NBA Rumors: Hawks, Lakers Almost Did Smith-Gasol Trade

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Moore, the Atlanta Hawks have known that star forward Josh Smith had wanted out of the team for some time, but they haven’t really aggressively approached any deals until the last month or so. In addition to dealing Joe Johnson, the Hawks have been open to moving Smith, though they’ve resisted offers so far. New general manager Danny Ferry is interested in remaking the roster and so he’s opened the phone lines finally. One such offer. reported a few days ago, involved Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol. On Sunday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the reason the deal fell apart was due to the price the Lakers are putting on Gasol. Apparently, the Hawks balked at a potential deal with the Lakers for Gasol because they wanted another major piece to go along with Smith. That would leave the Hawks with less than six players under contract, less talent and no short-term cap relief because of the $38 million and two years remaining on Gasol’s contract. Ferry looked at the flexibility he would have if he was forced to give up more talent and decided to decline the offer. Which I agree with Ferry another big piece for Gasol wouldn’t have been worth it also because he is getting up there in age now. Whatever the Lakers were seeking in return, Gasol is the one that is far more considered a damaged good while Smith’s best years are in front of him. Wherever they move him, they seem to be invested in simply giving away the farm. The Hawks have never really put Smith at the top of their priorities list, anyway. When he entered restricted free agency a few years ago, they simply waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, the Memphis Grizzlies, with a few bucks left under the cap, threw out a moderate offer for Smith that was below maybe his true value. Smith signed it, hoping the Hawks wouldn’t match. They’ve been neither excited to have him, nor willing to part with him, ever since. Whether that’s due to his maturity, his game or his contract value is unknown. But Ferry has entered, and as CBS Sports’ Ken Berger notes, they have been aggressive in reshaping this team. The trick now is to find that delicate balance between ensuring they move him and not moving him for too little. It’s not enough that they would get a younger, more athletic, more aggressive and All-Star worthy power forward entering his prime for a player that has been absolutely eclipsed in the past two playoffs. The Lakers have to demand that they get an additional piece. And in a lot of deals in the past, that’s worked. If the Lakers really want to get a replacement for Gasol, they can do that pretty easily and get a quality player. But they have to put another name like Antawn Jamison and Steve Blake perhaps to go along with Gasol. Just Gasol and a couple of draft picks will not be enough for a top-tier player like Smith. It is obvious the Lakers are looking to either move Gasol or to get a young up-and-coming star to fill his shoes to go along Dwight Howard. I don’t feel it’s about trying to get rid of Gasol, but it’s more of the Lakers trying to get younger for the future so they are still a franchise to reckoned with when Kobe Bryant retires after next as he proclaims. Plus, with Smith and Howard being high school teammates and great friends, it’s a win-win situation. We will see what the Lakers will do before the trade deadline in February, along with the Hawks if they finally grant Smith with his trade wishes. The post NBA Rumors: Hawks, Lakers Almost Did Smith-Gasol Trade appeared first on FootBasket.