Josh Smith Says Hawks Told Him Trade Rumors Are 'False'

Filed under: Hawks, Raptors, NBA Rumors, FanHouse Exclusive

ATLANTA -- So much for those Josh Smith trade rumors.

With speculation having swirled this month, the Atlanta forward said Hawks general manager Rick Sund told him there are no plans to deal him.

"They told me that it was all false,'' Smith said Monday in an interview with FanHouse about the trade rumors. "That they want to keep this team and this nucleus together because they feel we have something special going.''

Smith said it was Sund who told him that. Sund did not return a phone message, and a team official said he is away for a few days dealing with a family matter.

Smith, making $11.6 million this season, is under contract through 2012-13. All four other Atlanta starters are also under contract at least through next season. Atlanta's main upcoming order of business is deciding whether to sign sixth-man Jamal Crawford to a contract extension or let him become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/11/22/josh-smith-says-hawks-told-him-trade-rumors-are-false/

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