Josh Smith "excited" about direction of hawks (espn)

[Fafnir]

"Combined with the Johnson trade, Atlanta is sending out more than $105 million in long-term salary with Monday's two deals and taking back just $23.5 million."

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a frontrunner for 2013 Exec of the Year.

Dumping salary isn't that hard if you require nothing of real value coming back.

[Lucky17]

I wonder if Ferry might be able to flip Devin Harris to another team for another asset like a pick, while still preserving future cap space.

Perhaps Dallas, if they lose out on both Nash and Deron Williams? Or the Lakers? The Blazers?

[ManUp]

Atlanta moving in the right direction.

[theswitch]

For all this talk about Paul, Smith and Howard, I think Horford and Howard complement each other much better. I would absolutely love to see them paired together, especially since Horford will be cheaper than Smith.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Horford, Josh Smith, Morrow, Teague and DeShawn Stevenson/cheapie vet SF, with Pachulia, Ivan Johnson/Justin WIlliams, Devin Harris, rookie John Jenkins, Farmar is a competitive group, short on wing scoring, but in a rebuilding year, at least they won't suck.

Early reports are that Atlanta will buy out Jordan Farmar who opted in to the final year of his contract just prior to this trade.

As is, who starts? Pachulia, Horford, Smith, Morrow and either Harris or Teague? Can Teague play at the 2?

For all this talk about Paul, Smith and Howard, I think Horford and Howard complement each other much better. I would absolutely love to see them paired together, especially since Horford will be cheaper than Smith.

But wouldn't you assume any deal for Howard would be built around Horford? Of course, if Atlanta has to give up either Horford or Smith in any Dwight Howard trade, the Hawks won't have a roster that's any better than the one Howard is so desperate to escape in Orlando.

[Boris Badenov]

"Combined with the Johnson trade, Atlanta is sending out more than $105 million in long-term salary with Monday's two deals and taking back just $23.5 million."

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a frontrunner for 2013 Exec of the Year.

Dumping salary isn't that hard if you require nothing of real value coming back.

I guess being a GM isn't as hard as I thought. So I can just sign all of my guys to max contracts, and then trade them away for expiring contracts and draft picks if they don't work out?

[LarBrd33]

"Combined with the Johnson trade, Atlanta is sending out more than $105 million in long-term salary with Monday's two deals and taking back just $23.5 million."

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a frontrunner for 2013 Exec of the Year.

Dumping salary isn't that hard if you require nothing of real value coming back.

I guess being a GM isn't as hard as I thought. So I can just sign all of my guys to max contracts, and then trade them away for expiring contracts and draft picks if they don't work out?

Yeah I hear ya.

In defense of Joe Johnson... is it fair to point out that he's made 6 straight allstar teams?  Not everyone wants to pay a perennial all star that kind of money... but it makes a ton of sense for Brooklyn to bring him in.  They have an owner who wants to pay money... and they are in a huge market where they are trying to build a huge brand.  Nobody is going to care about Joe Johnson's contract if he's continuing to play like an all-star next to Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and Marshon Brooks... There isn't a huge market for a guy that overpaid... but there is definitely a market for him.  If you're willing to take nothing of value in return, it shouldn't be all that difficult.

Trading a Rashard lewis contract or a gilbert arenas contract is a lot more difficult.  Joe Johnson is coming off another allstar season where he once again lead a team into the playoffs.

[Fafnir]

"Combined with the Johnson trade, Atlanta is sending out more than $105 million in long-term salary with Monday's two deals and taking back just $23.5 million."

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a frontrunner for 2013 Exec of the Year.

Dumping salary isn't that hard if you require nothing of real value coming back.

I guess being a GM isn't as hard as I thought. So I can just sign all of my guys to max contracts, and then trade them away for expiring contracts and draft picks if they don't work out?

They key was that Atlanta was at least paying good players the crazy money.

[mctyson]

"Combined with the Johnson trade, Atlanta is sending out more than $105 million in long-term salary with Monday's two deals and taking back just $23.5 million."

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a frontrunner for 2013 Exec of the Year.

Dumping salary isn't that hard if you require nothing of real value coming back.

I guess being a GM isn't as hard as I thought. So I can just sign all of my guys to max contracts, and then trade them away for expiring contracts and draft picks if they don't work out?

As long as the owner on the other side of the deal is a Russian billionaire and the GM is Billy King, then yes you can sign me to a max contract and trade me for 1st round draft picks.

[RLewis35]

Is it that crazy for Atlanta to try to nab Paul and D12?  Atlanta is D12s hometown team and Chris Paul is also from the south - north Carolina (and obviously not signing w the bobcats).  I don't know if they can work it out cap wise but if you could somehow get both of them next year with horford that's a really formidable opponent.  Get both w horford and keep josh smith? An even more formidable opponent.

Question though - anyone get the feeling Atlanta is gearing up for a Howard deal RIGHT now so they only need to convince CP3 next year?

Horford and Harris or Teague and some of the jersey players they took on plus a first is better than what the Nyets are offering.  Howard, Smith and next year, CP3, but keep Teague or Harris in the meantime.  Ideally you'd trade smith rather than horford to Orlando, but I assume Dwight is more likely to resign with his buddy josh smith on the team.  We will see.

[Who]

Horford, Josh Smith, Morrow, Teague and DeShawn Stevenson/cheapie vet SF, with Pachulia, Ivan Johnson/Justin WIlliams, Devin Harris, rookie John Jenkins, Farmar is a competitive group, short on wing scoring, but in a rebuilding year, at least they won't suck.

Early reports are that Atlanta will buy out Jordan Farmar who opted in to the final year of his contract just prior to this trade.

As is, who starts? Pachulia, Horford, Smith, Morrow and either Harris or Teague? Can Teague play at the 2?

I think they should keep Farmar. I assumed they would be starting both Devin Harris (OG) and Jeff Teague (PG) in the backcourt. No SF on the roster at the moment so they'd need to sign one in free agency. Use Farmar and Morrow off the bench as backup guards. Bring back Tracy McGrady if possible to backup the three. Keep Horford and Smith as starting bigs with Zaza as the main backup. Probably Ivan Johnson as the fourth big.

PG: Jeff Teague, Jordan Farmar, Jenkins
OG: Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow
SF: (name), Tracy McGrady
PF: Josh Smith, Ivan Johnson, Vlad Radmanovic
C:  Al Hoford, Zaza Pachulia, Jason Collins

I like Carlos Delfino to fill that void at SF.

If they waive Farmar, I'd start Morrow instead of Harris and bring Harris off the bench as a 30mpg backup combo guard. A three man guard rotation. That Jenkins chap as a third stringer.

[Lord of Mikawa]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8124428/atlanta-hawks-trade-marvin-williams-utah-jazz-devin-harris-according-sources

  He probably thinks that the new direction for the Hawks inolves him taking a lot more shots.

With ISO Joe gone, he's probably their best option.