With only two days left between now and the Feb. 21 NBA trade deadline, the rumor mill is heating up regarding one of the most talked-about trade targets in Josh Smith.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Atlanta Hawks are said to be talking with the Milwaukee Bucks about swapping Smith, their talented, but expensive 6'9" small forward for point guard Monta Ellis.
"Hawks' interest believed to start w/Monta Ellis, since Monta could play next to Jeff Teague, whom Hawks still like," tweeted Stein.
The trade, if it does happen, would automatically give the Hawks one of the more formidable backcourts in the East, pairing Ellis, averaging 18.4 points and 5.5 assists this season, with Teague, 24, one of the better young point guards in the league.
Atlanta has been rumored to be aggressively shopping Smith, who wants a max contract that is simply out of Atlanta's price range. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, there is little chance that he will re-sign with Atlanta, which is why Smith's name has been popping up in trade rumors lately.
The Hawks were also reportedly speaking with the Philadelphia 76ers regarding trading Smith in exchange for Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes.
However, the Sixers are not likely to make any moves before the trade deadline, especially with new developing news that injured superstar center Andrew Bynum is expecting to come back soon.
Bynum, whom the Sixers acquired from Los Angeles as part of a four-way deal that brought Dwight Howard to the Lakers, has been on the sidelines all season due to knee injuries. However, Bynum said this week that he's expecting to be back before the season ends.
''I'll definitely be back sometime this year,'' Bynum said. ''I'm focused on getting back and being right versus trying to rush.''
Bynum was a force in the middle for the Lakers last season, averaging 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds with 1.9 blocks per game in the 2011-12 campaign.
While he's probably a week or two away from practicing, Bynum won't be making any rushed efforts as he looks to return to the court for the first time since being traded to Philadelphia, who are struggling this season with a 22-29 record.
Still, Bynum insists that he will be back playing basketball soon.
''I don't think anyone is more upset than myself,'' Bynum said. ''I have the most to lose by not playing and I want to get back.''
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