Michael Lee of the AJC writes that Spurs guard Steve Smith knows the Hawks are struggling and feels he can give them what they need. In the final year of a 7-year, $42 million contract he signed in 1996, Smith will be a free agent next summer and said Friday he would like to finish his career in Atlanta.

"Definitely. I'd like to," Smith said. "I could come in and help, a veteran guy helping the guys learn how to win again."

Spotting Shareef Abdur-Rahim on the other end of the court during pregame warmups, Smith lined up behind the 3-point arc.

"This is for you, 'Reef," Smith said as he released his shot. "Get in there, ball!"

The ball hit nothing but nylon. Smith looked at Abdur-Rahim and the two laughed.

The former Hawk looks over and sees a team that has fallen into the tank ever since he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 1999 for Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson.

Hawks general manager Peter Babcock said he made the deal to move Smith's long-term contract.

"That's the only thing we achieved in the deal," he said. "Everything else was negative about it. Losing Steve and what came back in return, that really hurt. A lot times, people would say, 'We'd do the same thing over again.' Well, we wouldn't."

"We think the world of him," Babcock said about Smith, winner of the 2002 NBA Sportsmanship Award. "He is what the NBA should be all about."

The Hawks made the playoffs each year with Smith. Since the trade, he Hawks haven't sniffed the postseason and were 100-185 (.351) afterr Friday's 106-92 loss to the Spurs.

On the other hand, Smith has never missed the playoffs and has been as far as the Western Conference finals.

"I've been lucky," he said.

Even with the opportunity, he doesn't take the chance to gloat.

"I feel bad," Smith said about the Hawks. "I know a lot of guys over there. I still root for them, because I played there and I had success there."

Smith is averaging 8.3 points in a reserve role with the Spurs, the lowest offensive production of his career. But he doesn't feel that he is done.

"I still feel I can play two or three more years," Smith said. "I'm looking to definitely do that."