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But there is no way we could even get close to guaranteeing no. 5.
Come on. So you'd rather close the book with 4 and see how kawhi pans out as a player? I'd rather slam that book shut with number 5. Call me crazy but my DVD collection needs some new material.
But there is no way we could even get close to guaranteeing no. 5.
This. No guarantees in this gig. I wouldn't trade my best young player and a big piece of the future of my franchise for a "good chance."
Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
Still many involved for Atlanta's Josh Smith, including Bucks, Nets, Celtics, 76ers, Wizards, others, sources say. Strong belief he's moved.
Smith is not the smartest of players. That's a lot of work to get a guy used to a complicated system like the Spurs. Even smart guys took time to get integrated.
I don't know if he could start though. Coming off the bench, they can mix and match more, but I'd prefer a traditional starting lineup that keeps the offense good. Their offense is very systematic so it would hurt really bad to screw that up with such a bad shooter. It's easier to mix and match with him coming off the bench.
It wouldn't be much different than what they have now. Duncan still has his range, and Diaw would replace Green's range. So Smith would essentially be the Splitter of that lineup.
Also, Smith's starting at the three is as much about replacing Green as it is about giving him playing time.
If Green were still on the team (depending who was traded), Green should start. Green and Leonard help make the offense pretty damn functional in the starting lineup. In that lineup, Leonard would see Durant. The second wave would then be a shifting where Smith sees some time on Durant.
Keep in mind, as good as Smith might be naturally, his knowledge of the Spurs system will be second rate. he's also not the smartest, so I doubt he'd pick it up as quick as someone say, Diaw. Obviously, in closing lineups or stuff like that, it becomes more fair game, but it is useful to get off to a good start in a game. If Green isn't purely cold, he's a good starter for the team.
My entire participation in this thread started in response to this quote:
So everything I've been saying about Leonard moving over to the two and Smith starting at the three is based on the hypothetical world in which Green is traded. I'd definitely rather keep him and just move Splitter back to the bench.Originally Posted by letmkTotally agreed. Any potential big trade has to involve Jack's expiring contract. So you can't trade away Green as well since that leaves us with enormous defense holes. For as much as Spurs fans hate Green for his weakness at defense, he is leaps and bounds better than other wings outside Kawhi and a limited Manu.
I was wondering for a while what it takes to get Dudley from the Suns.
Bucks, 76ers, Wizards have the best chance to land him I think. Nets/Celtics have nothing to offer but mediocre players on bad contracts.
That's a weird bunch of teams give by Wojo with some of them being poor fit. It looks more than he is just summarizing all the various rumors about Smith.
I'm warming up at the idea that Smith might be a good addition for Spurs as long as Spurs don't give up Kawhi or Tiago for him. For example, I think he would be a better addition than Al Jefferson.
After looking at both teams roster, the best offer Spurs could make, without a third team involved, should be:
Jack, Bonner, Blair, Joseph, 2 first round picks and cash for Smith and Tolliver.
Jack and Bonner are to match salaries and avoid Spurs paying some luxury tax. The cash sould cover Bonner 13-14 guaranteed salary.
Blair would give Atlanta another solid PF to partially cover Smith loss.
Joseph is a decent young prospect who can end up as Teague's backup.
Neal could also be included but I don't see Hawks being that interested in him. The best use to make of Neal in a Smith trade would be to trade him to a third team that gives Hawks an asset in return.
Hawks would need to cut Petro to make the trade work but it isn't an issue.
I'm warming up to it too Bruno. If the Spurs don't give up KL or TS then I do think he would be better than Al Jefferson. It really could push the Spurs up to an optimal defensive level, that's the main angle I am looking at with a trade for Smith. The defense could potentially be really, really good.
Well, if this trade did happen, the Spurs would have to move Tiago out of the starting lineup, right?
Hypothetically, yes. You can't start, or even play Smith and Tiago together. Two guys who can't shoot clog the lane not only for each other, but also for any penetrating guards or Tim.
^ I'm not so sure he has to start. Frankly dude would be half year rental anyway, which is fine since the Spurs probably won't extend Jax anyway so they'll be looking to free agenc for bench help regardless. I could see him of the bench playing pick and roll with Manu. Boris can be the spacing big off the bench. Then it's really situational, a Duncan Smith duo would be awesome again smaller lineups.
Actually, Smith can shot.
Yeah he can, but he is just horrible at it.
i disagree. the spurs can't afford to take the splitter parker pick and roll out of the starting line up. its the biggest catalyst in the spurs offense.
hypothetically, smith stats at 3. he's basically a second kawhi. we'd have to trust chip will get smiths shot up to spur levels. and pop to get smiths shot selection up to spur levels.
He's around 35% on 3s...which would make him the worst 3 point shooter on our team(but still much better than Sjax who's having a horrible year)
Johnny RIngo. if smith comes here in a trade this year. the spurs keep the big 3. keep kawhi splitter. keep diaw decolo. and start splitter and timmy as the bigs with smith at 3. his % will improve. i'd bet money on it.
^ if he's able to play the 3 it's damn tantalizing move KL to the 2 and have that massive starting lineup. I just don't think think he's there with his shot, at the level this team needs him to be. I also don't see the spurs keeping him long term so not sure if he'll have the chance to develop into a reliable 3 in SA. A more likely scenario if he comes off the bench and together with Manu runs havoc on teams second units. Then situationally if a team like MIA or OKC run Durant or LBJ at the 4 we have an excellent option to throw at them defensively, and a player who will make both those guys at least work to try to stop him on block on the other end.
I'm warming to this trade possibility especially since Jax would be traded et and his finger just hasn't recovered enough not to effect his shot. That said, like someone in another thread mentioned, I think the Spurs can accomplish a similar goal with Shawn Marion.
The one advantage for the Spurs in a Josh Smith trade is that we're the only interested team NOT in the same conference as the Hawks. All the other teams reported by Woj play in East( Bucks, Nets, Celtics, 76ers, Wizards). Also, the fact that we're offering an expiring means Atlanta won't have to add any extra salary.
I'd love a Marion trade but Mavs would never make a deal that would help their biggest division rival.
That and Danny Ferry has a great relationship with the Spurs obviously so that could be a factor.
shawn marion isn't a bad idea.
josh smith is a fantastic idea. the only explanation for not seeing that is pessimism.
his shot would get better that's the easiest problem to resolve.
if he comes here for green, jax, blair, and a 1st. he and splitter will probably take less than max to re-sign, because they'll be championship STARTERS. if they don't take the cut, manu probably would. tough to swallow but if you think about how the toughest problem is solved, you'll buy in.
the rotation...
a fool would put splitter on the bench. breaking up the parker splitter starting pick and roll offense would be suicide. parker would slump. splitter would slump. the bench would slump. wings wouldn't get easy shots. the defense would suffer because the team would be so burnt out from the struggling offense. and duncan would blow out his knees trying to bail out the sinking ship.
smith to spurs is simple. the spurs want another kawhi. a slightly bigger version at that. start him at 3 with kawhi and now the defense can shut down westbrook and durant, kobe and dwight, paul and griffin, and most importantly wade and bron! duncan would defend as he does, so much for bosh, ibaka, gasol, and jordan. then consider how much tiago has improved on defense this year. parker just needs to contest and direct the weakest point or wing. that's the best defensive line up in the league.
if defense wasn't enough. try imagining this offense. splitter has to keep starting. the pick and roll with parker creates a beautiful habitat. timmy would be timmy. he's gonna knock down that mid ranger, post up whoever he wants down low, and make sneaky cuts. tony gets his jumpers and lanes, splitter gets his deadly roll, kawhi gets way too little attention as he's knockin down 3 after 3, and finally smith... well he's the same second kawhi on offense as he is on defense. said it before and i'll say it again, believe in chip and pop.
kawhi, smith, and parker will be fast breaking off forced turn overs all night every night.
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