Who needs a Josh Smith trade more: Atlanta, or Smith?

[Real Deal]

Right now, Josh Smith is taking nearly 16 FGA/G for the Atlanta Hawks.  Basically, he's their primary scoring option.

 

He claims he's a max player...but there's doubt that he will get that kind of money from the Hawks, yet, no doubt he could get it from SOMEONE.

 

Meanwhile, rumor has it that Atlanta is having difficulty connecting with Smith this season, and with a suspension already handed out and a supposed front office meeting with Smith in the works, it's hard to say the Hawks and Smith will want to stick together.

 

Who needs a Josh Smith trade more: the Hawks, to get out from under the drama and to move on from him being their primary scorer, OR Josh Smith...to land on a team where he doesn't have that big of a role, giving him more room to be a defensive standout and to be fed the ball, and/or possibly heading to a place that will offer him near the amount of money he's seeking?

[Check my Stats]

I honestly think Smith already has one foot out the door (look at that FT%, wow...), but is trying to be relatively pleasant because the Hawks have that extra year card in their hand.  Then there is also the Dwight Howard factor - don't they think he could help lure Dwight?  Atlanta kinda backed themselves into a corner when they moved JJ for peanuts, they are basically rebuilding now.  There's no point giving a 28 year old Josh Smith a big fat deal if you are Atlanta.  Atlanta needs to get rid of Smith more than Smith needs to get rid of Atlanta.

[Cleveland's Finest]

Atlanta - it has let Josh Smith think he can throw up crappy long-range 2's for his whole career, and it's gotten them nowhere. This team has talent, and Danny Ferry managed to keep them in the hunt while trading Joe Johnson. Obviously, with Lou Williams out I don't think they'll get very far this year.

 

But as productive as Smith is, the Hawks haven't gotten very far with him, just like with Joe Johnson. They need to retool around Horford and Teague. Korver, Stevenson, Harris, Ivan Johnson, and Pachulia are good role players, so add whatever they get for Josh Smith, and they have a much brighter future. 

 

The best thing Atlanta could do is trade Josh Smith for a legit center and picks to finally let Al Horford play power forward so we can see his true potential.