Josh Smith remains with Atlanta Hawks as trade deadline passes

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Smith, who is making $13.2 million in the final year of his contract this season, figures to be one of the top unrestricted free agents on the market next season. He is averaging 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 3.9 assists per game this season while shooting 45 percent from the floor. He’s one of the league’s top defensive players and he’s spent his entire career with the Atlanta Hawks, though he hasn’t always been happy about that. Smith was suspended by the team earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team.

For weeks, he was the biggest name rumored as the centerpiece of a likely deal before the deadline. A last minute Smith trade would have been the biggest deal in a relatively quiet deadline day. His expiring contract made him an attractive trade asset for the Hawks and Ferry, but they could not settle on an acceptable package for the productive power forward.

The Rockets have leverage in discussions, as they will have cap space available in the Summer to outright sign Smith as a free agent. The Hawks continue to sift through their options with the trade deadline only hours away.

In January it was reported that Smith was coveted by the Suns’ front office, and Phoenix will have cap space available in the Summer to fill in with Smith’s contract. Yesterday, however, ESPN reported that a Smith deal to Phoenix would be “unlikely”.

Atlanta is searching to find the right deal and is now in a race against time with the deadline coming at 3 p.m. EST.

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Rumors have been swirling about who the Hawks may be asking for in a deal. There are also conflicting reports as to who the Bucks would be willing to trade. From Frank Madden of Brew Hoop:

The news that Smith might re-sign with the Bucks could be enough to make a deal before Thursday’s deadline. If the Bucks can add Smith then they would be dealing with two high priority free agents this summer -- with Jennings’ impending free agency (likely to be a restricted free agent this summer).

The Hawks continue to search for the right deal, but with the trade deadline approaching, they are running out of time. The options, however, seem to multiply by the hour.

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SB Nation’s Tom Ziller, in his daily “Hook” column, asked and answered the question: What is Josh Smith worth? Ziller examined the contract math and Smith’s performance and talents before concluding that trading for Smith and paying him big money is a gamble that might work out.

Of course, that just left us with more questions. So we fired up the Bat Signal and convened a roundtable. Included are:

For the past week, all we’ve heard from every reporter covering the story is that Josh Smith will definitely be traded before Thursday’s deadline. As a result, apparently the Atlanta Hawks are getting some terrible offers. And so, the next step in this annual dance is ... the team’s GM (Danny Ferry) telling everyone he totally won’t trade Smith unless the offers get better.

Take it away, CBS Sports’ Ken Berger:

Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.com said that L.A. is keeping its options open when it comes to the 27-year-old. Howard hasn’t meshed well in Los Angeles, and he’s yet another player who could virtually walk away from the Lakers for nothing. If they can get value for him, it stands to reason that they may pull the trigger on a deal that ships him out of Hollywood.

As teams try to shed payroll and avoid hefty luxury tax penalties, it stands to reason that this year’s trade market could remain relatively quiet. Still, there will likely be some activity as several teams are looking to add a small piece to bolster their rosters heading into the playoffs.

Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com first reported Phoenix’s interest in Smith, and he again said that interest remained on Tuesday. ESPN’s Marc Stein, CBS Sports’ Ken Berger and Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski also said on Monday night that the Suns were inquiring about Smith.

If Phoenix can’t give up the player with the most trade value, then it’s hard to see how the Suns would be in consideration to get a deal done.

The Hawks would look to pair Ellis alongside point guard Jeff Teague, who is having a career year at 15.2 points and 6.9 assists per game. For the Bucks, this would alleviate them from having to deal with Ellis’ contract situation. It was reported via Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe that Ellis would likely be declining his player option for next season to become a free agent.

Smith has made it clear he seeks a max-contract through free agency, and Milwaukee will have the necessary cap space to fulfill that need once he hits the market. The Smith trade circus rolls along, now with another suitor lined up.

But what exactly is a time trading for Smith getting, and will he be worth both whatever that team gives up to get him plus the contract he’s expecting in July? Remember, Smith will be a free agent on July 1. He has said he’s looking for a max deal. Given his time of service, Smith will be eligible for an estimated five-year, $97.5 million deal by the team that trades for him, assuming the league’s salary cap rises as expected. (That team, however, would have some pretty amazing leverage thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement: Smith would only be eligible for an estimated four-year, $73 million contract from another team. So in theory, the team that trades for him and his Bird rights could hardball him into an $85-90 million deal over five years.)

For teams like this -- most of the teams involved, excepting the C’s and the Nets -- the decision must come down to whether Smith is the right fit talent-wise and whether he’s worth the assets involved in the trade. Talent-wise, Smith is a player who can perform at an All-Star level when he’s following the gameplan, which should involve as few jumpers as possible. He can use a strong playmaking point guard because he’s not a bad catch-and-shoot player. He should be allowed to freelance on defense, because that’s where his tools really shine and also because he’s going to freelance regardless. He should be trusted moving the ball because he’s a helluva passer for a player of his size, but again ... discourage the jumpers by having some good shooters around him. And I, for one, would love to see Smith in an up-tempo offense for a change.

It’s no surprise that the Hawks are trying to move Smith: with the hyperathletic 6-foot-9 small forward an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and Atlanta not willing to pay him as much as he wants, it seems highly likely that they will move him before Thursday’s trade deadline. But what we’re finding here is just how determined the Hawks are to get something - perhaps just pennies on the dollar - for Smith. Smith’s not an All-Star, but he still scores 17.4 points a game and rips 8.6 boards.

Smith is in the final year of his $58 million contract and will be a free agent at the end of the 2012-13 season. Any team landing him this year would likely be one in contention, as Smith could opt to test free agency in the offseason. He’s reportedly looking for a max contract, but it’s difficult to imagine any team giving it to him.

In 48 games, Smith is averaging 17.4 points and 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 46 percent from the field. Atlanta is 29-22 and in second place in the Southeast Division. Boston is 28-24 and in third place in the Atlantic Division after being riddled with injuries.

After that, however, it’s hard to say what general manager Danny Ferry will do. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! reports that it’s very likely Atlanta moves Smith, meaning that the Hawks could get future pieces in return or, at the least, expiring contracts that will allow them to clear enough cap space to make a run at potentially two max-contract players.

While no other rumors have popped up regarding Smith’s teammates, the large number of expiring contracts on the Atlanta roster means any of them could be throw-ins to a Smith trade depending on how the salaries need to match up for any deal.

Smith, who is making $13.2 million in the final year of his contract this season, figures to be one of the top unrestricted free agents on the market next season. Smith is averaging 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 3.9 assists per game this season while shooting 45 percent. He’s one of the league’s top defensive players and he’s spent his entire career with the Atlanta Hawks, though he hasn’t always been happy about that. Smith was suspended by the team earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team.

Trade rumors have picked up in recent weeks regarding the forward, including a possible deal with Brooklyn, but nothing substantial has come together yet. He continues to play quite well for Atlanta despite the rumors, as SB Nation’s Hawks blog, Peachtree Hoops, notes.

Smith has indicated he’ll be looking for a massive payday this summer as he hits unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career. The Nets already have a massive payroll of $85 million locked in for next season. Humphries is due $12 million, however, so the major commitment Brooklyn would make by swapping out Hump for Smith would come in 2014-15 and beyond, assuming the Nets were able to retain Smith in free agency.

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Smith, who is making $13.2 million in the final year of his contract this season, figures to be one of the top unrestricted free agents on the market next season. Smith is averaging 16.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 4.0 assists per game this season while shooting 45 percent. He’s one of the league’s top defensive players and he’s spent his entire career with the Atlanta Hawks, though he hasn’t always been happy about that. Smith was suspended by the team earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team.

While Ferry is entertaining offers for Smith, he doesn’t have to make a final decision by the trade deadline later this month. Ferry could still trade Smith after the season, although the team may just want to let the long-time Hawk walk without adding any more salary, which would give Ferry around $40 million in cap space to work with this summer.

Smith is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer but the Hawks are evidently unwilling to sacrifice their expected cap flexibility to meet the Georgia native’s max contract demands. According to Aldridge, the Hawks aren’t dead set on trading Smith at this juncture, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask around and discover his value.

Smith is averaging 16.8 points, 8.6 rebound, 3.9 assists and 2.2 blocks per game in his ninth season in the league and is still only age 27, so he should have no shortage of suitors.