The Josh Smith trade rumors are in high gear following the All-Star break. A trade with the Phoenix Suns or Dallas Mavericks is now possible according to a report from Monday (Feb. 18). It appears that those are the two teams trying to work with Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry to pry away his best asset.
It's no secret that Smith becomes a free agent at the end of the season and that he wants to become a max salary player. That isn't likely to happen in Atlanta, raising the stakes for the team to trade him rather than lose him for nothing in the offseason. It could make the team a bit desperate to make a move in the coming days, but that doesn't mean that the hawks are just going to give Smith away.
This season, Smith is averaging 17.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.15 blocks per game. As most fantasy basketball owners already know, he is great at filling up the stat sheet. In fact, his most three most recent games have proven that. On Feb. 13 he had 30 points and 10 rebounds against the Orlando Magic, on Feb. 11 he had 26 points and 13 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks, and back on Feb. 8 he had 23 points and eight assists against the New Orleans Hornets.
Despite all the Josh Smith trade rumors, what the Atlanta Hawks need to look for is a trade that can help the team both in the short-term and the long-term. The team is positioned to make a good run in the postseason with the right pieces, but they will need to bring back several players who can contribute right now if the goal is to part with Smith. That makes a deal with the Phoenix Suns more likely, as they have younger assets to offer in a deal.
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