting nothing for him. But that doesn’t mean he’ll get moved in the next six days.
The Hawks have been active, however, looking for a taker for Kirk Hinrich as well, according to multiple reports.
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