NBA Rumors: Atlanta Hawks Have No Reason to Honor Josh Smith's Trade Request

The Atlanta Hawks are in no position to sell at the trade deadline. They're seven games over .500, and only a major collapse will keep them from making the Eastern Conference playoff cut.

So why on earth would they trade Josh Smith?

Smith would like them to. According to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Smith has informed Atlanta's brass he wants to be traded.

He has his reasons, such as they are. Smith wants out of Atlanta because he wants a "fresh start" on a new team where he can realize his potential on and off the court. He's also miffed at the Hawks for failing to campaign on his behalf to make the All-Star team. He also thinks he has a better chance of winning a championship elsewhere.

However, unlike, say, Dwight Howard, Smith doesn't really have a leg to stand on as far as his trade request is concerned. It's not like he can leave as a free agent after the season if the Hawks don't honor his request.

On the contrary, Smith is signed through next season. The Hawks do not have to worry about losing him, as the Magic have to worry about losing Howard. Aside from Smith's sulking, there is no force to drive the Hawks to make a deal, and Smith's sulking isn't much of a force.

Cunningham notes the Hawks have fielded calls about Smith, but they have shown "no indication" they are actually willing to trade him.

Nor should they. The Hawks could undoubtedly get a good package of players and maybe even picks for Smith, but dealing him would put a pretty serious dent in the team's postseason plans.

Smith is having the finest season of his career, and he's played pretty well in each of Atlanta's last four postseason trips. It suffices to say that giving him up would be counterproductive, at least as far as this season is concerned.

Are the Hawks title contenders? Absolutely not. They are, however, good enough to survive past the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, and they could advance further if they happen to get hot at the right time.

Instead of trying to force his way out, Smith should be focused on making a hot run through the postseason. That would be far more productive than moping and asking for a trade due to decidedly trivial reasons.