Josh Smith on the trading block?

[Kruza]

A weblog entry inside the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is speculating that Josh Smith may actually be on the trading block after ESPN's Chad Ford brought this topic up yesterday stating that the Hawks are indeed shopping him.

Be careful what you wish for...

Eh... I don't buy this rumor that Smith is being shopped, but you never know.

Kruza

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

He strikes me as a perennial overpaid loser.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

He needs a better system that isn't so backcourt-dominated as well as faster-paced to take advantage of his athletic ability. I'd love to see him in NYC or somewhere fun like that, though his god-awful shooting probably isn't something D'Antoni likes... still, put him at PF and run run run. The Hawks should be moving Horford to PF and looking to get a C out of this deal if so... they're really undersized right now.

[Kruza]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

Josh Smith is no doubt a nice player to have frequently running out on the open court of a primarily up-tempo offense. However, the problem with Smith is that it's extremely tough to find a role for him in a half-court offense that will justify the amount of money he makes. He has to develop some kind of go-to move on offense because he makes far too much money to be strictly an energy/rebounder guy who only scores off putbacks. And him being an undersized PF can hurt the team he plays on defensively because that team could get forced to have to crossmatch Smith up with SFs if he gets abused in the post or on the boards by opposing PFs. Then that means Smith has to be paired with a burly SF who can bang with opposing PFs, which is an even tougher type of player to find. (Ask Dallas, who has had issues trying to find that type of player to complement Dirk Nowitzki with.)

Kruza

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

And him being an undersized PF can hurt the team he plays on defensively because that team could get forced to have to crossmatch Smith up with SFs if he gets abused in the post or on the boards by opposing PFs. Then that means Smith has to be paired with a burly SF who can bang with opposing PFs, which is an even tougher type of player to find.
Kruza

How about LeBron?

[Kruza]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

LeBron certainly is the ideal size player to have Josh Smith team up with. But I wonder if Bron would like task of mixing it up in the paint with big men all game long on the defensive end. Plus doing this often may wear him down during the course of a season.

Kruza

[cdiddy71323]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

Why would LeBron have to play down low defense? Smith would easily be the power forward and could keep up with a lot of them. If Smith went to Cleveland, that team would be an 82 game highlight show. Smith could also help out Ilgauskas with the weakside D. I think Hickson, a 1st rounder, and someone to help match the cash would do it. Besides Bosh, I think Smith would be the 2nd best fit over Shaq and Jamison.

I know there is other threads on these two, but I think Shaq and Jamison wouldn't be a good fit. Shaq wouldn't give anything on the offensive side and would only get in the way of LeBron's drives. For Shaq to be effective, they would have to run plays for him which would take it away from LeBron. Big Z is better because it gives someone LeBron the chance to kick it out to him where he can hit the jumpers.

Jamison also doesn't work because, despite his offensive capabilities, he provides nothing on defense. He is the same height as Josh Smith, but his far less athletic than Smith is. Smith would be the best fit for them, but it will be something to see if he is in fact on the block.

[Kruza]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

Why would LeBron have to play down low defense? Smith would easily be the power forward and could keep up with a lot of them. If Smith went to Cleveland, that team would be an 82 game highlight show. Smith could also help out Ilgauskas with the weakside D. I think Hickson, a 1st rounder, and someone to help match the cash would do it. Besides Bosh, I think Smith would be the 2nd best fit over Shaq and Jamison.

Despite his great athleticism and above-average weakside shotblocking ability, Josh Smith gets pushed around and often manhandled down low against many opposing PFs for rebounds and also in the post. And when that happens, the SF had better be able to mix it up inside for Smith or else his team's interior defense will be exposed big time.

Kruza

[Facts]

Re: Josh Smith on the trading block?

If Smith went to Cleveland, that team would be an 82 game highlight show.

More like a 70 game highlight show. Playoff spot cliched with 12 games left.