This is all that matters right now about Smith, specifically regarding his tenuous future with the Hawks: His contract is expiring and his asking price for a new one is going to be high. It's going to hit the ceiling. It's why his days in Atlanta may be numbered. “I feel like I’m a max player,” Smith said Friday. And yes, that is the first time he has said that. “I feel I bring a lot to the table. I have a lot of versatility. For what I do and what I give this ball club, I feel like I’m worth it.”
Until Friday, Smith had been saying the right things about his future in Atlanta. But now he seems less committal. Asked if he had a preference, he responded: "No. I don’t know. I don’t have a preference for anything right now, except to try to make the playoffs."
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Source hearing Josh Smith will be moved very soon, that he's not signing in Atlanta and they're going to get something for him.
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http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/1/31/3938628/nba-trade-rumors-josh-smith-suns-hawks
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 | dasein (617 posts) 1/31/2013 4:44 PM |
getting Gortat would be nice for Atlanta. Thing is, why would the Suns give up someone like that when they can just wait till the offseason and sign Smith outright. If they think he a is worth ma money, they'll surely get him.
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 | So-Tex (246 posts) 1/31/2013 5:07 PM |
I agree with dasein.
Haven't looked at the Suns books, but if they've got the cap space and ability to sign Smith in the off-season, there's no reason to give up Gortat for him.
Smith and Gortat in the front court would be a nice one-two combo there. I've owned Gortat, both last year and this, and I've never really seen him as the type who needs the ball offensively to make an impact. Which seems to me, to play into Smith's strengths perfectly (especially with usage).
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 | mbuser (4335 posts) 1/31/2013 6:39 PM |
Gortat is unhappy in PHO and that might be the only player the Hawks are interested in. Really not much going on there otherwise.
Suns salaries: http://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/PHO.html
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Is Gortat still unhappy even after the coaching change? I haven't heard anything to suggest that
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John Gambadoro: The stories about the Suns being interested in Josh Smith are ridiculous, there is zero interest there -ZERO!
Steve Kyler: Some people are taking shots at (@alexkenedyNBA) Josh Smith report yesterday... The Hawks have done background on the players mentioned. Why are the Hawks doing background on players they are not considering trading for?
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