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**Basel** · 09-06-2008, 12:19 PM

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Q. You recently signed a five-year, $58 million contract, why are you in here sweating through pickup games instead of relaxing on the beach somewhere?

A. I came in [a couple weeks back] just after I signed my contract and got one game in. This week I’m here for good. We’ve got to start early like we started last year. We have to keep it up. We came in early last summer about this time and we ended up making the playoffs. We’ve got to do it again this year. And we’ve got new faces as well so we have to give ourselves some time to gel. So I wanted to be here to make sure that happens.

Q. Heading into your fifth year in the league do you feel an increasing need to assume more of a leadership role on this team along with Joe Johnson?

A. I do. It was always about me knowing I would be here and knowing I needed to step up and be a leader. And not just me but also Marvin Williams, Al Horford and all the other guys that have been here and know our program and what we’re about.

Q. Considering the additions and subtractions made since that Game 7 loss to Boston, is this team as good, better or worse going into training camp?

A. I think it’s a little better because the guys we added have been in the playoffs, been in situations and have been on winning teams. They’re veterans who know what it takes to win. Mo Evans played a huge role in Orlando last year. Flip Murray gives us another breakdown guard who can create off the dribble so Joe won’t have to dribble through three and four people at a time. Mo can knock down a consistent 3-point shot and gives us another offensive weapon to spread the floor. And they’re both good defenders. Randolph Morris is a big body that gives us some much needed depth inside and I think overall these are all good additions to our team.

http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/spo...osh_smith.html

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