Atlanta Hawks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southeast Notes: Magic, Redick, Smith, Wizards

February 12th, 2013 at 10:52am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA's three worst winning-percentages all belong to Southeast teams, but two of those three clubs collected victories last night, as the Bobcats upset the Celtics and the Wizards beat the Bucks for their fourth straight win. Here's the latest out of the division:

The Magic will be able to afford to keep J.J. Redick past this season, but must decide whether it's worth investing long-term money in a role player when they're trying to create cap flexibility, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld writes that the Magic certainly aren't sitting out the trade deadline, but may ultimately stand relatively pat if there are no deals out there that help them gather long-term assets and flexibility. The price on Redick has been "steep" and many of the offers out there wouldn't help Orlando in the long run, according to Kyler.
Josh Smith tells Jeff Caplan of NBA.com that he has "a lot invested" in his hometown of Atlanta, and that he'll give full consideration to re-signing with the Hawks if he remains on the team through this season.
The Wizards' acquisitions of Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor are looking better now that the team has gotten healthy, says Tom Ziller of SBNation.com.

Nets Making Serious Push For Josh Smith

February 10th, 2013 at 9:05pm CST by Zachary Links

9:05pm: While the two teams are engaged in discussions, nothing is close yet, a source tells Broussard. The Nets are willing to give up Kris Humphries and guard MarShon Brooks for Smith, but it almost certainly will take more to make it happen and one source said the Hawks want a first-round pick.

Broussard writes that some scenarios that have been discussed include re-acquiring Anthony Morrow, but that would not be possible. A player cannot be traded back to a team within one year of that team trading him away, according to the CBA.

The Hawks also reportedly want a young center in return for Smith so the Nets may have to get a third team involved.

7:52pm: The Nets are going hard after Hawks forward Josh Smith, sources tell Chris Broussard of ESPN (on Twitter). While General Manager Billy King & Co. have also discussed a deal for Bobcats guard Ben Gordon, Smith is the bigger priority at the moment.

Earlier today, a report suggested that the Hawks aren't actively shopping Smith, despite the whirlwind of trade talk surrounding him. Meanwhile, Broussard handicapped the odds of Smith being shipped out of Atlanta at 60% earlier this week. It makes sense that the Hawks would explore a deal as they met with the 27-year-old's representatives this week and let them know that they're not interested in signing him to the max deal that he is seeking.

If General Manager Danny Ferry can take Smith off of the books, then he could potentially have room for two max deal players this summer. That prospect combined with the return that Smith could net would seem to make him one of the stronger trade candidates as we approach the deadline. The Suns, Rockets, and Bobcats have been said to have interest in acquiring Smith while the forward would like a trade to the Mavericks or Grizzlies if he had his way.

Eastern Notes: Josh Smith, Turner, Richardson

February 10th, 2013 at 1:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

Rumors have been swirling around Josh Smith the past couple of days, yet HoopsWorld's Lang Greene says that the Hawks aren't actively shopping Smith for now, and are simply listening to offers to gauge the power forward's value. Greene also passes along the comments Smith made about the speculation in a video report by Atlanta journalist Nubyjas Wilborn. Smith is far from the only player who's had to respond to trade chatter as the February 21st deadline approaches, as we hear from another who could be on the move in our roundup from the Eastern Conference:

Evan Turner's name has also emerged on the trading block, and the former No. 2 overall pick acknowledges the decision is out of his hands, as John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes.
Mitchell wouldn't be surprised if the Sixers and Jason Richardson wind up pursuing a buyout. Richardson, who could be out as long as 12 months with a cartilage tear on his kneecap, is due $5.8MM this year and $6.2MM next season, with a $6.6MM player option for 2014/15.
Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com hears the Knicks will assess the health of Rasheed Wallace, who's dealing with a left foot injury, after the All-Star break, and if the results aren't favorable, they'll pursue another big man.
Coach Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls agreed to a four-year extension worth up to $20MM in October, but Thibodeau has yet to sign the contract, reports Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News.

Odds & Ends: Josh Smith, Suns, Mavs, Tony Allen

February 9th, 2013 at 3:37pm CST by Chuck Myron

It's a light five-game schedule in the NBA tonight, with no clashes of two teams that appear to be headed for the playoffs. So, it may be time for a few executives around the league to take their eyes off the court and delve into trade talks, with the deadline just a dozen days away. We'll be keeping tabs on all the latest, with a few afternoon items right here:

Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News expects the Suns and Mavs to be players for Josh Smith before the deadline (Twitter link). Yesterday we heard there's a 60% chance the Hawks deal Smith away, and that they're seeking a "quality young center" in return — the sort of asset neither Phoenix nor Dallas appears to possess, which could necessitate a three-way swap.
Shaun Powell of Sports on Earth praises Tony Allen's defense, and passes along comments from the Grizzlies swingman about hitting free agency this summer. "I'd like to stay but whatever happens I'm cool with it," Allen said. "I'll get what's coming to me. At least I hope. They say defense wins games, right? They say it's all about how you play defense, right?"
Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game is surprised that Brandon Jennings has changed agents, arguing that Excel's Jeff Schwartz is likely to use the same leverage BDA's Bill Duffy would have when Jennings becomes a restricted free agent in the offseason (Sulia link).
Brad Rock of the Deseret News believes the Jazz should stand pat at the trade deadline and preserve their flexibility for the summer.
Chris Dortch of NBA.com looks at how potential No. 1 overall pick Nerlens Noel sizes up against Anthony Davis and other shot-blocking savants.
Joe Kotoch of SheridanHoops.com examines the top power forwards available in the 2013 draft.

Latest On Dwight Howard

February 9th, 2013 at 2:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

This week, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak proclaimed that the team will not trade Dwight Howard before the deadline, and while that means D12 may remain in purple and gold through the end of the season, it doesn't preclude a change of scenery before 2013 is through. Howard will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and though the Lakers are "very confident" he'll re-sign, plenty of other teams figure to be in pursuit, notably the Rockets, Hawks and Mavs. Here's more of what we're hearing:

Howard said he and his father talk every day — just not about basketball — and remains hesitant to address Dwight Sr.'s public comments, as Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News documents. Howard's father called for his son to sit down with Bryant and coach Mike D'Antoni to hash out their problems, but Bryant and D'Antoni don't think there's anything to discuss.

Earlier updates:

The transition from being the unquestioned team leader in Orlando to Kobe Bryant's sidekick with the Lakers has worn on Howard, his father believes, but Dwight Sr. told Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he thinks his son will still re-sign with L.A.
Dwight Sr. rules out the Nets as a potential destination for his son, who are unlikely to have the cap space to sign him anyway, but seemed to leave the door open for the Hawks, who play in the family's hometown. "Dwight hasn’t said anything about Atlanta, either. But he likes home. I think he would love to end his career here, even though he hasn’t said that publicly," Dwight Sr. said.
Despite last year's "Dwightmare," Howard's father isn't sure that his son truly wanted to leave the Magic, believing he received poor advice from his representatives.
The younger Howard had little response to his father's remarks, telling reporters, including Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register, "I'm not getting into it" (Twitter link).
Rashard Lewis, one of Howard's former teammates with the Magic, offered his prediction for the big man's summer as well, letting Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida know his "gut feeling" is that Howard will re-sign with the Lakers (Sulia link). "He most definitely likes the city, likes the organization," Lewis said. "It’s one of the first-class organizations. The Lakers have a history of winning championships, and that’s what he wants to do is win championships. So we’ll see what happens at the end of the season, but my gut feeling is I think he’ll stay there."

Stein’s Latest: Clippers, Josh Smith, Randolph

February 8th, 2013 at 11:42pm CST by Chuck Myron

Marc Stein's Weekend Dime at ESPN.com is usually full of juicy rumors year-round, and with the trade deadline less than two weeks away, this week's edition is especially jam-packed. Let's dig in:

The Clippers went fishing for Kevin Garnett, and while the Celtics seem uninterested in such a swap, Stein expects Clippers to keep looking for deals as the trade deadline draws near. L.A. might like to send out DeAndre Jordan, who's eager for more playing time and whose lack of production has frustrated coach Vinny Del Negro, but the more likely trade chip is third-year point guard Eric Bledsoe. Stein hears there's a 99.5% chance Chris Paul re-signs this summer, but if the Clippers endure an early playoff exit, Paul's future, as well as Del Negro's job, could hang in the balance.
If the Hawks trade Josh Smith, they'll be looking for "a quality young center" in return.
The Grizzlies have told Zach Randolph they won't trade him, and Memphis is unlikely to make another move involving Randolph or anyone else. Still, despite coach Lionel Hollins' insistence that he and management are on the same page, the coach's dim view of the Rudy Gay trade has cast a pall on the locker room, as Stein writes.
Reports that the Rockets have interest in Danny Granger are inaccurate, according to Stein.
Denver isn't biting on an offer for Timofey Mozgov unless the Nuggets get one that's "crazy good."
The Sixers, open to a shakeup as they wait for Andrew Bynum to make his Philadelphia debut, are shopping Evan Turner.
Samuel Dalembert was on the market even before he did his best to showcase his value with a career-best 35-point game against the Nuggets this week, and he's not the only player Milwaukee might trade. Monta Ellis and Beno Udrih are among the Bucks who could be on the move.
Boston isn't better with Rajon Rondo out for the season, but Stein believes the Celtics' six-game winning streak can be at least partially explained by the team's improved attitude without the moody Rondo around.

Hawks Entertaining Trade Offers For Josh Smith

February 8th, 2013 at 5:41pm CST by Luke Adams

5:41pm: There's a 60 percent chance the Hawks trade Smith before the deadline, tweets Chris Broussard of ESPN.com, who hears the Nets are among several teams interested.

5:27pm: Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution hears there have been no talks about a new contract between Smith and the Hawks, including the team's refusal to give him a max deal (Twitter link). It's unclear whether Vivlamore means the team hasn't refused to make Smith a max offer, or if that refusal is what's stymied further discussion.

3:38pm: The Hawks met with Josh Smith's representatives this week and indicated that the team wasn't interested in signing Smith to a maximum-salary contract this summer, reports David Aldridge at NBA.com. As such, Atlanta is now entertaining trade offers for the free-agent-to-be, though the club has yet to decide whether Smith will be moved, according to Aldridge.

Aldridge writes that the Hawks and GM Danny Ferry are still in "fact-finding" mode when it comes to exploring the market for Smith, though the player himself is prepared to move on. We heard recently that Smith considers himself worthy of a max deal in unrestricted free agency this summer, but the Hawks are unwilling to commit that kind of money at the expense of future cap flexibility. If Smith is removed from the books this summer, Atlanta could have room for two maximum-salary free agents.

The Suns, Rockets, and Bobcats are among the teams that reportedly have some level of interest in acquiring Smith, while the 27-year-old has been said to have interest in joining the Mavericks or Grizzlies as well. While Smith unquestionably has a ton of talent, he'd be a risky acquisition for any team, given the uncertainty on whether or not he'd re-sign this summer. He also has a 15% trade kicker, meaning he'd get a modest raise on his $13.2MM salary if he were moved, a bonus his new team would have to pay.

Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors examined Smith as a trade candidate last weekend.

Ford’s Latest: Bucks, Smith, Randolph, Nuggets

February 6th, 2013 at 2:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Although Chad Ford's weekly chat at ESPN.com featured plenty of draft questions once again this week, Ford also addressed a number of trade questions and rumors. Many of Ford's answers focused more on his own opinions or speculation, but here are a few of the highlights from ESPN's NBA draft guru:

Ford is hearing that the Bucks are "very active" and that Samuel Dalembert isn't the only player they're actively discussing. Monta Ellis, Beno Udrih, and Ersan Ilyasova could all be had as well, according to Ford.
The Hawks would like to move Josh Smith, but the market for him isn't currently very strong and the team is still holding on to hope that Smith could help lure Dwight Howard to Atlanta this summer, says Ford.
Zach Randolph "looks like a marked man," according to Ford, though it's not clear whether he thinks the Grizzlies will trade Randolph in the next two weeks or further down the road.
Ford keeps hearing the Nuggets mentioned in trade scenarios, with Danilo Gallinari's and Wilson Chandler's names coming up most frequently.

Lakers “Very Confident” Howard Will Re-Sign

February 6th, 2013 at 8:43am CST by Luke Adams

We began yesterday with a round-up of the latest Lakers rumors, and there's enough going on in Los Angeles lately that we're starting off today the same way. Here are the latest Lakers-related links:

Besides asserting publicly that Dwight Howard won't be moved this month, the Lakers have also assured Howard privately that he won't be going anywhere, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com.
The Lakers haven't asked Howard directly whether he plans to stay or go in free agency, but Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (within Broussard's piece) says the team is "very confident" that Howard will re-sign.
The Hawks, Mavericks, and Rockets figure to make a play for Howard in free agency, but the Lakers will have the ability to offer D12 about $30MM more in guaranteed money, as I outlined here. According to Broussard's sources, that extra money means a lot to Howard, who may be less inclined to give up an extra year of security given his recent injury woes.
Of the rival suitors for Howard, the Rockets may be the most dangerous, says Broussard. While Howard wasn't interested in going to Houston a year ago, he recognizes that the club is much improved since then.
Speaking to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN.com about his future, Howard said he's committed to the Lakers — for this season.
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are "very concerned" about the injury Pau Gasol suffered last night, writes Chris Mannix of SI.com, adding that the club needs Howard more than ever now.

Spears On Mozgov, Josh Smith, Rondo, Gay

February 5th, 2013 at 1:14pm CST by Luke Adams

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports has been busy today, publishing a piece on Lindsey Hunter's adjustment to the head coaching job in Phoenix as well as posting Yahoo!'s weekly power rankings, which features the Spurs in the No. 1 spot once again. Spears' power rankings also feature a few tidbits of note, which we'll round up right here:

The Nuggets are getting plenty of calls about Timofey Mozgov, but aren't under any financial pressure to make a deal. They'll probably only move Mozgov for a "too-good-to-be-true offer," says Spears.
While there's still plenty of speculation that the Hawks could trade Josh Smith, interested teams have been keeping any talks very quiet.
A surgery date for Rajon Rondo's ACL still hasn't been set, as Rondo could seek opinions from as many as three doctors.
A source close to Rudy Gay tells Spears that the newest Raptor was happy about leaving the Grizzlies and should be a very good fit in Toronto — not only in the team's up-tempo offense, but in the city as well.