Built Ford Tough Posted January 26, 2013 Report Share Posted January 26, 2013 “I feel like I’m a max player,” Smith said Friday. And yes, that is the first time he has said that. “I feel I bring a lot to the table. I have a lot of versatility. For what I do and what I give this ball club, I feel like I’m worth it.” The Hawks have given one max contract in their history. It turned Joe Johnson into a very rich man (six years, $123.6 million) and the Hawks into a punch line. So which way do you think the wind might be blowing on this? Granted, in the new collective bargaining agreement, Smith's max deal would be nearly as high as Johnson's: about $94 million over five years. But it still could give the organization reason to balk. Smith again: “There shouldn’t be any hesitation. I’m Josh Smith, I’m not anybody else. I ‘m not Michael Jordan, I’m not LeBron James, I’m not Brook Lopez. I’m Josh Smith. You can’t look at what might’ve happened with another person. Let’s say Joe. You can’t say, ‘I’m skeptical of giving another person that’ because of whatever they feel like happened." If you were waiting for the line in the sand, there it is. http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/jeff-schultz/2013/jan/25/josh-smith-i-feel-im-max-player/ Does this make it a forgone conclusion that Smith will no longer be in Atlanta after the deadline? After all the work Ferry did this summer shedding salary and bad contracts, I can't imagine he will turn around and negate all of that positive work by giving Smith a max contract. On the flip side, does this also hurt his trade value? If Smith makes it known he is after a max contract and doesn't want to accept anything less, I imagine it will limit the potential suitors for him. How many teams out there will actually want to pay Smith $94M over the next 5 years? It should be interesting to see what happens with Smith over the next little while here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleveland's Finest Posted January 26, 2013 Report Share Posted January 26, 2013 Hard to see Atlanta making the same mistake they did with Joe Johnson in overpaying him. Unless Smith settles for less, he could be gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted January 26, 2013 Report Share Posted January 26, 2013 Honesty I think it's time for him to leave whether they give him a max deal or not. Atlanta had their chances a few years back if he wants to win he's has to go. I think he would be a good in with the Bucks. Yeah I said bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted January 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 Honesty I think it's time for him to leave whether they give him a max deal or not. Atlanta had their chances a few years back if he wants to win he's has to go. I think he would be a good in with the Bucks. Yeah I said bucks. I don't get it. If he wants to win he needs to leave Atlanta and joiing MIlwuakee? So go from one treadmill team to another? What does a Josh Smith/Monta Ellis/Brandon Jennings core give you that a Joe Johnson/Josh Smith/Al Horford core didn't? He helps Milwaukee get into the playoffs rather than being a consistent 9th/10th seed in the East, but that is about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paris Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 He's one of my favorite player. He does do alot for your team and can impact both ends of the floor. But i don't think he's a max player. bu t hell, the way the NBA teams are throwing money, i guess he is, LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted January 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 He's one of my favorite player. He does do alot for your team and can impact both ends of the floor. But i don't think he's a max player. bu t hell, the way the NBA teams are throwing money, i guess he is, LOL. You're right about him impacting both ends of the floor. Unfortunately, more often than not, he has a negative impact on offense due to his horrible shot selection and decision making. He has an awful 47.6 TS%, turns the ball over on 15% of his possessions, has an ORTG of 94 (lowest of his career by far) and has a negative offensive win share at -0.7. Simply put, he has been a train wreck offensively this season. Sure, his raw numbers look alright (16.7 ppg, 44.5 FG%, 4 apg) but they simply don't tell the whole story or depict an accurate representation of Smith's impact on that end of the floor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 I don't get it. If he wants to win he needs to leave Atlanta and joiing MIlwuakee? So go from one treadmill team to another? What does a Josh Smith/Monta Ellis/Brandon Jennings core give you that a Joe Johnson/Josh Smith/Al Horford core didn't? He helps Milwaukee get into the playoffs rather than being a consistent 9th/10th seed in the East, but that is about it.I'm not saying he would make that team a contender but I was just saying Jennings, Ellis, Eran, Smith, and Sanders would be a fun squad to watch. Really just want him out of Atlanta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Regime Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 He's one of two players that puts up 16/8/4, and he can defend one through five. He has a unique skillset and fits into the same category as someone like Brook Lopez or Roy Hibbert. They are rare commodities and teams are willing to commit max contracts. It would be a horrible decision to give him a max contact, but bad contracts have become the norm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Check my Stats Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 We'll trade you Calderon for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Feelgood Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Yeah, I don't think he's a max player either, but he'll get one. Probably from the Hawks too, if not the Hawks, someone will do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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