Swish

Yeah; I don't see anything wrong with it. He's won a ring, and we want to bring one to Atlanta. It just makes us hungry is all!

Quote: Jack, I agree, but in the back of my mind, I can't help but believe that ASG would rehash Lue. I'd rather have: Gibson, R Swift, and Thomas (given my drothers). I'm also for Diesel's combo. Instant division contention.

Good story northcyde, but lol man he's a friggin' NBA player he should've kicked y'all's ass! Good trade Diesel; whats Marion's contract status? Will it open up for NJ-LBJ in 2010?

I too take SI with a grain of salt; but it is still a major media outlet like ESPN, and I like seeing our guys get PR. That was part of my point that I failed to mention; JJ wasn't even on the list. You would think all-stars would be the top 24 but I guess not necessarily. The point I was trying to make was that everyone loves JS!

Quote: 26. San Antonio Spurs: Josh Smith, PF/SF, 22. Smith is a bit of a head case -- just ask Mike Woodson -- but his talent is undeniable. Molded correctly, the rangy, 6-9 forward could develop Garnett-type defensive skills. That from a new SI piece on how the first round would shake out if every NBA player today was available. That basically means Chris Mannix thinks Smoove is the 26th best player in the NBA. Impressive. Pay attention, people! The outside world is drooling over what we have!

Trade Machine Hawks get: Francis Dalembert Evans Battier Sixers get: Chuck Hayes Marvin Williams Solomon Jones Bobby Jackson Rockets get: Mike Bibby Willie Green Why? Atlanta gets a flashy guy to help JJ score, a proven 5, and lockdown defender. Sixers improve their shooting drastically with Marv and Jackson. Rockets shed an albatross in Francis and get Bibby's contract to make a run at someone in 2010. What think ye? Pretty much fantasy, but I can't believe it worked. Besides, it seems that Sund has his ass glued to his chair and can't get up and do something. Rather, the ASG glued his ass to the chair.

Quote: I have absolutely nothing against Josh Smith. I love him as a player and I'd be thrilled to have him back. What I'm sick and tired of is seeing the ASG, management, coaching, etc. getting the blame for things that the players control just as much, if not more. The player screws up on the court, blame the coaching. The player rejects a long term extension, blame the ownership/management. Could they have offered him more than they did last year? Sure, but why would they? It's not like he was putting up Dwight Howard numbers and didn't have major question marks about his game. This year he was much better and has earned a big pay day and he will get it. Glad to hear this from you, Dol; i was under the impression you didn't like Smoove.

Kareem and Hakeem were better than Shaq. Shaq is 90% power/size and 10% skill/moves. K/H had some seriously wicked post moves; and are probably the two greatest centers ever. Hey, 100 posts! Time flies when you're having fun.

Man, I couldn't vote. To me this is a dead heat. Horf could be with work the next transcendent PF in the league; I really haven't seen enough yet. His drive and work ethic is amazing; skill is obviously there; its a waiting game right now. For Smoove, we all know how I feel here; he is the complete package; the problem is he is on/off more than anyone I have ever watched.

I think Chillz is going to be a poor man's Ginobili. Very poor man's, that is. Good penetrator, solid shot, best sixth man available. But; he's not the impact of JS. I would have also turned that down. Smoove knew that he would get attention from suitors; and everyone would have to pony up. He wants to stay; I think; he just wants the Hawks to pay a bit more. Can anyone blame him?

Yeah; I watched every Xavier game in the NCAAs and he was pretty impressive. How tall is he?

I feel you man; screw the Sixers. This is kind of ironic, it kind of scares me; but not really- I hit random on NBA Live, and fantasy draft; I came out with the Sixers and picked JS....eek. Also, thanks to NJHAWK for keeping us informed!

All this Smoove chatter got me thinking. It is embarrasing to think that we are even having the discussion about who to SNT for JS and what to do if we lose him. The reason we are having this discussion? The ineptitude of the franchise. ASG, BK, Woody, ASG! Seriously, can some one name me two franchises anywhere as inept and bone headed as the Hawks have been? I understand things are looking up and I am elated; but this is ridiculous. One of the most talented young guys in the sport, and we are debating whether or not to resign him?

AJC

NBA icon would be probably a bad term to use on this board. I'm talking jersey sales, ticket boom, the "face" of the current NBA (2004 [LBJ, Wade, etc]-201-). Today's icons are LeBron, Kobe, Wade, KG. Real icons obviously Magic, MJ, Bird...

You're right; I rounded up to four assists and I typed five. Sorry. I am putting him in their category as it relates to athleticism and statistics. Not talent and skills. it would be heinous to say he is on MJ's talent level. No, not heinous, just damned funny. Now, the fact that he puts up all these stats with his skills being so minimally refined is jaw-dropping. Quote: As for assist, he is a solid passer, makes great passes and then in minutes later a bad lazy one. Point taken; this is an attitude problem; if he would "wake up", so to speak (to me it looks like he is asleep half of his PT), this could change.

Quote: Quote: Quote: This question is relevant mainly to defense, can Horford defend centers? I disagree and circle takes the square. The question is not limited to defense. Let me ask you this. IF Utah had found out that Karl Malone can do a credible Job playing Center... Do you think it would have been in their best interest to move him from PF to C? This is what you guys who say he does OK at Center are saying. You're saying... to hell with Horf ability as a PF, he does OK at C. I say, he might be an allstar PF. We have to play him at his natural position to find out how good he really is. It's a disservice to do otherwise. The same goes for Josh Smith, Josh is a boderline all-star at he PF position and is just 22 with a whole lot more to improve on. He has proven to us already that he cannot handle playing at the three offensively or defensively, so why move him there? Just to see if Horford would become the borderline allstar at the 4 that Josh currently is? This is a good problem to have. I say we keep Al where he is because he has shown that he can handle the Center position and can function at high level there. Lets wait to see if he can become the allstar where all hoping he can becoming right where he is. All Horford needs to defend these opposing Centers to add some more bulk to his pretty good frame and more leg/core work. Thats it. Dont waste the talent of a future star (josh), just to see if another potential star (Al) would have a greater chance of stardom in a different position. Especially if that potential star (Al) shows no signs of not reaching his potential in the spot he's currently in. Well spoken!

Dolfan, Remember a while back I compared some statistics as far as the type of special season Smoove had this year? I realize that it was narrow; but that is how good it was. The names that came up in relation to his stats: MJ Shaq Kobe Hakeem and very few others. Now; obviously, I am not and I will not put Smith in the same discussion with these players in most ways. I'm just saying that there are maybe two or three other guys in the game today that do what he does. We have something special and it would be tragic to let it go! 18 points, 8 boards, 2+/- blocks, 1.5 steals, 5 assists? Only LeBron can realistically fill up the stat sheet like that. Maybe Amare or Boozer. maybe.

The point is, Al is designed, physically, mentally, etc. to be a 4. In five years he could be abusing Al Jefferson, Amare, etc. I think if we pencil him in at the 4 he is a top flight PF in a few years. I agree with Diesel; I think Smoove would rather play SF, penetrating and being the post help-D. This enables us to field an extremely tall and fast lineup if we pick up a center.

IDK man, Smith could be if he got his attitude in order and corraled that dang shot. It could be the worst mistake in ATL sports history.

None on your list! Lets see; Dwight Howard LBJ Wade Kobe Yeah, just those. I'm serious. I know I have a sort of "man-crush", to borrow Bill Simmons, on Smoove; but we'll all see very soon...

I'm telling you guys; Smoove is going to be an NBA icon for years. Just wait! Horf is hella good; but Smoove, to borrow a phrase, has no ceiling that I can see. The attitude is the only problem.

Then we picket their offices. No, good question. I think we try to swing a Speedy/Bibby/Marv/Zaza deal for i.e. Brad Miller, or a similar big that allows Al to move to PF and pick up a SF through the same trade or FA. However, I can't see ASG dropping Smoove for anything less than 5/70$. However, this is the ASG!

I like it...we don't give up that much age...Bibby/Speedy are old too. Thats also a huge lineup size wise. Is JO really a PF? I like this though; with Chillz/Law off the bench.

I don't like this trade either; but it is better than bringing Melo to the hood!