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Trade rumors starting to swirl around Thunder

 
By Darnell Mayberry | Published: December 29, 2008    Comment on this article Leave a comment
photo - Joe Smith is one of several Thunder players who will likely hear his name mentioned in trade rumors from now until February. AP Photo
Joe Smith is one of several Thunder players who will likely hear his name mentioned in trade rumors from now until February. AP Photo

The rumor began with a simple question posed to Thunder forward Joe Smith last week about whether he’d be open to playing for Cleveland again.

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Suns at Thunder
→When: 7 tonight

→Where: Ford Center

→TV: FOX Sports Oklahoma (Cox 37)

→Radio: WWLS 98.1-FM, WWLS 640-AM

Probable starters

Thunder (3-28)
Pos. Player Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast.
G Russell Westbrook 6-3 13.4 4.1 4.6
G Desmond Mason 6-5 7.4.4.2 1.0
F Kevin Durant 6-9 23.7 5.3 2.0
F Jeff Green 6-9 15.4 5.9 2.2
C Joe Smith 6-10 7.0 4.7 0.6
Suns (16-12)
G Steve Nash 6-3 15.4 3.0 8.5
G Jason Richardson 6-6 16.8 6.0 2.0
F Grant Hill 6-8 9.6 4.4 1.7
F Amare Stoudemire 6-10 22.5 9.0 2.1
C Shaquille O’Neal 7-1 16.4 8.6 1.8

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When Smith expressed a general interest in rejoining the Cavs, the following day’s internet headlines boldly declared Smith wanted out of Oklahoma City and hoped to be dealt or have his contract bought out so that he could return to the Cavs.

What went untold is the impact the report had on Smith and his family.

Smith’s wife, Yolanda, immediately contacted her husband via e-mail after a friend informed her of the report. She asked Joe if he did indeed say he desired to be traded.

"She knows I never talk like that,” Smith said. "She knows I’m not ever going to put myself in a position where I can be judged negatively. So that’s what she didn’t appreciate, and that’s what I didn’t appreciate.

"That’s what people have to realize, it doesn’t just affect us as players, it affects our families as well when we hear whatever’s said or whatever’s written.”

It’s a problem NBA players grow accustomed to, but one Thunder players must battle over the next seven weeks as the Feb.

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