Contrary to speculation, the Detroit Pistons reportedly aren't looking to trade forward Josh Smith. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported Smith wasn't being shopped, and coach Stan Van Gundy is hopeful for a bounce-back season from him.
Smith's inaugural season with Detroit didn't work out well, leading to his name being mentioned this summer in trade rumors. Kyler, though, said Detroit isn't trying to move the 28-year-old.
"I want to be clear the Pistons are not shopping Josh," Kyler wrote Monday. "In fact they are hoping to get a more efficient Josh this season."
Smith reportedly had drawn interest from the Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Hornets, although those discussions - if they actually happened - never appeared to get too serious. Sacramento seemed to be the more likely trade destination, if one were to happen. The Kings needs help at the forward position, and acquiring Smith would not only be an upgrade there but could also help the Kings lure soon-to-be free agent Rajon Rondo, whom Smith is friends with.
Dealing Smith seemed less likely to happen after teammate Greg Monroe sign a one-year qualifying offer this offseason, which makes him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Smith's mammoth contract of $13.5 million per season until 2017 also doesn't help Detroit move Smith, even if they wanted to.
He never seemed to find his stride playing alongside Monroe and Andre Drummond in the frontcourt, and he finished the season with 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
