POLL: Josh Smith benched by Van Gundy: do we want him?

[csfansince60s]

Josh Smith was benched by Van Gundy for the whole 4th quarter of the Piston's loss to the Suns.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/11/20/7253661/josh-smith-benched-pistons-vs-suns

This is on the heels of an ill-advised three point shot (sound familiar) taken by Smith at a critical point in the closing moments of a game vs the Bulls a couple of weeks ago which resulted in a bunch of "my bad's" from Smith which got a lot of press.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2014/11/12/detroit-pistons-josh-smith/18914935/

The Josh Smith experiment has failed in Detroit. Last year, they played him out of position at the SF, a very bad spot for him for many reasons not the least of which is how the position itself prototypically expects players  to take the three ball.  That's equivelant to giving a recovering alcoholic a job as a wine-taster. The 3 is his addiction and bad things happen when he takes the three.

This year, Van Gundy was initially supportive of Smith. Now things have devolved to benchings and verbal warfare.

Given the above, I think that we could get Josh Smith for cheap. Something like GWall, Bass and a weak pick, I think, could do it.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=k8hzusj

Detroit gets rid of their headache and gets two veteran leaders and saves about $20 million. Veteran leadership is sorely lacking on that team, and Bass played for Van Gundy in Orlando.
In addition, Josh Smith is a fiery player and, I think, is a bad mix with Stan who is also fiery and can be somewhat caustic at times.

The question becomes "will Josh Smith and all his skills and the salary that we are locked into with him be worth any potential headaches that come with having him on the team?"

The "good" Josh Smith is a great teammate, fiery competitor and a stat-stuffing machine who brings an athleticism and rim protection to our front line that is sorely lacking. He will be an enticement for Rondo to stay around.

The "bad" Josh Smith launches ill-advised threes, and when unhappy can be a handful as evidenced by his dogging it which led to yesterday's benching..

Brad Stevens, Danny and Smith's buddy Rondo have as good a shot at reigning in Josh Smith's negative tendencies as anyone.

The defensive line-up that Smith's acquisition would allow us to put on the court is pretty impressive: Rondo, Bradley/Smart, Green, JSmith, Zellinger.

This is a high risk ($$$ and chemistry) high reward (getting an All-Defensive player on the cheap) scenario.

Would you do this if you were Danny, and what is "the cheap" that you think you would be willing to give up/they would accept?

[Evantime34]

Good job finding the links. I would probably do Bass and Wallace for Smith as long as we weren't required to make a pick.

someone should merge this and the other Smith thread, while keeping the poll.

[Donoghus]

No...no...and no!

[csfansince60s]

Good job finding the links. I would probably do Bass and Wallace for Smith as long as we weren't required to make a pick.

someone should merge this and the other Smith thread, while keeping the poll.

Tp...thanks...just posted apologies in other thread because I type so slowly and asked a mod to merge or let mine die a slow death. Keeping the poll is a good idea though. This board is very divided on Josh Smith. I'd like to see numbers to quantify that divide.

[Vermont Green]

I have never understood the fascination with Josh Smith.  We certainly don't need him on this team at this point in time in the team's development.

[Who]

No. I really like Josh Smith but Boston already has Olynyk and Sullinger at PF. Two of the top young prospects on the team already at his position.

Smith is going to be a great bargain for someone but Boston is not the right team. Smith would hurt the development of our best young talent.

[Evantime34]

No...no...and no!

You don't think he can provide better value to our team than Bass and Wallace?

Sure he has a big contract that he hasn't earned but as a rebuilding team asset accumulation is the most important thing. Smith is an asset with far greater upside than Bass/Wallace.

[MBunge]

I'm not sure I'd want Smith in any case but if he came to Boston, he'd either have to spend a lot of time at the 3 or Sully would wind up at the 5.

The only way I'd even consider it would be Smith and Monroe for Bass, Wallace and Sully.  I think KO could work better coming off the bench at the 4 and 5 spot.  But given Monroe is a free agent after his season....no.

Mike

[Who]

Miami should make a run at Josh Smith. He would be great alongside Chris Bosh.

Really upgrade Miami's defensive quickness. Make them lethal in transition game.

[csfansince60s]

No...no...and no!

You don't think he can provide better value to our team than Bass and Wallace?

Sure he has a big contract that he hasn't earned but as a rebuilding team asset accumulation is the most important thing. Smith is an asset with far greater upside than Bass/Wallace.

Agree, and it also gives us the flexibility to move Sully or Oly, so the 4 wouldn't be so logjammed, and garner more assets.

[pearljammer10]

No. I really like Josh Smith but Boston already has Olynyk and Sullinger at PF. Two of the top young prospects on the team already at his position.

Smith is going to be a great bargain for someone but Boston is not the right team. Smith would hurt the development of our best young talent.

Pretty much my sentiments too. As I posted in the other thread Smith has a world of talent, playing alongside Green and Rondo would be a great great team to watch. Unless we were able to turn Sully a pick and an expiring into a legit top 5 or 10 center, then I don't see the need for Smith unfortunately.

Too bad Smith wasn't 6 11 or 7 feet. Then it would be a yes in a heartbeat.

[Donoghus]

No...no...and no!

You don't think he can provide better value to our team than Bass and Wallace?

Sure he has a big contract that he hasn't earned but as a rebuilding team asset accumulation is the most important thing. Smith is an asset with far greater upside than Bass/Wallace.

From a pure talent standpoint?  Sure.   

The problem is when you consider other factors;  the horrific contract, his propensity for boneheaded play on the court, and given what the Celtics already have at the 4.  Faf touched on that in the other thread.

How much of an asset is he really with that contract?

[Celtics4ever]

No.

[Hawkeye199]

no

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Why would we want someone else's expensive problem child (talking basketball wise of course).