Josh Smith calls Rondo trade attempt "Sick Joke"

[snively]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2011/12/josh_smith_call.html

Rajon didn’t talk much about it but let me do it for him,” Smith said. “It’s mind-boggling to me to see people talking about getting rid of a player who [dang]-near broke his arm during the playoffs last year for his team and kept playing. We’re talking about arguably the best player in the playoffs for his team energy-wise, defensively and offensively.
It’s a sick joke. For anyone to talk about getting rid of him, one of the elite point guards in this league and a true point who passes first and shoots second … it just reminds me of what I already knew, that the NBA is strictly a business. They can try to make it as family oriented as they want to, but at the end of the day it’s a business. And the fact is there is no loyalty in the NBA or any other profession. It’s always business.”

I thought this was interesting given the discussions of Rondo's rep around the league and his potential reaction to another bout of trade rumors.

And, on a tangential note, if Rondo is buds with Dwight Howard's best friend...

[Greenbean]

TP for the Rondo and DH connection....


Get Smith here somehow and maybe we can lure DH here without trading ROndo?

What would it take to pry Smith away from ATL?

Im assuming they dont want Ray...I wouldnt give up Pierce or KG...were short on young chips...

Anyone more creative than me?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

A lineup including Rondo, Josh Smith and Dwight Howard would be awesome.

[Lucky17]

A lineup including Rondo, Josh Smith and Dwight Howard would be awesome.

Except during the last 2 minutes of a close game. Pick one, and hack away.

[Kane3387]

A lineup including Rondo, Josh Smith and Dwight Howard would be awesome.

Better sign some good FT shooters. Yikes!

[snively]

TP for the Rondo and DH connection....


Get Smith here somehow and maybe we can lure DH here without trading ROndo?

What would it take to pry Smith away from ATL?

Im assuming they dont want Ray...I wouldnt give up Pierce or KG...were short on young chips...

Anyone more creative than me?

TP for the Rondo and DH connection....


Get Smith here somehow and maybe we can lure DH here without trading ROndo?

What would it take to pry Smith away from ATL?

Im assuming they dont want Ray...I wouldnt give up Pierce or KG...were short on young chips...

Anyone more creative than me?

We could offer them Jermaine O'Neal, a pick and Jeff Green in a sign and trade.  Gives them a center (their big need) and replacement 3/4 with more shooting range.

We could play some up-tempo basketball with a Rondo/Ray/Pierce/Smith/KG line-up.  Keep West, Baby for the bench. Bring in some vet min guys like Mo Evans and Quis. 

Then, next season, amnesty Pierce and try to convince Howard how much fun it would be playing with his best friend on a reconstituted version of the Atlanta Celtics (I believe this was Smith and Howard's AAU team).

[PosImpos]

TP for the Rondo and DH connection....


Get Smith here somehow and maybe we can lure DH here without trading ROndo?

What would it take to pry Smith away from ATL?

Im assuming they dont want Ray...I wouldnt give up Pierce or KG...were short on young chips...

Anyone more creative than me?

Atlanta would almost certainly want a young, talented true center or a young, talented point guard who can run their offense.  Those are their two major needs if they are parting with Josh Smith. 

So unless you want to give up Rondo, I don't see how we could acquire Josh Smith.

[cman88]

whether through trade or free agency, IMO Josh smith will be a celtic If we keep Rajon Rondo.

alot of people want to talk about how CP3 can shoot and rondo cant...but, they neglect that theres alot of players like smith who would love to play with rondo.

you surround Rondo with some good scorers/shooters and let him do his driving to the basket thing...well thats just as good.

then theres the question of Cp3's knees. he may be a better player right now. but whats his viability in the league...the guy is one injury away from becoming a shadow of himself

[Inside-Out]

If it's such a good idea to surround Rondo with shooters, why the interest in Josh Smith?

Jeff Green is the better option.

[cman88]

If it's such a good idea to surround Rondo with shooters, why the interest in Josh Smith?

Jeff Green is the better option.

josh smith is a good offensive player and defender. you give him a Passing PG like Rondo and he would be even better offensively

[snively]

If it's such a good idea to surround Rondo with shooters, why the interest in Josh Smith?

Jeff Green is the better option.

If you play Josh Smith at the 4, he's not a bad shooter, more like mediocre.  Somewhat on par with Baby from long-range.

And he's an excellent finisher.  A comparable scorer overall to Jeff Green, only with more slashing than shooting.  Also a much better rebounder and defensive asset.

[Inside-Out]

If it's such a good idea to surround Rondo with shooters, why the interest in Josh Smith?

Jeff Green is the better option.

If you play Josh Smith at the 4, he's not a bad shooter, more like mediocre.  Somewhat on par with Baby from long-range.

And he's an excellent finisher.  A comparable scorer overall to Jeff Green, only with more slashing than shooting.  Also a much better rebounder and defensive asset.

Okay...I'm convinced. 

I'll take both. 

[byennie]

Atlanta would almost certainly want a young, talented true center or a young, talented point guard who can run their offense.  Those are their two major needs if they are parting with Josh Smith. 

So unless you want to give up Rondo, I don't see how we could acquire Josh Smith.

Just for kicks, suppose we do this and resign our guys. Entire FA / amnesty focus goes toward center spot, which isn't much of a change unless you think we're getting much our of O'Neal.

Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal
for
Joe Johnson, Josh Smith

Lineup:

Rondo / West
Johnson / Allen
Pierce / Green
Smith / Baby
?? / Baby

Why for BOS: Start a new era overnight with Rondo, Johnson, Smith, Green. Ray Allen becomes our 6th man, Johnson & Green allow for Pierce & Allen to take nights off and limit their minutes this year. Josh Smith reasonable replacement for Garnett considering age and health. Lots of scorers around Rondo. Smith clearly wants to play here, and Johnson would be a homecoming story.

Why for ATL: They would kill to unload the Johnson contract entirely and could be a major FA player with only Horford on a long term deal.

[Roy H.]

One positive about trading for Josh Smith:  nobody would ever complain about Rondo's bad attitude again.

[PosImpos]

One positive about trading for Josh Smith:  nobody would ever complain about Rondo's bad attitude again.

because Josh's is so much worse, or because they are such good friends that he and Rondo would suddenly be cheerful and amiable all the time?