A possible trade that would send Josh Smith to the Lakers and Pau Gasol to the Hawks have been in talks for quite some time but it appeared they were just rumors. Now it seems the Lakers are very interested in in the trade but there’s a snag in the plans. Read more after the jump.
According to ESPN
Sources say that the Hawks, at present, have no interest in parting with Josh Smith and Kyle Korver for Gasol. Or even Smith and lesser parts for Gasol.
Positions can obviously change between now and the Feb. 21 trade deadline, but sources maintain that Atlanta has not been enticed in the least by the prospect of parting with the 26-year-old Smith — even as he heads into unrestricted free agency — for the 32-year-old Gasol. The Hawks, for the record, have also been telling interested teams that they value Smith and what he offers as a hybrid forward in an Eastern Conference that’s generally been getting smaller.
Josh Smith is more athletic and would fit better in D’Antoni’s run and gun offense but Pau Gasol has a higher basketball IQ. Gasol is much more versatile big man who can pass, shoot and rebound. Smith however will become a free agent after this season so he may end up leaving Atlanta anyways. We’ll see what happens.
