Josh Smith?

It's the same deal as Ariza. You don't ever want him handling the ball and having to be even the #2 option on offense, much less the #1. But put him on the perimeter to shoot open threes and sick him on the most prominent wing player on the other side, and he becomes an extremely valuable piece more than worth his contract.

With Josh Smith it will be the same way. Deep down he is still that elite level athlete that can finish with the best of them at the rim while playing fantastic defense at the forward position. But ask too much of him and you'll be staring down the barrel of a lottery-bound team.

Josh Smith has not lost a step in terms of his athleticism. Rajon Rondo has. That's what makes this star-chase different.

 

You role the freaking dice. yes he's has the shot selection of Hellen Keller but if you can get him for a couple mil you sure as hell do it.

 

Does not hurt to give it shot, IF it doesn't pan out there always the February trading deadline.

 

Smith has a unique situation if he comes to Houston. He gets to be the starting PF on a really good team. As much as I like D-Mo's progress this year, he's better suited coming off the bench right now to help with a big man rotation.

 

Aldridge said he thinks he lands in Houston on nbatv.

 

I also got the impression based on Jonathan Feign's response on twitter he believes Smith will land in Houston as well. He was the same way before the whole Brewer trade happened as well.

 

low risk high reward. heat won championships off of defense and and transition excellence which are staples of smiths game. why not if there is the possibility of an upgrade and if it doesnt play out you don't lose much. this scares me in our offense that can shoot 50 threes in a game

List of players with lowest 3 point percentage and still shooting 300 threes in a season

Player Season Team 3-point Percentage
Josh Smith (proj)13-14 Detroit 23.9
Antoine Walker 03-04 Dallas 26.9
Mookie Blaylock 97-98 Atlanta 26.9
Antoine Walker 06-07 Miami 27.5
Latrell Sprewell 94-95 Golden State 26.6
Allen Iveson 02-03 Philadelphia 27.7
Jerry Stackhouse01-02 Detroit 28.7
Monta Ellis 12-13 Milwaukee 28.7
Jason Williams 99-00 Sacramento 28.7
Jason Williams 01-02 Memphis 29.5
Corey Brewer 12-13 Denver 29.6
Michael Adams 90-91 Denver 29.6
Joe Johnson 10-11 Atlanta 29.7
Gilbert Arenas 10-11 Total 29.7
Jerry Stackhouse96-97 Philadelphia 29.8
Vernon Maxwell 93-94 Houston 29.8
Damon Stoudamire97-98 Total 29.9
Paul Pierce 03-04 Boston 29.9

 

Dmo would get more opportunities to get the offence run through him, dude is money from post.

 

People have been so focused on Josh Smith's perimeter "game," or lack thereof, that they forget his ability to beast in the paint. Imagine Terrance Jones except much better and that's Josh Smith, both on offense and defense.

I can imagine trepidation if this was even a MLE deal, but we're talking at most 2yr/$4mil. If people were clamoring for Ramon Sessions with this money in the offseason, Josh Smith if nothing else is tons better than Sessions

 

Just like Rondo was a risk worth taking for the Mavs given the low cost, Smith is a risk that Rockets can and should afford to take.

Smith purchased at Gucci store = BAD. LOLOLOL @ Detroit.

Smith purchased at Dollar Store = GREAT VALUE

Smith purchased at Dollar Store given the Rockets situation at PF = STEAL

Yes, I know he is a bonehead, a low IQ player, and one that can be very frustrating at times. But if the playoffs were to start today, I would rather have Josh Smith defending and rebounding than any of the current flower forwards we have. They are all unknown commodities while Smith has playoff experience.

With the change of scenery and Harden and Howard coaching him, I think he can be a productive player here.

In worst case scenario, if he does not work out, it really does not change Rockets long term plan.

Cheap low risk - high award move.

 

I'm not the biggest fan of Josh Smith but how could you say no wen you're basically getting him for free?

Remember the time when Zach Randolph was on the Knicks and Clippers and there were constant talks about his shot selection, bad character, talks of getting cut and he was pretty much traded for peanuts both times because they nearly couldn't give him away.

How about Rasheed Wallace when the Blazers didn't want him anymore and the Hawks traded him after 1 day.

I'm not saying Josh is going to find the success those guys did or guarantee Houston will be forever home but at the price it's an absolute no-brainer.

 

So us being 20-7, having the BAE, and this:



pretty much guarantees that Smith lands on the roster. This begs the question: how do we make it work, fellas?

 

For every Jermaine Oneal, Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells in Sacramento, Z-Bo to Memphis type situation you guys reference, there have been twice as many where the situation ended up bad for the team who gambled.

And for those of you are bringing up Ron Artest. I think people don't remember how that team was pretty bad before T-Mac went down. Then all of a sudden the team started rolling. It wasn't T-Mac. It was just chemistry and one less ego.

Whatever, all of it is irrelevant. Rockets seem to be looking to take the gamble. So let's roll the dice and see what happens. Either way it should be very interesting going forward.

 

Except all of those guys came with a much heavier price tag than what Smith would come for.

 

Great list! Except one thing - that entire list none of them went off in their matchup like LMA went off versus the Rockets in the playoffs. 46, 43, 23, 29, 8, 30 - LMA's scoring versus the Rocks in the playoffs. We also have Dwight and DMo. Most likely with this new group we can really put the stopper on LMA. Even if we just cut him down to the numbers in your chart = we win that series.

 

Make it work by having him accept a back seat to harden and howard and be a role player with smart shot selection

which is alot to ask of from smith, but playing for a championship caliber team and having a friend in howard to help through the transition will help

 

@WojYahooNBA: Houston has strengthened its position as the frontrunner to sign Josh Smith, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

 

Houston has strengthened its position as the frontrunner to sign Josh Smith, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

-Woj

Edit: ha, I'm too slow, even at 2am

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Yahoo Sources: Houston emerging as strongest suitor to sign Josh Smith. <a href="http://t.co/pOvHRnynRp">http://t.co/pOvHRnynRp</a></p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/547113454252085249">December 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Embedded looks so much better.

 

Smith probably just watched Sportscenter lol