l Horford comments on being mentioned in Dwight Howard trade rumors

[hawkrule152]

Geez, I'm half way through this interview and the media kills it. All their questions are pretty much bashing the ATL fan base. Pathetic.

Can you really blame them tho? ATL has some of the worst fans in sports.. all fairweather fans

[AHawks89]

When our media carries on the tradition..

[High5]

I don't see how we can trade for Howard without basically becoming the Orlando Magic, which is a team going nowhere. Then when Howard decides he wants to go play somewhere else we'd be back in the cellar.

[Buzzard]

I really want no part in trading JJ if we are getting Dwight. He is the one player who could really benefit from Howard. I don't see Smith getting any better. Same is true for Al with Dwight. Just keep Hinrich contract, Marvin for SF match-ups, and Teague who I believe is the next KJ and I'm happy.

Teague/Hinrich and his contract

Joe

Marvin

Rad Man

Dwight

Trade for Jefferson or Bargs for Hinrich and I am happy.

Teague

Joe

Marvin

Jefferson/Bargs

Howard

That is perfect. Perfect fits all over. Marvin fits any system when healthy. Joe is no longer a #1 option and is an excellent Robin. Jefferson can create his own shot in the post as he is one of the more skilled post man in the game with Dwight's D and if you think Rad is good in our system, wait till you see Bargs with Howard's D. I just think Smith and Horford are both replaceable if we could land Bargs or Jefferson to play with Howard.

I agree with JJ. He would be great next to Howard. But I also think Horford being able to slide out to the 4 would benefit his game as well. Josh is really the only player Howard would not help, unless he took him under his wing and taught him better man D or something...

[Jody23]

I agree with JJ. He would be great next to Howard. But I also think Horford being able to slide out to the 4 would benefit his game as well. Josh is really the only player Howard would not help, unless he took him under his wing and taught him better man D or something...

I'd have to agree here. I actually think a Horford/Howard combination is better than a Smith/Howard combination due to Horford's greater size, rebounding ability and consistent jumper.

[HawksFan87]

What would be funny is if the hawks did this trade and ended up losing howard after the season.. Now that team would suck, which is why Its not happening folks..

What would be funny is if the hawks did this trade and ended up losing howard after the season.. Now that team would suck, which is why Its not happening folks..

[Buzzard]

For the 363rd time this year. If you want Dwight and want to keep Dwight, you keep Josh here.

Because they are best friends and Dwight will not play anywhere without Josh! Chances are really good Dwight will not be playing with Josh next season, at least 29.5 to 1 against him being with Josh and he has been playing without Josh for over 8 years but you drama queens don't see that as a decision Howard will make again. I am confused, did Dwight demand he get to play with Smoove and I just missed that quote?

Edited December 30, 2011 by Buzzard

[ATLSmith]

I can't listen to Audio at work. What did he say?

And just throwing this out there; I still think Horf and Howard would make the better tandem. Horf has a great mid range shot while Smoove needs to work around the basket for blocks and dunks, like Dwight. Why have two players who have similar skill sets?

[HawksFan87]

Al's jumper has been on and off lately, so to say he would be a better fit is funny. You guys tend to overrate al's offensive abilties, while downing everyone else.

[CODHAWKSFAN]

Al's jumper has been on and off lately, so to say he would be a better fit is funny. You guys tend to overrate al's offensive abilties, while downing everyone else.

^^^^^ TRUTH

[Admin]

Al's jumper has been on and off lately, so to say he would be a better fit is funny. You guys tend to overrate al's offensive abilties, while downing everyone else.

Al led the entire league last year in FG% from 6-23 ft so I will be using that as my measuring stick regarding his shooting ability if the alternative is a 2 game sample size during a shortened season where everyone are still trying to get back to their previous forms.

Personally I think Al is a better fit since he's a natural 4, while Josh is a natural 2-3 (he grew up as a SG) although he can play 4 as well... But the bottom line is we very likely have a much better shot to keep Dwight long term with Josh than without him so I'd certainly include Al before I include Josh and no way in the world do I trade both of them. We'd certainly have to include JJ, which I hate, but i would do it to get Dwight. Hinrich and T-Mac/Green could hold down the 2 spot just fine for this year and next year we look for an upgrade at the SG spot in FA. You could build a great team around Teague, Marvin, Josh and Dwight if you believe that Teague and Marvin are really the players they appear to be this year.

[Buzzard]

Al led the entire league last year in FG% from 6-23 ft so I will be using that as my measuring stick regarding his shooting ability if the alternative is a 2 game sample size during a shortened season where everyone are still trying to get back to their previous forms.

Personally I think Al is a better fit since he's a natural 4, while Josh is a natural 2-3 (he grew up as a SG) although he can play 4 as well... But the bottom line is we very likely have a much better shot to keep Dwight long term with Josh than without him so I'd certainly include Al before I include Josh and no way in the world do I trade both of them. We'd certainly have to include JJ, which I hate, but i would do it to get Dwight. Hinrich and T-Mac/Green could hold down the 2 spot just fine for this year and next year we look for an upgrade at the SG spot in FA. You could build a great team around Teague, Marvin, Josh and Dwight if you believe that Teague and Marvin are really the players they appear to be this year.

This is what I don't understand from a logical standpoint. Some here would send JJ and Horf but not Smoove and Horf. From my point of view sending Josh instead of JJ is a much better deal for us if win now is our goal. I also get all the damn drama about D12 wanting to play with his bestest ( sarcasm to the 1 millionth ) friend, but I also think championships are head and shoulders more important for him.

That is my two cents on this...and my 3rd penny is I highly doubt the Magic owner wants to play against Howard in his own division. So we will have to throw him the best deal by a decent margin in order to make it happen.

Edited December 30, 2011 by Buzzard

[Jody23]

Al's jumper has been on and off lately, so to say he would be a better fit is funny. You guys tend to overrate al's offensive abilties, while downing everyone else.

Lately as in the first two games of the season? Over the course of the entire last season, Horford was THE BEST midrange shooter in the league (even better than Dirk). That's not overrating his ability or downing any one else's. It's fact. Although I'm certain if won't happen, Howard needs people next to him who can spread the floor and give him more room. You put a guy like Al next to him with his ability to shoot and his size, then that would be undoubtedly THE BEST 4/5 combination in the league and what's better is neither would be undersized at their respective positions. Weak side shot blocking aside, from a positional defensive standpoint, they would literally own the paint and other teams could just forget about offensive rebounds because they wouldn't get any.

I get that Smith and Howard are best friends and hometown products and there's alot of hype around that. However, when you take that out of the equation, there can indeed be a strong case made that a Horford/Howard combination is better than a Smith/Howard combination, especially in the half court offense and rebounding the basketball which critical to playoff success.

To me it's all a moot point as there seems to be every indication that Howard wants to play elsewhere and unlike many, I think the young man is intelligent enough not to allow his personal relationship with Josh or whomever else to impede him from making the best basketball and business decision for himself.

[HawksFan87]

Where was that jumper in the playoffs? If its not falling Al gets lost on the court. I know you guys think Alfred is perfect but he's not and its as clear as day. If Al ever wants to be more than what he is he's gonna have to develop some type of post game, period.

So what if he shot it better than Dirk. Dirk is still the superior offensive player

With that being said, i'd rather keep what we have now. Al and Dwight are not winning any championships without a guy like joe at the guard spotn

[Diesel]

We'd certainly have to include JJ, which I hate, but i would do it to get Dwight.

I think this deal is done without us giving JJ.

First off, I don't think that they want JJ. Second, I think that as the pressure tightens up on Otis and he remembers that NJ will have enough to sign D-12 without Orlando's help, he will start to like the idea of getting back a 2 time allstar C for Dwight. I know that there's a great deal of Joe haters who will say that Joe must be traded too but that's not true. Joe has a matching salary but AL, Marvin, Hinrich, and first for Hedo, Howard is a great deal for both teams. We add the first only if he resigns with us.

This is what I don't understand from a logical standpoint. Some here would send JJ and Horf but not Smoove and Horf. From my point of view sending Josh instead of JJ is a much better deal for us if win now is our goal. I also get all the damn drama about D12 wanting to play with his bestest ( sarcasm to the 1 millionth ) friend, but I also think championships are head and shoulders more important for him.

That is my two cents on this...and my 3rd penny is I highly doubt the Magic owner wants to play against Howard in his own division. So we will have to throw him the best deal by a decent margin in order to make it happen.

Horf is better trade bait than Josh. Signed longer, more consistent. I don't buy the need to add Joe. We're bidding against ourselves if that's the case.

[thecampster]

Because they are best friends and Dwight will not play anywhere without Josh! Chances are really good Dwight will not be playing with Josh next season, at least 29.5 to 1 against him being with Josh and he has been playing without Josh for over 8 years but you drama queens don't see that as a decision Howard will make again. I am confused, did Dwight demand he get to play with Smoove and I just missed that quote?

My statement relates to Atlanta, not to every NBA city. Dwight would have different reasons to play in any city. The biggest attraction to Atlanta is title contention, playing with Smith. At the end of the season he would have a choice of leave or stay. You don't take away his reasons to stay. Is this really that hard to understand?

[Admin]

This is what I don't understand from a logical standpoint. Some here would send JJ and Horf but not Smoove and Horf. From my point of view sending Josh instead of JJ is a much better deal for us if win now is our goal. I also get all the damn drama about D12 wanting to play with his bestest ( sarcasm to the 1 millionth ) friend, but I also think championships are head and shoulders more important for him.

That is my two cents on this...and my 3rd penny is I highly doubt the Magic owner wants to play against Howard in his own division. So we will have to throw him the best deal by a decent margin in order to make it happen.

I believe we'd be better with Horford/Howard as well but there are considerations to think of. First, why would Orlando take Smith if they could get Horford? Horford is known as a leader and can play the 5 for the Magic whereas Smith cannot and that would create a large hole for them. Second, what if we don't win this year as we adjust to the massively differently structured team? Would Howard agree to a new contract to stay here or would he opt out and sign with someone else? I have a feeling that even though Howard is more interested in winning than his friendship with Josh that if we did struggle while adjusting to the new team that he'd be more inclined to give the Hawks a chance with Josh than without.

[thecampster]

This is what I don't understand from a logical standpoint. Some here would send JJ and Horf but not Smoove and Horf. From my point of view sending Josh instead of JJ is a much better deal for us if win now is our goal. I also get all the damn drama about D12 wanting to play with his bestest ( sarcasm to the 1 millionth ) friend, but I also think championships are head and shoulders more important for him.

That is my two cents on this...and my 3rd penny is I highly doubt the Magic owner wants to play against Howard in his own division. So we will have to throw him the best deal by a decent margin in order to make it happen.

Now we get to the better part of the argument. Players are not just production but also cost. Joe currently costs 5 million more than Josh and will cost 8-10 million more in upcoming seasons. Keeping Joe is not an apples to apples situation. I broke this down in another thread about the "cost" of Joe in 2 years. Josh is free agent in 2013 and will command a max or near max deal. If you keep Joe and his contract and assuming you have Horford and his 12 million a year, signing Josh and Teague means no money for free agents. Joe is not a cornerstone. Neither is Al. Dwight is a cornerstone and will be cheaper than Joe in 3 years leaving more money for other players. If you trade Joe, Al you are trading away 31.5 million a year in salary 2 years down the road. In 2013 when Josh is a free agent you only have 4 players under contract at 42.5 million (Marvin, Teague, Joe, Al). Trade Al/Joe for Howard/Turkoglu, and you have 4 players again under contract for the same amount but Turkoglu is in his last year and is a great expiring contract to trade to a rebuilding team where neither JJ nor Horf is. Howard + 8 million dollar shooting guard > JJ, Horf and 5 million cheaper against the cap in 2013 which allows you to resign Josh long term comfortably while getting other players. Keeping JJ/Horf does not.

[hawkrule152]

Once again, were getting ahead of ourselves.. there is barely any talk about this and you all are going crazy

[Joker]

You just amaze me sir. I am not going to rehash every thing every person on this board has already told you. We all know you don't like Smith. That's fine. But we were not on his list of teams to trade to. He was the best man at Josh's wedding for goodness sakes. They played AAU together. Josh's Addidas commercial where he dunks on Dwight's statue. If they were any closer, they'd be crying on each other's shoulders during chick flicks. So make this the 364th time. If you are serious about getting/keeping Dwight here, the stupidest thing you could do is to show no team loyalty to a the guy they drafted by trading away his best friend.

I see a lot of shade being thrown my direction in this post. If you have an issue with me, PM me. Otherwise shut it.

I read the whole thread. I asked for logical reasons and didn't see one in favor of keeping Smith at the expanse of Joe and Al.

This friendship thing is childish and overblown. Even Dwight doesn't mention Smith in his top five players to play with. He mentioned Anthony Morrow. Come on, this is his best friend as you guys put it. Stop it. This is in the best interest of the Hawks, not Josh Smith fans. Why trade Smith over Horford or Joe?

1. Smith strengths are also Howard strengths but to a much greater extent for D12. Howard weaknesses are the same as Smith ones but Smith is far worst in this regard. In other words, you take two similar players who aren't equal and make them a tandem. That makes no sense. None what so ever. MJ best friends wasn't Scottie Pippen but they had excellent fit. Similar players rarely work together in this league unless they are both elite and even then it's questionable i.e. Miami Heat.

2. I seen someone mention Howard is tired of being the only one to play defense. Not only has this never been mention but let's just say he did feel that way, he wouldn't be the only one playing defense if we traded both Smith and Horford. Joe is one of the best SG on defense. Teague is one of the better defensive PG's. Marvin is one of the best defensive SF when healthy. So he wouldn't be on an island in Atlanta which he is in Orlando and even on an island, he is so good he does what Smith does to an elite extent. He's the closest to Bill Russell in NBA history. I heard something to the extent that Dwight and Smith would completely shut down the paint. Well.... Dwight does that already so...

3. I understand you Josh Smith fans see him over all and feel like this is Smith chance to be great. News for you, he will never be great, too many flaws in his game but at the same time Smith is a heck of a talent and is a jewel to this team. I personally don't mind trading Horford and a package of Marvin, Hinrich, picks for Dwight. I do mind trading Smith and Horford for Dwight. That one bothers me, it's too much for what could be a rental. I would want at the least a commitment like the one CP3 gave LAC. I am absolutely against trading Joe and Smith/Horford for Dwight. Dwight with Joe will elevate his impact. Their are only 15 good SG's in the NBA. Even less than Centers. Jamal Crawford is a top 15 SG, that's how weak the position is. Afflalo just got 9 mil a yr. Trading Joe would be a mistake just by the talent in the position. The likelihood of signing one with the MLE that's good and can create their own shot is slim to none. Most teams in the NBA have a good PF. Some have two.

This crying about friendship is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Sounds like something out of a Rugrats plot. But Tommy is my best friend- Chuckie. Like buzz said, this needs to end. If you want Smith over Horford and Joe, just state it but this illogical reasoning of friendship is a waste.

Edited December 30, 2011 by nbasuperstar40