The Los Angeles Lakers were rumored to be targeting Atlanta Hawks star Josh Smith with Pau Gasol being the biggest piece traded away. There were also mention of several draft picks, but with the 2012 Draft over it seems as though the deal has hit a wall.
However, with free-agency approaching rapidly there will be a plethora of trades and the Smith deal may come back to life. Still, the Lakers are not the only team going after the forward. Nevertheless, the Hawks may not be willing to make a move yet. New General Manager Danny Ferry is still wondering if he should keep Smith on the roster, Pro Basketball Talk.
Boston, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers — with Pau Gasol as the prime piece being offered in L.A.’s case — have joined Orlando this week in making their interest in Smith known.
Yet as Ferry settles into the job, sources say he wants to take stock of things before deciding if he’s prepared to go into next season without Smith, who is entering the final year of his contract at $13.2 million and has let it be known for some time that he’d welcome a trade.
Smith would be a nice pick up for the Lakers as he brings the team some youth and athleticism. Although he may not be as mature as Gasol, Smith is a nice building piece for the future.
