Atlanta Hawks' forward Josh Smith could be heading to New York to join up with former teammate Joe Johnson in Brooklyn.
According to ESPN the Nets are hoping to acquire Smith in exchange for Kris Humphries (Still, technically, Mr. Kim Kardashian) and Marshon Brooks. The Hawks are also reportedly asking for a first-round draft pick in exchange for Smith.
With the NBA trading deadline just 10 days away (Feb. 21, at 3 p.m.) the Hawks need to decide quickly if they will trade the soon-to-be free agent or keep him and risk losing him, via free agency, for no compensation.
As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting, "the Hawks forward will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Both the Hawks and Smith have said there will be no contract talks during the season, each preferring to wait until after the year to decide in which direction to go."
One ESPN source said that there is a "60% change [chance]" that the Hawks will decide to trade Smith.
One of the main reasons that this deal hasn't been completed, or, is in danger of not being done at all, is the insistence of the Hawks to get Smith's contract off their payroll entirely.
Under this scenario, the Nets would pay what is remaining on Smith's $13.2 million contract, according to bleacherreport.com, take his cap hit and probably have to offer him a maximum contract, which for Smith, would be, "about $70 million from another team or five years, about $94 million from the Hawks. Certainly, there is the possibility of something in between," this according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
There is also the possibility of a sign-and-trade agreement-the Hawks would sign Smith to the max and trade him to the Nets who would obtain the player and his new max deal.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also states that Smith believes he is worth the max.
However, if the Hawks are interested in the trade, namely, Humphries, they need to move quickly. ESPN reports that the Nets are reportedly talking to other teams about a trade for Humphries. One source says that one of those others teams is the Charlotte Bobcats and in return for Humphries, they will give up Ben Gordon.
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