Josh Smith Shipping Off to the Boston Celtics in the 2011 Offseason?

Josh Smith has been one of the most overlooked, and sometimes frustrating, young players in the NBA.

According to numerous rumors, the Celtics were interested in trading Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett in exchange for the three-point shooting power forward out of Oak Hill Academy, coincidentally the same school Rajon Rondo. Despite the rumors becoming null and void, it is interesting to at least explore the positives and negatives of this potential deal.

If you thought it was frustrating watching Rasheed Wallace meander across the court, you might gouge your eyes at times watching “J-Smoove” linger at the opposite end of the floor. His immature attitude, believed to be due to no veteran presence on the young Atlanta Hawks team, has consistently plagued his talent on the hardwood.

At the same time it is hard to stray away from his outstanding athletic ability, defensive capabilities and pure talent. Smoove statistically had one of his better seasons, posting his best career three-point percentage (33 percent) and free-throw percentage (73 percent). He has never averaged below six rebounds per game for a season, an area Boston has struggled with since year one of the Big Three era. The 6’9", seven-year veteran puts up numbers all over the stat sheet, from blocks to assists, and is a very versatile and athletic big man.

Enough about his talent though, it really comes down to money and whether this would really work or not. Technically this deal could work, but it would give Boston nearly no flexibility. It wouldn’t make much sense, personnel-wise, to move Allen for Smith, but essentially these contracts could match up (Allen is owed $10 million next season, while Smith is owed $12.5 million).

As for Garnett, he is owed almost $10 million more than Smith (KG is owed $21.2 million) and would require some sort of package deal for his services. While Smith’s abilities could possibly be a huge upgrade, or a huge letdown, his contract requirements would put Boston in a very tight position. It would basically remove them from the ability to offer a max contact to any specific free agent (cough...Dwight Howard...cough) in the summer of 2012.

All money and on-court ability considered, Smith could be just one more piece toward adding the biggest free agent in the 2012 offseason and a revamped Big Three. Dwight Howard has made his relationship with Josh Smith well known, going as far as to have Smith as his best man in his wedding this past year. Howard might just be a bit more intrigued to wear the Boston green and white for less money if he’s able to play with his old running mates from Oak Hill and AAU ball.

Only time will tell what Danny Ainge is capable of, but for now, we can only sit and wait as he continues to work the phones like a chess board.