Detroit Pistons Waive Veteran Josh Smith
The Detroit Pistons announced on Monday that they have waived Josh Smith. The forward is currently in the second season of his four-year, $54 million contract. He is owed $14 million each for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
"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," Pistons president and head coach Stan Van Gundy said in a statement. The Pistons are 5-23.
Van Gundy added, "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."
The team will reportedly use the league's stretch provision on the rest of Smith's contract. Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt with USA Today Sports wrote:
"According to two people with knowledge of their situation, they will use the league's stretch provision on the remaining $27 million of Smith's combined salary in these next two seasons in order to save $8.1 million in salary cap space. That tool, which was negotiated into the collective bargaining agreement during the NBA lockout in 2011, is intended to help teams like the Pistons get out from underneath deals that are considered toxic to their team building."
Smith was averaging 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 32 minutes per game. Career-wise, Smith averages 15.4 points with 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 34.2 minutes.
Smith signed with the Pistons as a free agent in July 2013. Since then, the 6-foot-9 forward has been struggling. His field goal percentage has fallen from 42 percent to 39 percent, his three-point percentage has declined from 26 percent to 24 percent and his free throw percentage has dropped from 53 percent of 47 percent.
Sources are reporting that once Smith's waivers are cleared, teams will come knocking. According to Marc Stein with ESPN.com, the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings are both interested. Adrian Wojnarowski with Yahoo! Sports is claiming that the Houston Rockets are in the mix as well.
With Smith gone, forward Greg Monroe is expected to have more time on the court. Monroe is averaging 14.7 points with 8.8 rebounds in about 29.0 minutes.
