If you get Smith, you then have a couple of month to experiment, and see if you can get along w/o DMo. You don't have to commit one way or the other just yet. To me, DMo is a ++ in the post, but average everywhere else. If you want to keep him, you need to make sure you get him enough touches in the post. If you can't do that with Dwight, it's better for him and the Rox if he goes somewhere he can get post touches.
There are people who seriously think he should lose his job. Questioning him over a single move is nothing.
Nothing surprises me with Cuban and Dallas. But where are they getting the money from? Or is Dirk paying Mavs now? From what I've read, Mavs can only offer $1.4mil Vs us being able to offer $2.07 using the exception.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>In free agent Josh Smith's discussions so far, clear sense: Any NBA team that isn't playoff-bound or contending shouldn't call.</p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/547116959549386752">December 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And if we're talking friendships (Rondo and Howard) - you'd take Howard's word given he's been a rocket for over a year Vs Rondo being in Dallas for barely a week.
Dragic is worth that package yes maybe. But you don't HAVE to pay that much. You'd be bidding against ourselves. No other team can beat a NOP + young players that amount to 2nd round picks. No sense in paying more than you need.....
Houston has more advantages than Dallas as they have more money to offer and a starting position. Houston has a better childhood friend, who was also the Best Man in Smith's wedding Houston has more opportunity to help Smith become the player he used to be. If Houston lands Smith (and gets Dragic) they'll be the threat out West
The roster was made under the assumption that we will be acquiring Dragic at the deadline. Hopeful thinking I guess
I think you just need to reign in Smith on offense and turn him into a low usage guy. Just try and picture Smith playing as just a garbage man and not chucking up threes. He is a fantastic rim protector, has a decent post up game, and some limited penetrating ability. [youtube]LblAKjwgDo4[/youtube] [youtube]7DNOqpwjBCE[/youtube] [youtube]qGOYffNXOjQ[/youtube] [youtube]USrWuL73qVE[/youtube]
Again, I think the Rockets have best odds to get him but this isn't open and shut. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Smith and Rondo are now in the NBA, Smith with the Detroit Pistons, Rondo with the Celtics, but the two have talked about reuniting again. “The conversation comes up,” Smith said Sunday before the Celtics defeated the Pistons, 118-111, at TD Garden. “We always tell each other how surreal a moment that would be for us to be able to reconnect again in that realm.” Smith noted the differences with his and Rondo’s contracts — Smith is signed with the Pistons until 2016-17, Rondo’s deal expires after the 2014-15 season. “It can be far-fetched, but it could be possible too, at the same time,” Smith said. Has Smith ever thought that it could happen? “I’m always optimistic,” he said. “I always think of different scenarios. It could happen, but who knows?” Smith admitted to thinking about he and Rondo reuniting last summer before Smith signed a four-year deal with the Pistons. “I thought it could’ve been a possibility, but you know, I’m in Detroit,” Smith said. “I’m happy I’m here. He’s still here. He’s still creating his market as a Celtic.” The two were roommates at Oak Hill. “That’s where the relationship started,” Smith said. They broke down film together and worked out before and after practices, as the gym was within walking distance of their dormitory. They’ve remained close since. “He’s my best friend, especially in the NBA,” Smith said. “We definitely connect. We take family vacations together.”
One advantage HOU has over DAL: HOU can offer him the starting PF job. In DAL, he may still get plenty of minutes, but Dirk is gonna be the main guy at PF.
We are allowed to question Morey. I didn't question him when he traded Alston for Lowry or Landry for Martin or when he traded for Harden. I questioned him when he didn't re-sign Dragic and opted for Lin. I questioned him when he traded a first for Terrence Williams. I questioned him when he gave Joey Dorsey a guaranteed two year contract. I even questioned him giving Kostas a 5 million contract. Questioned him drafting Marcus Morris. Didn't question him when he signed Ariza for the second time. Didn't question him when he didn't trade for Rondo last season or last week. Somethings I'm ok with and other things I'm unsure of. We are allowed to question Morey because there are times he makes decisions that don't plan out. A lot of people on Clutchfans understand the player Josh Smith is and we also understand the type of player Donatas Motiejunas could be. Trading for Josh Smith could be a setback-- or a blessing in disguise. I'm not questioning DMs GMing skills because he's one of the best, if not the best. I'm just unsure how beneficial adding Josh Smith to the roster would be ON-COURT. Morey this morning likely didn't know whether he would sign Smith Wednesday or not-- which means he himself was unsure of Smith. So why can't we be unsure and question whether or not it will be a good move or not.. if him and his team don't know whether or not they want Smith lol?
I don't see how this signing can be bad. You can laugh at his shooting all you want, but it's not like DMo and Jones look like Ryan Anderson out there. Both players pretty much only shoot around the basket, which incidentally is where we want Josh Smith to operate. He'll try some corner 3s, but probably will be more experimental than anything else. Smith's defense is still legit, and having another defensive big with awesome help defense doesn't suck. As for Dallas, don't understimate the power of starting. Smith can probably get just as many minutes in Dallas in Houston, but Dallas isn't making Dirk a 6th man for him. Rockets will make DMo a 6th man for him.
Im just gonna go out there and say it...Josh Smith will be on the roster when we play against the Grizzlies on Friday. Rarely has public perception and team needs meshed. Morey is a master at hiding his trade targets and has done a great job disguising his prey...Josh Smith dropping out of the sky falls under the "what the heck just happened" category. His contract was a nightmare, but the fact that Stan VanGundy essentially cut him...shows that he has some significant inherent risk. Whatever those risks may be, a BAException for a guy who is 29 and clearly better than Dorsey/Black..you take those risks and flush it down the toilet... This move will be a huge gamble for Morey, but sometimes...things like this pay off with huge dividends when least expected. I trust in Morey and his ability to do what is best to build a title contending team.
I don't believe it. There are very few scenario's in which I'd add DMo to a trade. You don't trade away highly productive big men on cheap contracts who are yet to go thru RFA unless you are getting one hell of a return. No reason to move DMo and create another gaping hole when in that scenario he gets the majority of the minutes at C when Howard is on the bench and is still the teams best low post option. Hell , he's still the likely starter with Smith the backup at the pf spot. Gives you a nice three man rotation with Howard , DMo & Smith. Also the addition of Shved reduces the need at PG .... He's pretty much Dragic Lite. They do a lot of the same things tho Dragic is a little better shooter from 3 point range. Because of his size he can also play 3 positions .... He gives you a lot of options. I really like Dragic and have been hoping they would make a move for him but I just don't think it makes sense to give up any rotation pieces to get him with the recent additions. I'd offer them the NO pick , Shved and filler at the deadline .... only if I had the intention of resigning him long term and had commitment from Dragic that it would happen.
How is this a gamble for Morey? Your points seem to contradict each other. Doing exactly what the media expects him to do and filling a need on this team for $2 million doesn't seem like a risky move. A gamble would be Morey passing on Smith.
Any time you pick up a player with a history of being a cancer in the locker room who has right around the lowest basketball IQ on the planet, it's a gamble....especially when you might have to put him as a starter.
