Josh Smith would an ideal candidate for the Chicago Bulls – NBA Feature
Josh Smith has been one of the most exciting players to come out of this NBA season. The Atlanta Hawks forward had a breakaway season; improving his personal statistics and helping his team clinch a playoff spot once again, while
finishing with the 4th best record in the Eastern Conference.
Smith is in his 8th year in the NBA, and has been a part of the Hawks team since he arrived on the NBA scene. This year has been the best of his career, averaging career high 18.8 points and 9.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists
and 1.7 blocks per game.
Smith is a force both on the offensive and defensive sides of the game. He was the runner up for the defensive player of the year of the 2009-10 season and is also the 2005 NBA Slam Dunk Champion. He is tall, athletic, explosive
and a strong finisher.
In short, Smith has all the ingredients required in a star player and had he been in any other big market club, he would have been a house hold name by now.
The relationship between the Hawks and Smith has not been the best in the last few years. In 2008, he was a restricted free agent and was signed by the Memphis Grizzlies but the Hawks matched the offer. He did not like the fact
that he actually had to go and find a contract on his own to get the Hawks to resign him.
He has also been known to be unhappy with his team because he believes the Hawks are not committed towards winning an NBA championship, which is the dream of any NBA player. The Hawks have not added any player to their roster that
could make them potential championship winners, and even though they have been making the playoffs on a constant basis, do not get past the 1st or 2nd round.
This season, Atlanta was eliminated from the 1st round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. After the season for the Hawks had finished, there were rumours that Smith had asked the team management for a trade. He still
has one year left in his contract with the Hawks but it is unlikely that he will return to the Hawks roster.
Among the possible teams that Smith could land on, the Chicago Bulls are at the top of the list.
The Bulls were eliminated once again from this year’s playoffs in the first round after Derrick Rose sustained an injury in game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers and was sidelined for the rest of the playoffs.
The Bulls are now considering a revamp of their roster as well as their team philosophy, one in which Smith and his will to win it all would be an excellent addition.
He is a power forward at 6 feet 9 inches and could take the place of Carlos Boozer, who had yet another disappointing season with the Bulls. The Bulls could use their amnesty clause on Boozer, or could use him off the bench though
that seems highly unlikely considering the size of his contract.
Smith is a strong scorer who has the ability to penetrate into the paint and get good looks at the basket. He is a strong finisher, which enables him to drive into the defence and finish strong. He averaged 45.8% from the field
this season, which is quite good for a player who has a solid jump shot.
Smith would also strengthen the athletic ability of the Bulls and his explosiveness would make Bulls a fast paced team, one area where they are lacking. He can be used in transition and fast break plays very effectively. He will
provide another solid scoring option for the Bulls; while at the same time further strengthen their rebounding abilities. Smith could take full advantage of the presence of Derrick Rose, one of the best point guards in the league. Rose could set up plays for
Smith by breaking down the defence, or could find him open in the paint area for easy looks.
The addition of Smith would strengthen the Bulls roster and cater for the weaknesses in their game at present. It would also provide Rose with an opportunity to play with an established scorer to whom he could play with on fast
breaks and transitions.
Rose himself is a very explosive player and needs someone in the team that can match his pace. Smith has so far not made any comments on where he would like to go in the next season; neither have the Bulls so far made their intentions
about hunting a new forward public. However, one cannot deny that they are ideal for each other, and the thought must have crossed their minds as well.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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