Fox sports, had a good interview tonight with Leon Smith. He talked with Mark Berman about things that have happened in his life. From his troubles with the law, his sucide attempt, to his stint with the Mavericks. He is now working out with Purvis Short and others at the Westside Tennis Club here in Houston. He did say that when his contract stuff is taken care of with Dallas, meaning that they void completely, and he becomes a free agent, that he would love to sign with Houston. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not, but the kid has been through a lot. I hope he gets it all together, cause he is a talent, and maybe one day soon will see him in a Rockets uniform.
Thanx for the info.. Thats pretty cool. I would like to give him a chance. He has some really good talent.
I'd be kind of leery of adding someone with the kind of problems Leon has had to a young team. I hope he gets things straightened out (for his well-being), but he could really hurt a team if he doesn't. It's pretty bad when the Dallas Mavericks regret acquiring your rights. Just out of curiosity, what position does he play? Is he a small forward, a power forward, or both? He's 6'10" and 235 pounds.
I don't know why, but when I read this thread, Carlos Rogers came to mind. That guy came from a real rough background and seems like a real good-hearted person. Maybe he would be willing to take Leon under his wing kind of like Antonio Davis did with Al Harrington. Just a thought. Plus, if Leon plays small forward and has as much talent as he must have to warrant his draft position, then maybe he could play a part in this young team's future.
Leon is very talented. To be selected where he was selected plus with prior knowledge by the league of his problems tells you something about his talent. Leon Smith is extremely talented, make no doubt about it. If he gets a hold of his head, he will be a super star for the Rockets or any team he plays for. But, before he is a distraction to the Rockets Rudy will cut him. Rudy is a no BS type of coach.
Smith isn't a SF. He was a center in HS and will probably end up as a PF if he ends up in the NBA. The problem right now is that he's too thin to play inside in the NBA and he had refused to play in any type of developmental (rather than the NBA).
Good scoop Rocketball. You sure he said he would love to sign in Houston? The article on the interview doesn't include that ... BTW, where did Thomas "Move over bacon, now there's something meatier" Hamilton go to high school? Chicago's Martin Luther King High School. Leon Smith? Chicago's Martin Luther King High School. A little too eery for me.
To be honest, the kid would have more market value if he doesn't play in a developmental league. Right now he's an unknown who had lots of potential. That potential is worth a great deal to at least half a dozen NBA Teams. If he plays in dev. league I think he'd show a lot of rust and have to work his way back into the league. I'm not saying it's the right decision, but I'd have to say it's to his advantage not to play.
Clutch, Actually it was Mark Berman who said, as he was recapping the interview, that Leon Smith told him that he would love to play for the Rockets someday. Matter of fact, he had attended a couple of the Rockets games lately, sitting behind the Rocket bench. So you never know...
