Teams began jockeying for position in the Josh Smith Sweepstakes almost immediately after he was shockingly waived Monday by the Detroit Pistons.
The Houston Rockets (with a “biannual exception,” worth $2.077 million a year) are considered the favorite for J-Smoove, according to multiple reports.
The Miami Heat have also shown interest.
Was just advised that the Miami Heat are also joining the race for Josh Smith
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 22, 2014
Per the Houston Chronicle:
Following the Detroit Pistons’ stunning decision Monday to release 6-9 forward Josh Smith, the Rockets will make a run at Smith once he clears waivers Wednesday, a person with knowledge of their thinking said. […] The Rockets have long sought Smith, 29. They tried to acquire him as a free agent in 2013 but could not work out the sign-and-trade agreement with the Atlanta Hawks that was necessary after signing Dwight Howard.
The Rockets have had talks with the Pistons about a trade, but with Howard and James Harden, the Rockets’ highest-paid players, off-limits, there was no way to put together a deal with an exchange of corresponding salaries.
Childhood friends, Smith and Howard were AAU teammates with the Atlanta Celtics, playing one tournament in Houston. They have remained close, with Howard the best man at Smith’s wedding in 2010 in Atlanta. […] “He would be a good piece,” Howard said. “He would fit right in. He can play on the perimeter, attack the basket. A guy like him and myself in the paint, it would be tough for guys to get in there and try to score.”
