Ex-Detroit Pistons forward Josh Smith is set to become a free agent on Wednesday if he clears waivers, but he's unlikely to remain on the market for long. A number of teams reportedly have already expressed interest in him, including the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Smith's tenure in Detroit came to an end Monday when team president and coach Stan Van Gundy waived him, choosing instead to eat Smith's remaining $26 million salary over the next five years under the league's "Stretch Provision."
Van Gundy released a statement through the team website, where he called his decision to release Smith an "adjustment" to help turn around the team's 5-23 seasaon.
"Our team has not performed the way we had expected throughout the first third of the season and adjustments need to be made in terms of our focus and direction," said Van Gundy. "We are shifting priorities to aggressively develop our younger players while also expanding the roles of other players in the current rotation to improve performance and build for our future. As we expand certain roles, others will be reduced. In fairness to Josh, being a highly versatile 10-year veteran in this league, we feel it's best to give him his freedom to move forward. We have full respect for Josh as a player and a person."
Smith's numbers dropped since signing with Detroit in 2013, but a number of teams are expected to pursue him. ESPN's Marc Stein reported Houston, Dallas, Sacramento, Miami and Los Angeles are among the teams believed to be targeting Smith as a free agent, which he can become if he clears waivers Wednesday.
Although Sacramento reportedly made multiple trade offers for Smith during the offseason, Stein believes the Heat and the Rockets are in the best positions to lure Smith: Miami has the minutes and president Pat Riley, who has a reputation for helping players with soured reputations, and Houston has the $2 million exception and Dwight Howard, who's been friends with Smith since childhood.
