Josh Smith Returns to the ATL

J.Smith wrote:Man, I'm just happy to be back. I'm comfortable in the city, I spent most of my career here. I'm excited to come back to a very different team, I remember me and Horford had to carry the load back in the day which ended up happing again in SAC town. I was looking forward to the upcoming season as I know the new GM did a great job turning around the Jazz but it is what it is.

With Monroe down low and a real point guard who can get me the ball in my spots I really think I can have bounce back this season. I see a lot of myself in Kyle, we are both big forwards who like to make plays for others. Maybe I can teach the kid a thing or two.

I talked to coach Van Gundy and he told me I would have more of a defined role here; a complimentary player on offense and a key cog on defense. My ability to slow down perimeter guys, guarding the pick and roll as well as protecting the rim will be a game changer for this team, I can promise you that.

orangeparka (MIA) wrote:He is a big risk big reward type of guy at this point I guess. Even as a PF his efficiency was very subpar, but that's a decent all-around game still IMO.

Dylan (SAC) wrote:
I hate guys that are so inefficient like that and on top of his inefficiency, he had a max contract.

Jake0890 (MIN) wrote:Can't believe Josh Smith got the max in the first place, but its great that the Kings got out of the contract so quickly. Not a fan of Josh Smith for the Hawks, even if they got him on the cheap.

ATL GM - Blackice wrote:
What was the big risk? We won't be major players in free agency and with extensions coming up in the next few years we weren't going to be regardless.

As for his inefficient play remember Smith was playing out of position at small forward last season, and all due respect to the previous GM Jose Juan Barea and JR Smith was the starting backcourt for SAC last year. Smith had to do everything for that team, he was only 0.7 assists behind the starting point guard and 0.7 rebounds behind the starting center. He was also the 3rd leading scorer as well and led the team in steals and blocks. As a wing. He had the highest usage on the team and was top 10 in the league in terms of minutes per game. There was no GM/Coach making adjustments to boot and despite all this he put up 14.8/6.5/4.7 on 2.1 blks/1.8 stls. His efficiency was putrid (38/23/59) but given the circumstances it's kind of expected.

The year before (2012) when SAC had an active GM Smith shot 45% from the field and made 3rd team All League, 1st team Defense and was an Allstar. In fact he was named a starter over Kevin Love and Derrick Favors who were reserves.

He makes a lot of money but this isn't a guy on the decline. He is 28 years old. I completely agree that the Kings needed to move his contract and start a rebuild from the ground up and we were happy to oblige but I think it is a mutually beneficial deal.

Adrian Wojnarowski' wrote:

I'm hearing that outside of Burke/Anderson/Smith/Monroe all assets are on the table for GM BI as he looks to add a top 5 pick, presumably to draft a SG. I'm hearing the organization think's Andrew Harrison is more of a playmaking SG then a pure PG and are intrigued by the versatility of a Burke/Harrison/Anderson/Smith/Monroe lineup. Gary Harris is the other guy on their radar.