Atlanta Hawks: Trade Josh Smith and Lose AJC Writer Mark Bradley?

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

I would definitely consider a deal today for Chris Bosh.  With Bosh, the Hawks would have a legitimate shot to improve in the East next year.  Yes, he is in the last year of his deal.  That just means two things:  he is going to play great next year and you have a year to convince him to re-sign with the Hawks.  He might just fall back in love with the city of Atlanta. 

Imagine the kind of financial freedom that would give the Hawks for the free agency bonanza of NBA summer 2010.  If Joe Johnson wants to explore free agency, the Hawks might be able to convince Bosh to re-sign and bring Dwayne Wade to the ATL.  You could have both Wade and Bosh for two or three more years.

Bradley just goes off the deep end when he says he would not trade Smith for the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.  Blake Griffin’s tenacity, effort, desire, and will to win, especially on the glass, would make Bradley forget about Josh Smith about four games into the 2009-2010 regular season. 

Griffin in the starting lineup makes the Hawks a better team next year.  It would also free up a ton of money to sign someone else—Hedo Turkoglu for instance.  Think about this lineup:  Mike Bibby or Eric Maynor, Joe Johnson, Turkoglu, Blake Griffin, and Al Horford.  You could bring Marvin Williams, Flip Murray, Mo Williams, Sam Young, and some other free-agent big man off the bench. 

Season ticket sales would be sky high.  The Hawks would be must see NBA action every night.

Okay, these trades seem far-fetched.  How about a legitimate trade option?  You mean, Mr. Bradley, that you would not trade Josh Smith for Monta Ellis?  That trade would be great for the Hawks.  I think the salary and year numbers are close enough to match up.  This actually might be a workable trade.

GM Rick Sund needs to explore every scenario this summer to improve the Hawks.  This team is at a crossroads.  It has to get better. 

Sund might be floating Josh Smith rumors so Joe Johnson will sign his extension thinking that Smith is on his way out.  He might be floating Smith’s name out there, but really trying to deal Joe Johnson.  Uh, that would be a big mistake. 

I would just like someone to do some digging and find out some real news!  Call and ask Sund a question.  The problem might be that good analysis does not really translate into page views, while a picture of Megan Fox sitting on a bathtub wrapped in a towel does.  By the way, AJC, please give Sekou Smith a picture on his Hawks blog.

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