Nets Looking At Hawks Josh Smith In Trade Chatter

In the last hour ESPN’s Chris Broussard revealed that the Brooklyn Nets are “aggressively pursuing” a trade for the Atlanta Hawks Josh Smith.  This is not the first time that the Nets have been linked to Smith, although with the Nets being in a funk right now and getting zero production from the forward position, it could precipitate a trade quicker than normal.

Smith thinks he is a max player and turned down the Hawks recent offer of 3-years 37 million and seems to be ready to become a free agent.  With the collective bargaining agreement the way it is right now, Smith will likely get a four-year deal from another team even if it isn’t a max deal as the Hawks can only offer him a 3-year deal right now.

Smith is averaging 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists this year and could be a versatile/active foward to a team like Brooklyn that is lacking badly in that area.  The combination of Reggie Evans and Gerald Wallace is not putting up the offensive numbers that a contending team needs to make a run late in the year.

The names that are being bantered around are Smith for Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and a 1st round draft pick although that may not get it done as Atlanta wants a young center for Smith. Billy King is the master of the multi-team trade so he may have to do some magic to get this done.