June 20, 2013

Simmons: Cavs Linked to Potential Swap for Josh Smith

March 9, 2012 by 35 Comments

In his latest piece regarding the trade value of NBA players, ESPN/Grantland’s Bill Simmons discussed a potential trade, likely in Simmons-esque jest, involving the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks.

While discussing Atlanta’s should’ve-been All-Star forward  Josh Smith, a player who is on the outs with his current team, Simmons had the following:

Josh Smith trades never seem to work. [...] Who says no to Atlanta saving $20 million next season by dealing Smith and Marvin Williams to Cleveland for Antawn Jamison’s expiring contract? (Answer: The Hawks. But they definitely had a two-hour meeting about it.)

Jamison is the owner of a well-documented $15 million expiring contract, but also one who wishes to stay in Cleveland through the March 15 trade deadline. The Hawks, since signing Joe Johnson to the NBA maximum contract, are looking to part ways with overpriced (or soon-to-be well-paid) athletes.

Marvin Williams has long been rumored to be linked to Cleveland, but the addition of Smith, averaging 17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game, certainly adds a new element to the mix. The athletic Smith has told the Hawks that he would like to be moved prior to March 15. He is due the remaining portion of his $12.4 million salary for this season as well as the $13.2 million for 2012-13. He would be a free agent heading into the 2013-14 season.

In the same published piece, Anderson Varejao slots in 40th with one of the league’s best trade values, one spot ahead of New York’s Tyson Chandler and several ahead of Indiana’s Roy Hibbert who represented the East in the most recent All-Star contest.

[Related: The Cavaliers and Cleveland Fans Very Familiar With NBA’s Trade ]Deadline

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  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Interesting do that deal and you have a nice core at PF in Smith, Thompson and Varejao.  Williams could go with Casspi, not a great combo but it’s a start.  Come draft day the Cavaliers could look at either a young center or better yet shooting guard.  Interesting.

  • Vindictive_Pat

    If Josh Smith could ever get it through his head that he’s not a jump-shooter, he’d be a great player.  The problem with that statement… Atlanta has been waiting years for him to realize this.

  • http://twitter.com/cfaddict Dan Vega

    That would be great if you could get Josh to stay but I doubt it, he walks at the end of the year.

  • http://twitter.com/cfaddict Dan Vega

    That would be great if you could get Josh to stay but I doubt it, he walks at the end of the year.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    He’s under contract for next year as well I believe if I read the above correctly. 

  • TOJ

    Josh Smith is the epitome of the stereotypical, modern NBA player .  Athletic as all heck, can jump out of the guy, puts up numbers, but is not a guy who will ultimately get you important wins.

    No thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/Dkarode Andrew Karode

    I’m pretty sure Simmons was saying that they had a hypothetical 2 hour meeting about his hypothetical trade scenario. He does that regularly in the Trade Value column to intimate how “close” he thinks a trade actually is.

  • Max

    I just read that column…that is not what Simmons is saying at all. He was spitballing. He never once indicates that those conversations have happened or that there have been any talks. This is a completely false and misleading headline

  • TSR3000

    No chance Smith would re-sign with us. Not these days. Not in this NBA. 

    No thanks.

  • Oppie

    I remember a few years back, Smith single-highhandedly shot the Hawks out of the series against the Cavs and loved every second of it. That being said, I would love to see the Cavs take a crack at Smith. It’d be interesting to see what type of player Smith would become playing under Byron Scott’s coaching.

  • http://twitter.com/BenCox83 Ben Cox

     Are they really linked to Josh Smith? This seems like more of just Simmons’ made up bunk.

    I can certainly see what makes Smith appealing (Irving-to-Smith oops could be fun, same with Smith-Thompson block parties). But if you figure the Cavs are hoping to get a first round pick for Ramon freaking Sessions, I’m pretty sure landing Josh Smith would cost the Cavs more than just Jamison and taking back Marvin Williams. 

  • swig

    Note the side bar.  Varejao’s “horrible” contract is now the 8th most desirable contract in the league…

  • mgbode

    to be fair, they also never had a good PG and let him have the ball in his hands too much.

    I think Kyrie would learn quickly to just never pass Josh the ball unless he was in the painted area.  If Josh wanted to score, then he’d have to get down there :)

    I also think there is no way that this trade would happen.  But, it’s fun talk.

  • saggy

    we need another PG before we need another PF.  that means, why would we want to overstock our PF’s?  shouldn’t we be counting on TT playing alongside of Varejao, or at least as Andy’s backup?  I’d rather get a draft pick or a SF/SG project for Jamison.

  • Steve

     Exactly, I have no idea why this was linked as an actual trade rumor. I know (though I don’t get why) that some people treat everything Simmons says as gospel, but the guy knows jack ****

  • Steve

     Exactly, I have no idea why this was linked as an actual trade rumor. I know (though I don’t get why) that some people treat everything Simmons says as gospel, but the guy knows jack ****

  • Harv 21

    Wouldn’t want Josh Smith even if this were true. He is an NBA Nuke LaLoosh. I’ll say this about LeBron: he was able to figure out what to do with his various physical gifts to become a dominating player. Not Smith. He could have been great, but he’s not disciplined, he didn’t develop his game and he’s not really young anymore.  

  • Harv 21

    Wouldn’t want Josh Smith even if this were true. He is an NBA Nuke LaLoosh. I’ll say this about LeBron: he was able to figure out what to do with his various physical gifts to become a dominating player. Not Smith. He could have been great, but he’s not disciplined, he didn’t develop his game and he’s not really young anymore.  

  • JeBron Lames

    I like this idea. Josh Smith is still young and productive, who’s to say he wouldn’t sign an extension because Kyrie has shown so far he is/going to be a great point guard, which Atlanta never had as long as Smith has been there. I would do this in a heartbeat to get rid of the much older Jamison and his contract, then they have a solid foundation of Irving, Smith, Thompson, Varejao, and I guess Casspi and Gibson. Flip Sessions for a first-round pick this year and package the two first-rounders to move up to one or two. Then throw some money at a free agent 2 guard like Eric Gordon.

    Rotation:

    PG   Irving
    SG   Gordon
    SF   Williams/Casspi
    PF   Smith
    C     Drummond (trading up)

    Bench:

    PG (Second round pick)/Gibson
    SG (Second round pick)/Gibson
    SF  Williams/Casspi
    PF  Thompson
    C    Varejao

  • Ryan

     I’ll pass on Josh Smith.  He has Randy Moss syndrome.  Tons of talent and potential but no drive.  He doesn’t play for a ring, or for the love of the game, he plays because he gets paid well to play.  With a guy like that, you only get his best effort maybe 1/3 times he takes the court.

  • Josh

    Why do people continue to think you can package picks to move up in the draft like in the NFL. It doesn’t work that way. Low first rounders have almost no value. You aren’t getting the right to draft Drummond or Davis by pairing a low round pick with a mid lottery pick.

  • Josh

    Why do people continue to think you can package picks to move up in the draft like in the NFL. It doesn’t work that way. Low first rounders have almost no value. You aren’t getting the right to draft Drummond or Davis by pairing a low round pick with a mid lottery pick.

  • JeBron Lames

     Because I’m a stupid kid and I don’t know how things work…

  • http://twitter.com/masonjarjar Mason Jar

    Is it really fair to say “linked” if it’s all just speculation?  It was unclear that this “two hour meeting” was between Hawks and Cavs or just amongst themselves in Atlanta. It’s so very easy this time of year to paint a writers “speculation” as an actual, serious perspective proposal between two teams..  just remember that people.  Keep it real!

  • http://twitter.com/masonjarjar Mason Jar

    I thought Smith was mostly a Small Forward? 

  • mgbode

    well, before his sport teams started winning, he was actually funny.  i know it’s hard to think this possible after the last 10-12 years, but there was a time way back when having a cell phone meant you had good money.

  • Bob

    Great minds think alike I guess haha…wrote an article on Josh Smith to the Cavs at 4 a.m. this morning: 
    http://www.wineandgoldreport.com/2012/03/cleveland-cavaliers-rumors-could.html

  • http://twitter.com/Pelderskelter Patrick Elder

    That might be the problem Josh has though, the Hawks are waiting for him to figure it out instead of telling him to stop or they’ll bench him. Now, I don’t know what they’re actually doing and that’s just speculation, but maybe a change of scenery and a coach that’s willing to confront him on it will fix him. Or not.

    And it probably doesn’t even matter, because this is incredibly unlikely.

  • http://twitter.com/Pelderskelter Patrick Elder

    That might be the problem Josh has though, the Hawks are waiting for him to figure it out instead of telling him to stop or they’ll bench him. Now, I don’t know what they’re actually doing and that’s just speculation, but maybe a change of scenery and a coach that’s willing to confront him on it will fix him. Or not.

    And it probably doesn’t even matter, because this is incredibly unlikely.

  • Al

    u forget Alonzo Gee…. Hes way better than Casspi.  I’m for the Cavs getting a SG/SF in the first round, but I think Gee should be the 6th man. 

  • floydrubino

    I would do this deal in a second. Josh Smith is a real talent in the league and Byron’s offense will showcase his ability to get up and down the floor with Kyrie. Please let this happen.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Torismylover4ever Jake Udell

    Byron Scott would love this as he’s said many times before his offensive system is built around a good point guard and a good pick and roll big man

  • Jaker

    Not bad at all. I’m assuming the deal would be Sessions/Casspi/Jamison for Smith and Williams. That coupled with a young SG in the draft would make this Cavs team a playoff contender next year. Worst case scenario, Smith becomes a FA after next season and would be the hottest commodity at next year’s deadline by far. If it doesn’t work out, Smith and Williams would come off the books just in time to extend Kyrie for big $$.

    So I ask you all in the words of Nick G, what’s not to like?

  • Steve

    I guess they hadn’t won a championship in a short bit before that first Patriots SB, but those teams have always generally done well. But it’s been the same jokes for the last 10+ years. How do people still keep going back to him?

  • reef

    you read correctly