Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sixers passing on Josh Smith?
By Joe Kaiser
Philadelphia is four games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and yesterday ESPN's Chad Ford mentioned the 76ers as a possible landing spot for Atlanta's Josh Smith. How likely is it that Philly deals for a talent like Smith in the final year of his deal?
According to one report, not very likely at all.
John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes today that two league sources indicate that the 76ers would not be interested in dealing for Smith (Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner are two of the players Philly is willing to trade, per Ford).
"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 tells the newspaper. "I don't see where that makes sense for them."
As Mitchell points out, any team that trades for Smith would acquire his Larry Bird rights, meaning they could sign him to a more lucrative deal than any other team after the season. Though that doesn't guarantee Smith will re-sign in Philly or wherever else he lands (if he's traded), it is one factor that definitely comes into play.
