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After trading away Joe Johnson (and his hefty $119 million contract) and Marvin Williams, it is obvious the Atlanta Hawks are prepared to completely blow up their old core that many had hoped could compete for a title in A-Town.

After years of early exits, the Hawks are a team mired in mediocrity and unfulfilled expectations.

Although they moved two key components, one key piece that remains a question mark is supremely talented power forward Josh Smith.

Smith's contract is set to expire in the summer. Therefore, as a team that could be stuck in purgatory as far as the NBA draft lottery is concerned, the Hawks need to decide his fate sooner rather than later.

Let's explore the reasons why it is in the Hawks' best interest to make a decision soon.