The Sacramento Kings already have some personalities on their roster when you combine DeMarcus Cousins and newly signed Rajon Rondo, but it sounds like they might want to add one more in Josh Smith. Smith had an interesting 2014-15 season. He was cut by the Detroit Pistons midseason, then later went on to be a big part of the Houston Rockets team that lost in the Western Conference Finals. Yahoo Sports reports that the Kings are interested in signing Smith, noting that he and Rondo played together at Oak Hill Academy.
The Kings aren't the only team interested in Smith, as the Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks reportedly have interest, along with Houston, according to Sports World Report. Keeping Smith might be tough for the Rockets, as they only have a little bit more money to spend and it is possible that he could price himself out of their range.
Smith would certainly be an interesting fit with the Kings. He would be their fourth big name guy if he were to sign. Having him and Rudy Gay on the court would probably be close to impossible as both are very similar players that struggle to consistently stretch the floor. Gay has made it public that he wants Smith to be a King so he doesn't seem to worried about the fit on the floor. Smith thrived playing with one of the best in the league last year in James Harden, so maybe matching him up with another great player like Cousins is a good idea.
Smith got off to a bad start with the Pistons last season in only the second year of his four-year contract, so much so that Stan Van Gundy released him. He really turned things around in Houston, though. Even though he only averaged 12 points per game in his 55 games there, his shooting percentages were up because he wasn't the go-to-guy (44 percent from the field in Houston 39 percent in Detroit.)
Smith is not known as a three-point shooter, but he shot the three ball respectably in Houston at a 33 percent clip, and that's about where he will max out. Smith will only turn 30 next season and he still plays great defense, blocks shots, rebounds and has the ability to facilitate. Whichever team gets Smith will be getting an all-around good player who proved last season he can really help a team win. If he continues to shoot 33 percent from three, that would be quite the bonus.
