The NY Daily News had this little tidbit hidden away in an article yesterday:

Josh Smith has told the Hawks that he isn't going to sign an extension during the season. He'd rather wait to become a free agent, when he can get a five-year deal. An extension would limit him to a three-year deal, according to the new CBA rules. New GM Danny Ferry has upwards of 10 players who could be free agents at season's end.

I'm not expecting any of the hoopla that surrounded Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard as they approached free agency, but there will be some speculation and lots of rumors surrounding Josh Smith this season. If the Hawks don't feel they can re-sign him this summer, they are likely to shop him at the trade deadline. If Josh assures them he wants to stay in Atlanta, it could be a quiet year.

There have been rumors over the past couple of years that Josh has said he'd like to join his buddy Rajon Rondo in Boston. He was with the Celtics out in LA and played flag football with them before training camp. He's been friends with Rondo since their high school days at Oak Hill Academy.

Expect those rumors to intensify now that Smith has eschewed an extension with the Hawks. I predict that there will be Josh Smith trade proposal threads on every Celtics forum and lots of rumors before this is over. He's looking for a 5 year deal at more than likely the max. I'm not sure Danny is going to want to do that this summer. So I'm thinking he won't be a Celtic. But then again, who knows with Danny?

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