Spurs are interested in Josh Smith

[Bruno]

I think bringing him off the bench would be the best situation if he hypothetically did get traded to the Spurs. There he wouldn't feel so handcuffed mentally or physically and could just naturally play his game with Manu.

If you want to re-sign him this summer, starting him might be a better idea. I'm not sure he would like to be a bench player. A Parker/Green/Leonard/Smith/Duncan lineup sounds fine.

[Bruno]

My stance about a Josh Smith trade is that I would do it under certain cir stances.

First, Pop talked to Smith before the trade to see if he is fine with playing for a contender where he will get less touches and see what kind of contract he wants for this summer.
Second, Spurs keep both Splitter and Kahwi. Spurs offer should for Smith should be Jackson + Bonner + 2 first round picks. If Hawks want more, they can keep Smith.

Next summer, in the worst case scenario (Diaw and Mills picking their options), Spurs would have about $34M below the tax to re-sign Smith, Splitter and Ginobili. It could/should be enough to keep all 3.

[Mal]

My stance about a Josh Smith trade is that I would do it under certain cir stances.

First, Pop talked to Smith before the trade to see if he is fine with playing for a contender where he will get less touches and see what kind of contract he wants for this summer.
Second, Spurs keep both Splitter and Kahwi. Spurs offer should for Smith should be Jackson + Bonner + 2 first round picks. If Hawks want more, they can keep Smith.

Next summer, in the worst case scenario (Diaw and Mills picking their options), Spurs would have about $34M below the tax to re-sign Smith, Splitter and Ginobili. It could/should be enough to keep all 3.

Bruno, you should sent your CV to become assistant GM somewhere in the NBA.

[spurraider21]

If we are serious about Smith... I see it like the Al trade. its fine as long as we aren't giving up Tiago or Kawhi. But Smith would have to agree to play a certain role. Like I said in an earlier comment, his outside shooting is intolerable. He needs to limit his game/shots to what LeBron is pretty much doing... almost exclusively in the post. If he wants to face up from the high post, thats ok, as long as he isn't jacking up 18 footers. With his passing ability he could definitely be an asset to our offense, kind of like Diaw but with less range. I see him as a Diaw-Blair hybrid on offense with more athleticism. The question is, what are the odds he would actually agree to that role.

His defense I will never question, though. I only want him playing the 4 though. Smoove at the 3 is ugly. Way too many outside shots for my liking. The one thing that intrigues me quite a bit about Smith is if OKC or Miami are intent on playing Durant/LeBron at the 4, Smoove is definitely a guy we can throw at them, and he wouldn't be a liability on either side of the floor against those guys

[NASpurs]

http://sulia.com/ricbucher/f/e8d120e...-a131bb6dec27/


Ric Bucher
Source: Atlanta Hawks are looking to move Josh Smith, but Brooklyn Nets don't have the necessary pieces to make a deal without including a third team. The Spurs have also been rumored to be interested and, aside from having a built-in level of trust with Hawks GM Danny Ferry, have the kind of assets that would allow them to make a more "interesting" deal, according to the source. It also makes far more sense for the Hawks to move Smith to the Western Conference rather than put him where he would serve as compe ion.

He's talking about Splitter and/or Leonard right? I would throw up if either of those two were involved.

[temujin]

Bruno, you should sent your CV to become assistant GM somewhere in the NBA.

Not to Toronto though.

[Texas_Ranger]

Wouldn't trade Kawhi. But Splitter is like 50/50 for me. If we can get Smith for Splitter, Jax and Neal or Mills then I'd probably do it. But Ferry would really have to be a good friend not to want Kawhi in a deal for Smith. We'll also have to give them a first rounder. But our deal looks better then the Nets one. Tiago would pair much better with Horford than Humphries, who is in my opinion not even as good as Tiago. Then they were giving Brooks which is a younger version of Neal. Also with Jax they would just get more cap space next year. The problem is that Josh will want a max contract, so I'd probably have to ask Bruno if can even give him that.... I see a bigger chance us getting Smith than Al Jefferson.

[callo1]

Millsap > Smith

Been wanting Milsap for quite some time. Wouldn't have to lose Tiago to get hopefully. Would be great when teams go small, can play the 3, 4, or 5 in situations.

Look at the Utah stat line from last night against OKC

[Captivus]

I wouldnt even trade Tiago for Smith. I just dont see it. His poor FT% (50%) is gonna make spurs fan go crazy.
There has to be a way of keeping Tiago and Kiwi and using other assets to get someone. I like Smith, but I wouldnt give up Tiago or Kiwi.
I mean, per 36, both players are almost the same. Smith is better at D, but thats not enough for me.

[Strategic]

I think Tiago's confidence has been bolstered by being a starter. Putting him back as a rotation player may be too risky. For this reason I think any deal for Smith should include Splitter. Even though it would mean going a couple of inches smaller it should be a good trade. Similiar to what Bruno and others have stated, Smith and Popovich would have to be on the same page concerning key issues prior to any deal.

[Bruno]

He's talking about Splitter and/or Leonard right?

Yeah, likely but it's also a matter of having expiring contracts. Nets don't have enough expiring contract to match Smith contract. Nets will have to send Humphries to Atlanta to match salaries and it's quite a deal breaker because it will force Atlanta to spend $12M in 2013-2014 on Humphries, a player they likely have zero interest in.

I guess Atlanta would be way more interested in Kawhi than in Tiago. Tiago is still 28 years old and will get a big contract this summer, he isn't such a great piece for a rebuilding team. Kawhi with his youth, his upside and his rookie contract is the perfect target for Atlanta. If Spurs offer him, Ferry will trade away Smith in the blink of an eye.

I would throw up if either of those two were involved.

Agree.

The problem is that Josh will want a max contract, so I'd probably have to ask Bruno if can even give him that.... I see a bigger chance us getting Smith than Al Jefferson.

Well, there are a lot of factors: Will Splitter be traded to get Smith? What kind of money will Manu ask? Will Diaw pick his option? SI Spurs ownership fine with paying some luxury tax?

Regardless of all that, a max contract for Smith will pay him between $95M and $100M over 5 years. Do you really want tot give Smith that kind of money?

[eDizzle20]

I personally haven't watched Josh Smith enough to know if this would be a good deal, but his numbers speak volumes. However, I agree with the majority of posters in that he is not worth it since the Spurs would have to give up Splitter (Kawhi is untouchable) and try to sign Smith to a max deal. I would much rather go for Big Al or Milsap as long as Splitter was not part of the deal. Splitter fits in too nicely into the pick n roll offense and is a smart defender. He also has done an amazing job with his free throws this year, a big reason why he rode the pine in the OKC series last year.

[rascal]

I wouldnt even trade Tiago for Smith. I just dont see it. His poor FT% (50%) is gonna make spurs fan go crazy.
There has to be a way of keeping Tiago and Kiwi and using other assets to get someone. I like Smith, but I wouldnt give up Tiago or Kiwi.
I mean, per 36, both players are almost the same. Smith is better at D, but thats not enough for me.

If your not willing to trade anyone who has value then don't expect to get a player back that will make any type of difference.

[Strategic]

It's easy for me to get smug with this current Spurs' team. The winning seems to do it to me every year. The only Spur that seems tradeable at the moment is Blair. Splitter's game to game improvement lately helps the team seem an odds on favorite for whatever comes, of course that is, if the other stars regain health. So why trade Tiago if he appears to be rounding into the inside presence that we think will have us resting easy and celebrating after the finals? The problem with this comfort zone is that it seems like it's been ages since the Spurs have played the Heat, Thunder or Clippers, which are the most athletic teams in the league(inside and out), and not coincidentally, the biggest threat to the Spurs winning the finals. As you know, comfort zones are like assholes; everyone has one, but at any time they can have the blown out of 'em.

[rascal]

Looks like most are willing to stand pat with the current team as is. Will imporvements in Leonard and Splitter be enough because it is the same team as last year.

[Whisky Dog]

Yeah, likely but it's also a matter of having expiring contracts. Nets don't have enough expiring contract to match Smith contract. Nets will have to send Humphries to Atlanta to match salaries and it's quite a deal breaker because it will force Atlanta to spend $12M in 2013-2014 on Humphries, a player they likely have zero interest in.

I guess Atlanta would be way more interested in Kawhi than in Tiago. Tiago is still 28 years old and will get a big contract this summer, he isn't such a great piece for a rebuilding team. Kawhi with his youth, his upside and his rookie contract is the perfect target for Atlanta. If Spurs offer him, Ferry will trade away Smith in the blink of an eye.



Agree.



Well, there are a lot of factors: Will Splitter be traded to get Smith? What kind of money will Manu ask? Will Diaw pick his option? SI Spurs ownership fine with paying some luxury tax?

Regardless of all that, a max contract for Smith will pay him between $95M and $100M over 5 years. Do you really want tot give Smith that kind of money?

No. I don't know why any team would consider giving a 9 yr guy who's extremely limited in offensive game and has never made an all star team a max deal. He's a slightly above average player.

[eDizzle20]

It's easy for me to get smug with this current Spurs' team. The winning seems to do it to me every year. The only Spur that seems tradeable at the moment is Blair. Splitter's game to game improvement lately helps the team seem an odds on favorite for whatever comes, of course that is, if the other stars regain health. So why trade Tiago if he appears to be rounding into the inside presence that we think will have us resting easy and celebrating after the finals? The problem with this comfort zone is that it seems like it's been ages since the Spurs have played the Heat, Thunder or Clippers, which are the most athletic teams in the league(inside and out), and not coincidentally, the biggest threat to the Spurs winning the finals. As you know, comfort zones are like assholes; everyone has one, but at any time they can have the blown out of 'em.

I agree with this. The level of compe ion lately has not been that of elite teams. The same thing happened last year in which the Spurs were riding a 20-game win streak only for OKC to turn it on and take 4 straight. The last 2 years the Spurs have finished with the best record only to be bounced in the playoffs. I believe that the Spurs do so well in the regular season because they're so deep, but that doesn't matter come playoff time.

[SpursIndonesia]

I think we can all agree that if opportunity presents itself and we have the chance to trade for the right guy without sacrificing too much, we should take that avenue and run to the bank. Problem is, i don't think Josh Smith IS that right guy, AT ALL, especially at his asking price of the max salary. His offensive stats is an empty number in the Spurs offensive grand of scheme, and while his defensive a en is quite good, not exactly a difference maker or an anchor ala TD or Tyson daddy. Beggar can't be chooser, but certainly shouldn't just accept garbage for its dinner.

[jjktkk]

Looks like most are willing to stand pat with the current team as is. Will imporvements in Leonard and Splitter be enough because it is the same team as last year.

Yes. Better defensively. Splitter and Leonard are further integrated into the offense and overall offense and defensive sets. I'm perfectly happy rolling with this Spur's squad as is.

[raybies]

If your not willing to trade anyone who has value then don't expect to get a player back that will make any type of difference.

Jefferson trade... we thought we ...

[look_at_g_shred]

On the Spurs? If your speaking common greater than, no.

I was speaking in terms of who would be a better fit for our system.

[Bong]

if this trade really happens and we lost TS and worst kawhi and some other role players just to get josh smith, i hope it will result in a championship, not like the fool's gold when we got richard jefferson in 2009 they have almost the same stat's before we got RJ averaging 20+ points per game during his career in nets and short stint with bucks, but when got traded with us, RJ did not really fit with the system (2009-half season of 2012), performing way below compared with his rookie season. parting with bruce bowen, oberto and thomas destroyed our team chemistry that time, we got the championship in 2007 and at 2008 we lost the western conference finals to the lakers, IMO we lost because manu got injured that time, 2009 we suffered a 1st round exit, 2010 2nd round exit, 2011 1st round exit, 2012 were just 2 games short of making the NBA finals the almost same team we have now. presently our team really have a good chemistry that really works TS great improvement & PnR, Dverde 3pt threat, KL lockdown defense, TP penetration, TD consistency, Manu playmaking if one this player got traded we will lost our team chemistry which we have developed for years. if RC still pursue this gamble for JS i think he will have a very good reason for it that is why his a great GM and im just a blogger, FWIW to trade or not to trade im still a 100% spursfan with 100% support all the way, as we always say as a spursfan during offseason and trade deadline trades "to PATFO we trust"

[pad300]

My take on this is that I absolutely agree with Bruno regarding any trade we currently make - we should not move any current core asset: Tim, Manu, Parker, Kawhi, Tiago, Green. I would be very hesitant about moving Diaw, NDC, or Neal. Disrupting our chemistry (and lack of system familiarity) could easily negate any gain in player ability.
Jackson would be among the second group, except for the fact that his expiring contract might just be our best trade asset.
Regarding Josh Smith in particular, I think he would be a bottom tier trade option for the spurs. He might be a better fit than Al Jefferson, but I am in no way convinced either of them would actually improve the squad. Clearly, our biggest potential problem in the post-season are hyper-athletic stars - in particular I suspect we will have to go through Durant and then Lebron. We have one defender (Kawhi) who is a decent match-up with those athletes. Josh Smith has the physical profile, but he's never had the defensive focus/brains to play that role... I would be looking at other options - AK47 and Marion - before I even thought about Smith.
For a Smith rental (because we are not paying him the max this offseason), there is very little I would be willing to give up - expiring contracts (excluding Tiago), prospects (including Euros), and a 2013 pick, but not more than that.

[Texas_Ranger]

Well, there are a lot of factors: Will Splitter be traded to get Smith? What kind of money will Manu ask? Will Diaw pick his option? SI Spurs ownership fine with paying some luxury tax?

Regardless of all that, a max contract for Smith will pay him between $95M and $100M over 5 years. Do you really want tot give Smith that kind of money?

yea, I know we'll have a busy offseason, with Manu's and Tiago's new deals and Diaw, Mills player options. There's also Neal and Blair.... I also don't think the Spurs are willing to pay 20M/year for 5 seasons, the same goes for me. He is a great player, but not wort that kind of money.

[moisaenz]

If we get smith, what are the odds of resigning him? Besides is there actually a team out there willing to give him a max contract?