Josh Smith to the Rockets: Guide to the Potential Move

Josh Smith named the Houston Rockets as one of his preferred destinations to be traded to should the Atlanta Hawks pursue a potential deal.

It's fairly obvious that the Hawks are thinking about dealing the versatile forward in an effort to improve the club, as the team even flirted with the idea of dealing him for the second overall pick prior to the 2011 draft.

With Atlanta seemingly stuck in the middle and unable to get over the hump, the team is going to have to do something in an effort to compete with powerhouses like Miami, Chicago and Boston atop the Eastern Conference.

There's no question that he'd be an instant improvement to the Houston frontline that is clearly searching for size, and his incredible versatility would be an asset to a club with a lot of undersized contributors currently on the roster.

Smith has a skill set that others would clamor for, and he could really contribute across the stat sheet for a Houston franchise that could sorely use his production in an effort to vie for a postseason berth.

How It Could Happen: Trade

The Rockets have a number of intriguing pieces on the roster, but there's no chance that they'll make a realistic surge in the Western Conference without some improvements.

Kyle Lowry emerged at the point guard position last season, and the Rockets got some very valuable play from youngster Patrick Patterson as well as Chuck Hayes.

Although Houston also drafted Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Morris to bolster the size on the team, it's hard to rely on rookies for sizable contributions considering the impact of the extended lockout.

The addition of Smith would add an element of intrigue, athleticism and excitement that simply hasn't been present for the Rockets along the front line, and would simultaneously allow for the team to focus on other areas through free agency.

Potential Trade: Three-Team Deal

Houston acquires: PF Josh Smith

The Rockets acquire Smith, who immediately replaces Scola at the power forward position in the starting lineup. The pairing of Marcus Morris and Smith on the same low block should prove to be a potent one into the future.

Atlanta acquires: PG Jameer Nelson, SG J.J. Redick, 1st-round pick via Houston

The Hawks get a shooter off the bench to replace Jamal Crawford in the second unit, while also receiving an adequate insurance policy to youngster Jeff Teague in Nelson.

Orlando acquires: PG Kirk Hinrich, PF Luis Scola

The Magic receive a talented power forward to pair with Dwight Howard as well as a point guard who looks to facilitate the offense rather than his own shot.

How Smith Fits with the Rockets

As previously alluded to, the Rockets would benefit greatly with Smith on the roster so long as the team has precise plans as to how to utilize him.

He has illustrated repeatedly that he's at his best when he doesn't settle for mid and long range jumpers, instead attacking the rim and using his athleticism to a competitive advantage against the opposition.

In a revamped offense led by Kevin McHale, the new coach could really serve as an excellent mentor for Smoove, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him flourish in a new location whatsoever.

It's incredible to think about what he could accomplish if he didn't continually settle for jump shots, and with McHale's knowledge of how to get it done in the post, it's easy to see why Smith could really be a major beneficiary from his tutelage. 

There's a lot to love about what Smith brings to the court, and Rockets fans might already be having visions of what a Kyle Lowry initiated alley-oop might look like.

Chances of Rockets Winning a Championship with Smith

Could Smith be a piece to a championship puzzle for the Rockets? Absolutely.

Is Smith the missing piece that's going to catapult the team forward and be the deciding factor in ascertaining a championship? Absolutely not.

He is a good player with the potential to be great, but to label him a franchise-changing face would simply be setting the bar a little too high in terms of expectations.

There's certainly no secret about the allure of Smith's game, and the Hawks are going to be expecting a solid package in return should Houston decide to pull the trigger on any deal.

The team has to add some some additional talent around Smith in order to make this deal work, as he's certainly not a quick fix to any problem despite what he brings to the court on his own.

Odds of Smith Landing in Houston

Current Odds: 10 percent

As great as a fit Smith may very well be in Houston, the odds on this particular scenario remain remote for the time being.

It's tough to imagine a Rockets team that likely won't make a strong push in an improving Western Conference give up what would be necessary to acquire Smith, but some of the biggest deals in trade history have seemingly come out of nowhere.

While Smith would certainly be an intriguing addition and would be fun for Rockets fans to watch on a nightly basis, the team has to be sure it doesn't set itself back in the rebuilding process by making an ill-timed move.

There's certainly wiggle room if the Rockets would like to begin the negotiating process, but it's not a move I'd be hopeful of seeing happen in a truncated offseason.