[EricaLubarsky]

Howard has attitude problems and I'd rather have a nutcase blocking shots than a nutcase jacking up threes, tuning out the coach and being a public distraction.

And yeah I think Smith is at least as good as Howard on the defensive end against SFs -- that is, if you consider Smith's overall contribution to team defense as well as Howard's lackidaisical footwork and effft. Offensively Smith would be a power/size mismatch that could get in the lane for tip-ins, oops, and inside passes at will. You lose nothing. I think a combo of Dirk and Smith would be nasty whether you call Dirk or Smith the Small Forward.

Kidd is slowing down so we will have to zone it up a little more than before and without a dominant perimeter defender I would really prefer to hem up the frontcourt defense by having 2- 7 footers and as many shot blockers as possible.