Trading Josh Smith?

So, Al Horford gets a contract extension from the Hawks on Monday, netting the former Florida standout, $60 million (5 years) and now, Josh Smith is popping up in trade rumors. Who knows if the Hawks really want to deal Smith, or if they're even entertaining the idea of trading him, but, the question that remains is, can they afford to keep him? As of right now, the Atlanta Hawks have some large contracts floating around, Joe Johnson ($18.5 million in 2011-12), Josh Smith ($12.5 million in 2011-12), Marvin Williams ($8 million in 2011-12) and toss in the $12 million that Horford is owed through 2011-12 and, we have an issue. Smith seems to be the guy that could be left out in the cold here. The problem for Rick Sund and company will be, do they really wanna deal Josh Smith? Here are some things that Rick Sund is mulling over right now. Smith has averaged 2.4 blocks per game for his career, 3rd in the league last season, behind only Dwight Howard and Andrew Bogut, infact, Smith was the only player to finish in the top 15 in blocks per game, who doesn't play the center position.

He is clearly their best defender inside, the Hawks enforcer, if you will. He is the guy who discourages guards from setting up shop in the lane, these type of players are hard to replace, he's a highlight reel waiting to happen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXdfH5BslOg, this is one of the most athletic players in basketball, today, if you ask me. He averages over a steal per contest, is a potential double-double guy (points and rebounds), hustles and has really started to get away from bad habits. Many people may not recall that there was a time where Josh Smith thought he was a 3-point shooter, seriously. He was taking far too many three's, for a player of his archetype. This guy is a shot-blocker, dunker, slasher, garbage-time-guy. He does the dirty work and makes this team better.

Josh Smith's 3-Point shooting by the numbers:
2005-06- 34-110, .309%
2006-07- 38-152, .250%
2007-08- 25-99, .253%
2008-09- 26-87, .299%
2009-10- 0-7, .000% (but, at least he only shot 7 all season)

I just won't understand what the Hawks are thinking if they part ways with Smith, they have Horford, don't get me wrong, i love Horford, great rebounder, good shot blocker and he has more offensive upside than Smith, they have an aging Mike Bibby, he's good for another season, MAYBE. Another guy i love is Joe Johnson, but, he's on the wrong side of 30 with a huge contract, that never translates into good things for a team, Marvin Williams is athletic and has a lot of upside, Zaza can play great ball at times, horrible attitude, but, he can do his job on most nights. The one thing that none of these guys have, outside of Marvin Williams, is athleticism. If the Hawks lose Smith, they lose most of their interior defense and a great hustle player. Atlanta went 53-29 last season (3rd best in the east), they play in the toughest division in the east, hands down, they will play Orlando, Miami and Charlotte (all playoff teams from last season), 4 times each to fight for the Southeast division, and guess what? The Southwest didn't get any less tough, they added Lebron and Chris Bosh. The last thing Atlanta should do is get less athletic. It doesn't make sense, part ways with somebody else, do whatever you can. Just keep Smith! That is their best bet.