If you guys know me, then you'd know also I'm a huge supporter and fan of J-Smoove, and you'd know a few months ago the Celtics were supposedly going to trade Pierce for Smith. While I didn't want this happen, because Pierce has and always been my favorite Celtic growing up, I sort of wanted to see the Rondo/Smith combo.
When my homie moved to VA, I got invited a few times to watch Oakhill Academy games, and holy moly! The chemistry that Rondo had was amazing... He wouldn't even need to acknowledge where Smith was, at a few plays I saw a few no look lobs/alley oops that just seemed impossible to catch... but catch Smith did.
Of all big man, I would say Smith, Cousins, Gasol, Noah are probably the best passing big men to me. They possess that ability to see the play right before it starts to fully initiate.
Smith was also the only player in the NBA with stats of 18.8 PPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 3.8 APG, and 9.8 RPG.
You don't try to make Smith a stretch forward. You need to have him in the paint where he belongs. Yes he can hit the mid range jumper, but anything further than 18 feet is a no-no.
Either way Josh Smith in my opinion has always been underrated. He's a skilled big men who is althetic, can defend, can pass, and has been questioned many times for his basketball IQ, but the problem with that is... Josh Smith on the Hawks cannot be your go to guy... He's an perennial All-Star, but not a superstar. They keep treating him like he is though. And unfortunately that is their big problem.
I hope DA decides to try to trade for him, slot Sullinger as a back up PF, and let Smith dominate from easy lobs/alley oops from Rondo. Plus Smith would be able to teach Sullinger certain ways to defend. He may not be as intense or great of a teacher as KG, but Smith is still a defensive wizard.
People forget how much of a great player Smith was, and the fact he was never ever fully respected as an Allstar once is astounding to me.
All I'll say about Josh Smith is that he's heavily underrated. Some people may say hes overrated, but a player at least putting up over 14 PPG, 8 RPG, 2 APG, and averaging every year over 1.5 BPG is overrated? Not to mention HES consistently been healthy! Yes he has been out for a few games, but nothing ever serious. I would be hesitant to take him on if he got an torn ACL. But Smith is a player that deserves to at least been an Allstar, and even if he has a bad shooting night can still impact the defensive end.
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I also would like to say Sully seems like he may be a good player in the future. But I wouldn't bet my entire life on it... If you can obtain Smith for Wallace/Bogans... then you do it....
The reason I want Sully to be a back up sixth man is that it may preserve his body, and his back. We want him to keep working and hustling. And let him develop. Yes not giving him full minutes may be an issue, but we can always slot Smith at SF/PF. Give plenty of time to whoever. If Wallace does get traded for Smith, I see it as more of a opportunity for Rondo to definitely want to stay with his buddy.
Also people can say whatever they want about Smith. But Smith is respected by many people in the league, and some players may find the prospect of playing with Smith and Rondo interesting enough to join in FA.
