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| Not a Sixer? (Getty Images) |
Josh Smith is pretty much the hot commodity on the trade market with Pau Gasol injured. He's been linked to several teams and vaunted media outlet "the Internet" has had him linked to the Sixers in recent days. But The Philadelphia Inquirer says it's not happening:
Websites have speculated about a possible trade that would send Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes to Atlanta for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Josh Smith, but such a deal would not interest the 76ers, according to two league sources with knowledge of the situation.
"Why would the Sixers be interested in making a deal for a player who can walk at the end of the season and leave them holding nothing but the bag?" one source said. "I don't see where that makes sense for them."
Interesting wording there. "A player who can walk at the end of the season and leave them holding nothing but the bag?" Andrew Bynum is an expiring contract, will be a free agent, and he can walk at the end of the season and leave them holding nothing but the bag. And wouldn't having Bynum be a pretty big pull to get Smith to re-sign?
Jrue Holiday, Smith and Bynum with shooters is a pretty good setup. But you have to worry about a system that is so supportive of mid-range jumpers when it comes to Smith. He's too unstable with his shot selection. That's a lot of money for an injury-prone center, a rising point guard and a small forward with poor shot selection.
The Sixers have been painfully slow the past four years in making deals, so it's not surprising they're resisting this one as well. Why become good when you can be mediocre?
