Brooklyn's Beat

Per @MaxLuckan on twitter, the Nets are front runners to secure Josh Smith. And according to Chris Broussard, the Hawks have a 60 % chance of dealing Smith and the Nets are interested.

It’s easy to see why Atlanta wants to deal Smith. After years of chasing a title behind Joe Johnson, the Hawks dealt him to Brooklyn in a cost cutting move. Danny Ferry has brought about a new era in Atlanta where the team hopes to be more fiscally responsible: something the new CBA practically mandates. So once reports surfaced that Smith seeks a max deal, it seems the writing is on the wall.

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According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, the Nets have “had discussions” with the Charlotte Bobcats concerning a Humphries for Ben Gordon swap.[1]  The trade makes sense for the Nets in the short and long tem, and says a lot about the Nets as an organization.

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At his final presser, Avery Johnson said, “I really thought we were going to meet and talk about what was gonna start happening around Jan. 15 when we could make a couple of moves.”

January 15 is not coincidentally the date that Kris Humphries is trade eligible. With Deron Joe and Brook not being dealt unless there’s a major shakeup, and Gerald having 4 years on his deal, Humphries is the most likely big piece the Nets can deal to get better. With rules requiring salaries in trades to match, the Nets have to deal a high salary player to bring in another, which necessitates a Humphries trade to bring back significant value.

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