Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
I am so serious, finding out about
that Marcus Camby trade paralyzed what was supposed to be a night off for me. So sorry if I didn't quite cram in the even further repercussions: Its effect on the life and times of Josh Smith.
As I reported in Sports Illustrated during last season, league sources said Smith would not be interested in returning to the Hawks if the team retained coach Mike Woodson, who recently signed a two-year extension. The two have butted heads frequently in Smith's four seasons, and sources said the relationship is beyond repair. With a dearth of offers, Smith may change his tune, but having a volatile relationship on such a young team may not be in the Hawks' best interests.Talk about a pickle. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more promising player than Smith; he's like Camby and Iguodala rolled up into one, and has shown signs of development with little or not meaningful mentorship. But Mannix is right -- if that relationship with Woodson is poisoned, and basically useless, there might be an impasse. And for all his talent, Smith is still too raw to be included in the Marion/Odom/Artest tango. Maybe the Pistons, especially if they're trying to replace Billups with Stuckey? Then again, why pay through the nose for Smith when the team already has Maxiell and Amir Johnson waiting in the wings.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
10 comments
Comments
The punk needs to suck it up.
Brendan Haywood and Eddie Jordan made amends this past season, why can’t Woodson and Smith?
by Truth About It Dot Net on Jul 16, 2008 1:06 PM EDT reply actions
Let’s see. Eddie Jordan > Mike Woodson. Josh Smith > Brendan Haywood. In other words, who holds the cards in these situations?
by littmann.tsn on Jul 16, 2008 1:18 PM EDT reply actions
Somebody threw out a perfectly good Carcus Mamby.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Jul 16, 2008 1:37 PM EDT reply actions
Haven’t your heard. After EB bailed on the Clippers the only player they met with was Josh. They didn’t make him an offer that Atlanta would then simply match. Instead they made a trade offer for Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby in an attempt to bring in a player that could be used as trade bait in a sign and trade deal with Atlanta for Josh. It was all pre-arranged in that original meeting. Next up, Josh Smith’s trade demand to the Clippers.
by JamFan on Jul 16, 2008 8:54 PM EDT reply actions
Hi guys:
JOSH SMITH, the argument goes, is not a pure NBA low-post player.
But the 6-9 Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent is:
Smith’s remarkable fourth season included averages of 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals. Coming out of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. in 2004, he originally committed to Indiana University before becoming the No. 17 pick in the 2004 draft.
And he won’t turn 23 until December.
======
Peter
Addiction Recovery Minnesota
by saifulla on Jul 17, 2008 6:54 AM EDT reply actions
The Rockets in a sign and trade for T-Mac? Put J-Smoove at the two and play Alston-Smith-Battier-Scola/Landry-Yao.
by AstronautDinosaurFiretruck on Jul 18, 2008 6:57 AM EDT reply actions
Meanwhile Atlanta has some sort of draw/reason to exist. Joe Johnson has a scoring partner and T-Mac can finally banish his curse in the Eastern conference with St. Horford.
by AstronautDinosaurFiretruck on Jul 18, 2008 7:00 AM EDT reply actions
the reason josh smith wants out is because he is dissapointed the hawks havent offered a “serious contract proposal”. smith wants over 12 mil a year while the hawks only want to give about 10 a year. eventually he will be back on the team because no one else will give him 10+ cuz they cant
by The Kid 14 on Jul 19, 2008 11:36 PM EDT reply actions
This is a damn shame, because the Hawks were a team I was pulling hard for down the stretch. After their performance vs the Celtics in Round 1, I could see an even better team on the floor in ‘08-’09.
I must admit, though, I did not follow them all that closely during the season, and the rift between Josh Smith and Coach Woodson was a surprise. Talk about destroying something that was just rebuilt.
The Hawks are a snake-bitten team.
by HuskerHeel on Jul 20, 2008 9:56 AM EDT reply actions
He could be in worse shape… I may be wrong, but that team really came together in the Boston series. They should be aiming high next season.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Jul 20, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply actions
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