Smith thinks Howard stays put. (Getty Images)
Smith thinks Howard stays put. (Getty Images)

Josh Smith played AAU with Dwight Howard, so when the Hawks were in Los Angeles Sunday night, reporters asked if he thought Howard would re-sign with the Lakers. Smith took the bait and affirmed that he does think Howard is coming back to the yellow and purple. 

"I can't pick his brain and be in his head, but to me, I don't see him going anywhere," Smith said before the Lakers hosted the Hawks at Staples Center.

"It would be a shock to me."

Why?

"Dwight is a loyal athlete and loyal person," Smith said. "He's not a quitter and doesn't run from situations. That's why I believe with this franchise and the way he's talked so well about it, I can't see him going anywhere."

(via Atlanta's Josh Smith thinks his friend Dwight Howard will stay with Lakers - LA Daily News)

Smith also did a non-downplay downplay of the idea he and Howard could play together. Smith is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but with the Lakers' cap space situation, it's virtually impossible that they could generate the necessary cap room to acquire Smith. 

Smith doesn't know what Howard is going to do, no one does, but his logic is sound. There's very little win for Howard in abandoning another franchise this soon after the debacle of the past year-and-a-half. And with the Lakers, no one walks away. 

Smith is also quietly supporting the Lakers here, which is interesting because Atlanta kept all that cap space for a reason, presumably to make a run at Dwight. It makes you wonder why exactly the Hawks would keep all that space open in a poor free-agency class if one of their best players thinks their big target isn't going anywhere. Or why they wouldn't trade Smith, given the same circumstances. 

But here we are. 

The Lakers reached .500 for the first time in a long time this season with a win over Atlanta on Sunday night.