Nets Pursuing Josh Smith
Added on Feb 11, 2013 by Scott in
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NBA trade rumors are swirling at a fast and furious rate. With only ten days remaining until the deadline, teams in need of upgrades or those looking to unload expensive salaries are crunching numbers and weighing scenarios. One of the more involved participants are the Brooklyn Nets, who have been linked to a few different deals, the most recent being a move that would bring Hawks forward Josh Smith to New York.
Smith is scheduled to hit the free agent market this summer and is unlikely to be re-signed. As such, shipping him elsewhere now appears to be Atlanta’s best course of action. At 27, Smith will be seeking a big money deal that the Hawks front office might not be willing to negotiate.
Smith’s career averages of 16.9 ppg and 8.5 rpg are impressive, but far from elite. He’s never been an All-Star and his best scoring season came in 2011-12 when he netted 18.8 points. However, he would present a significant improvement at small forward for a team that is desperate to add another rebounder/scorer on the front line.
Current Nets who could be dealt include reserve forward Kris Humphries and guard MarShon Brooks, although it will probably take more than those two to complete a trade for Smith. The addition of Smith would reunite him with Joe Johnson, who spent seven seasons in Atlanta before being shipped to Brooklyn last July for five players and a first-round pick.
It’s unclear what the Hawks want in return for Smith, but his exit will leave a void on both ends of the court. Smith not only leads the team in scoring, he’s also their best all around defensive player, especially in the interior. In order to receive proper compensation, at least one other team may have to enter the mix.
Neither Atlanta or Brooklyn is equipped to challenge the Heat, so the odds are good that one or both will reshape their roster in the coming days.
Source: ESPN.com
