Rockets: Woj: Sources: Rockets looming as strongest suitor to sign Josh Smith

[baseline bum]

Sources: Rockets looming as strongest suitor to sign Josh Smith
By That Woj
1 hour ago
Yahoo Sports

The Houston Rockets are emerging as the strongest suitor to sign forward Josh Smith, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

After the Detroit Pistons made the stunning move of releasing Smith, he's expected to clear waivers on Wednesday and become an unrestricted free agent. The Pistons owed Smith $26 million on his contract running through the 2016 season.

Houston has aggressively pursued Smith for the past two years, failing in the summer of 2013 to agree to a sign-and-trade agreement with Atlanta to acquire him. Before ultimately signing a four-year $56 million deal with Detroit, Smith had long had interest in finding a way to join the Rockets, sources said.

Houston briefly discussed trade possibilities with Detroit this season, but it was impossible for the Rockets to have absorbed his salary without giving up Dwight Howard or James Harden, sources said.

Howard is a childhood friend of Smith's, dating to their days growing up in Atlanta, and is a strong advocate of signing Smith. He'll be part of recruiting Smith to sign with the Rockets.

The Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat have already expressed an interest in signing Smith to Smith's representatives, league sources said.

Houston can use its biannual exception – worth $2.077 million annually – to lure Smith. Most teams with an interest in Smith, including the Clippers, Kings, Mavericks and Heat, can offer only the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million.

The Rockets want to utilize Smith's ability to block shots, rebound and pass as a unique complement at the power forward to Howard. Clearly, Smith's shot selection has to improve, but the Rockets are strong believers in the corner 3-point shot, especially with their ability to offensive rebound.

[ElNono]

Please make it happen

[lefty]

Harden, Smith and Dwert

Should be good

[benstanfield]

Beverley
Harden
Ariza
Smith
Howard

Four really good defenders plus one of the best isolation players in the league. All Smith has to do is play defense and stuff the stat sheet like he does, and he can chuck up 10 threes a night for all I care. Terrible shooting and shot selection are his only problems, but he mitigates Houstons weaknesses more than his shooting will drag them down tbh. Same with the Clippers.

Texas teams gutting the league

[Trainwreck2100]

[Robz4000]

^Wait, what?

[lefty]

[Koolaid_Man]

I agree with Luva this dude is a loser but he's gonna play well in Houston just might take them over the top if he does...the Rickets got 2 solid pickups in Brewer and now Smith. .it surely can't hurt...at this point I'm all for teams getting better at the expense of the Spurs.....

Tammy 5 that's it and that's all

[Dirk Oneanddoneski]

What do dem Anuston yellows have to say about this?

[illusioNtEk]

Rockets!!!!!!! do it!!

[BatManu20]

[jeebus]

That ty chucker on the Mavs or Lolckets?

[BatManu20]

^Wait, what?

[BatManu20]

Rocket fans getting giddy over this scrub

[Malik Hairston]

Would be a great move for Houston, since it doesn't seem like Terrence Jones is returning, tbh..

They desperately need frontcourt depth..

Smith isn't a difference maker at his current age IMO(relies entirely on athleticism), but he's much better than anything else they could get in the frontcourt, and it moves Montejunas to the bench, where he will be one of the better bench bigs in the league..

The defense will be elite, although that offense is going to be hideous(Beverley, Ariza with his current shooting stroke, Smith and Dwight)..

[Bulaien999]

Dmo would have to most likely get included for a trade for Dragic

[baseline bum]

Dmo would have to most likely get included for a trade for Dragic

Yeah, that'll entice Phoenix.

[GuerillaBlack]

Dmo would have to most likely get included for a trade for Dragic

Or Terrence Jones. Doubt the Rockets would trade DMo for Dragic. Can't find many 7 footers with his post moves/game. You can find other Terrance Joneses. Smith would be a good pickup. He would play more like he did in Atlanta than Detroit. Would have much less chuck opportunities in Houston though, which is great.

[Bulaien999]

Yeah, that'll entice Phoenix.

Guess you are a own team homer if you cant evaluate talent on opposing teams.

[baseline bum]

Guess you are a own team homer if you cant evaluate talent on opposing teams.

Tell me why Phoenix hands you a borderline all star point guard for a bench player. I mean does Houston have anyone else's first rounder they can dangle? Do they have a trade exception to allow them to take a contract off Phoenix's hands too?

[Koolaid_Man]

anyone but the SPurs......go Josh SMith!!!!!!!!

LOL

[djohn2oo8]

Yeah, that'll entice Phoenix.

He is someone who they want. But obviously must include picks, along with fillers.

[baseline bum]

He is someone who they want. But obviously must include picks, along with fillers.

A healthy Jones would have been a great piece for Phoenix, but Motiejunas has never looked like anything special when I have watched him other than the Nike Hoop Summit when he HS age. The stats don't really tell any different story.

[GuerillaBlack]

Tell me why Phoenix hands you a borderline all star point guard for a bench player. I mean does Houston have anyone else's first rounder they can dangle? Do they have a trade exception to allow them to take a contract off Phoenix's hands too?

They have the Pelicans first round pick next draft.

[baseline bum]

They have the Pelicans first round pick next draft.

That's a reasonable piece then. Didn't know they had a quality first to throw in the pot for Dragic.