The Houston Rockets reportedly are actively looking to make a trade to open a roster spot for free agent Josh Smith. ESPN's Marc Stein reports Joey Dorsey, Tarik Black and Isaiah Canaan are among the players being shopped by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.
Smith purportedly intends to sign with Houston, but the team must first clear a roster spot for him. In order to do so, Morey reportedly is trying to trade one of his players as opposed to waiving one.
Per Stein:
"Rockets are making the rounds on Christmas Eve, offering up anyone in the bottom third of their roster via trade to make room for Josh Smith. ... Joey Dorsey, Tarik Black, (Isaiah) Canaan, Nick Johnson, Clint Capela ... Rockets seeking taker on any of the above to make room for Josh Smith. ... Rockets were confident they'd find palatable deal soon to open roster spot for Smith. HOU preference is one more trade over waiving someone."
Nick Borges of ESPN reported if Morey is forced to waive a player, then Black is the most likely to be released because of his nonguaranteed contract, which would keep the Rockets under the luxury tax threshold - waiving any other player would put the Rockets $64,733 over.
As for Smith, he reportedly made his desire to sign with Houston known on Wednesday.
Per ESPN:
"Wanting to play for a winning team with a chance to win the title, Josh Smith has decided to join the Houston Rockets, sources told ESPN.com's Chris Broussard on Wednesday. The veteran, let go Monday by the Detroit Pistons less than halfway into his four-year, $54 million contract, cleared waivers Wednesday."
Houston, when a roster spot becomes available, has a $2.1 million biannual exception to spend on Smith.
