Josh Smith Released By Detroit Pistons...Houston Rockets emerge as front-runners

[Sccit]

Sources: Rockets looming as strongest suitor to sign Josh Smith

The Houston Rockets are emerging as the strongest suitor to sign forward Josh Smith, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

After the Detroit Pistons made the stunning move of releasing Smith, he's expected to clear waivers on Wednesday and become an unrestricted free agent. The Pistons owed Smith $26 million on his contract running through the 2016 season.

Houston has aggressively pursued Smith for the past two years, failing in the summer of 2013 to agree to a sign-and-trade agreement with Atlanta to acquire him. Before ultimately signing a four-year $56 million deal with Detroit, Smith had been fixated on finding a way to join the Rockets, sources said.

Houston briefly discussed trade possibilities with Detroit this season, but it was impossible for the Rockets to have absorbed his salary without giving up Dwight Howard or James Harden, sources said.

Howard is a childhood friend of Smith's, dating to their days growing up in Atlanta, and is a strong advocate of signing Smith. He'll be part of recruiting Smith to sign with the Rockets.

The Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat have already expressed an interest in signing Smith to Smith's representatives, league sources said.

Houston can use its biannual exception – worth $2.077 million annually – to lure Smith. Most teams with an interest in Smith, including the Clippers, Kings, Mavericks and Heat, can offer only the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million.

The Rockets want to utilize Smith's ability to block shots, rebound and pass as a unique complement at the power forward to Howard. Clearly, Smith's shot selection has to improve, but the Rockets are strong believers in the corner 3-point shot, especially with their ability to offensive rebound.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--rockets-looming-as-strongest-suitor-to-sign-josh-smith-193133772.html

[Hack Wilson - real]

damn, everybody is in full tank mode out east now.  disgusting for the league.

[Sccit]

i think pistons released him cuz they tryna win LOL


josh smith's skill-set is redundant with greg monroe and andre drummond in town. they tried it, just didnt work out.

[Remedy360]

i think pistons released him cuz they tryna win LOL


josh smith's skill-set is redundant with greg monroe and andre drummond in town. they tried it, just didnt work out.

I've always liked Smith, but damn, 39% for a dude with that skillset? Pretty sad.

[Sccit]

i think pistons released him cuz they tryna win LOL


josh smith's skill-set is redundant with greg monroe and andre drummond in town. they tried it, just didnt work out.

I've always liked Smith, but damn, 39% for a dude with that skillset? Pretty sad.

and under 50% from the line, it's like he's not even tryin

[Remedy360]

i think pistons released him cuz they tryna win LOL


josh smith's skill-set is redundant with greg monroe and andre drummond in town. they tried it, just didnt work out.

I've always liked Smith, but damn, 39% for a dude with that skillset? Pretty sad.

and under 50% from the line, it's like he's not even tryin

Yeah, I saw him in person the last year the Sonics were around and I remember feeling like he could be one of the best someday. Obviously never happened though.

[Sccit]

he actually was a beast with atlanta....shooting high percentages and alla that. i guess woodson had him in check. it was all downhill once woodson was fired tho.

[Remedy360]

he actually was a beast with atlanta....shooting high percentages and alla that. i guess woodson had him in check. it was all downhill once woodson was fired tho.

Yeah, didn't mean to say he wasn't an all-star caliber guy for a while, I just felt like he had about as much upside as anyone in recent memory, could've been special.

[Chamillitary Click]

My guess is the Kings, but I've heard him & Dwight are close friends.

Based off his lack of enthusiasm though, you'd have to assume top bidder will get him lol.

['EclipZe]

My guess is the Kings, but I've heard him & Dwight are close friends.

Based off his lack of enthusiasm though, you'd have to assume top bidder will get him lol.

That's houston as well :p

[Citizen-Y]

I'm all for adding talent to the team, especially to a reserve role but plugging in Smith into a system that green lights three pointers gives me a stomach ache.

Unless Dwight is allowed to smack the kufi off his head every time he does.

[Sccit]

I'm all for adding talent to the team, especially to a reserve role but plugging in Smith into a system that green lights three pointers gives me a stomach ache.

Unless Dwight is allowed to smack the kufi off his head every time he does.

lmao as if dwight is the type of player to keep another in check or even give a fuck to do so

[Citizen-Y]

I'm all for adding talent to the team, especially to a reserve role but plugging in Smith into a system that green lights three pointers gives me a stomach ache.

Unless Dwight is allowed to smack the kufi off his head every time he does.

lmao as if dwight is the type of player to keep another in check or even give a fuck to do so

They were friends growing up, an idea that is completely foreign to the Laker killer Kobe Bryant.

[Sccit]

I'm all for adding talent to the team, especially to a reserve role but plugging in Smith into a system that green lights three pointers gives me a stomach ache.

Unless Dwight is allowed to smack the kufi off his head every time he does.

lmao as if dwight is the type of player to keep another in check or even give a fuck to do so

They were friends growing up, an idea that is completely foreign to the Laker killer Kobe Bryant.

everything about dwight is foreign to kobe....and that should make u very very mad, because it's the same exact reason Houston is never winning a ring.

[Hack Wilson - real]

Houston is winning a ring before Kobe does