I think Smith leaving is probably mutual. He can make money somewhere else. But we have bigger problems than Smith...
I find it hard to believe there will be a multitude of offers out there for Smith this offseason, but it only takes one.
I definitely think he or D-Mo is a goner. My money is on Jones since he's more replaceable and not currently rehabbing from back surgery. But I just hope the Rockets know who's gonna step in for him if he is moved this offseason. Despite Smith's horrible play this series, I still want him back. He essentially did fill on for Jones(and Dwight) most of the year. But I get that he can make more money elsewhere and that may be too tempting for him to turn down.
Please don't start with the Aldridge ****....... He's going to SA or Cleveland. Outside chance he joins Mavs
If Smith would come back cheap, I'd want him to return as well. He's by no means a starting quality player, but he's alright as a backup. If he wants to chase the biggest paycheck though, I'd let him go in a heartbeat.
No argument there. The Rockets absolutely should not(and frankly I don't think they can anyway) offer big money to Smith to keep him here. He either accepts the minimum offer they can make or he goes after a bigger payday on a presumably lesser team. I don't see a contender with cap space throwing a fat contract his way. At least not in the West.
With his salary situation, 1/2 going back to Det, it has to be a matter of fit. If JS feels this fit isn't right or another is then aces. OTH - - I don't see it. If he wants back back he is. IMO.
I agree completely , he's a very very frustrating player, but in 3 month time he and dwight showed the potential its interesting to see what more chemistry and time will create I also think he loves being here his dad said so himself, something like the rockets brought the joy of basketball back to him Weather we want him is another question, but i don't see y not at the min. Which i think is what hell be offered in the open market, although i could def be wrong here He can def fill Jones shoes , and also make him expandable in our search for a new floor general.
He's literally the worst defensive frontcourt rotation player in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Literally no one worse. It wouldn't be hard to find someone who could make open dunks and layups which is about all he provides offensively who can also be a mediocre rebounder and awful defender. I'm sure you could draft one in the 2nd round.
Im sure you can't. He is still an elite finisher and a good shot blocker. His advanced metrics are all good. Most second rounders are busts.
Let Smith go, Jones is already just as good and like 8 years younger, give him a full and hopefully healthy year to get better. Smith is on the decline and is terrible. Teach Jones how to shoot threes, he shot a better percentage than Smith in the regular season anyway.
Thank you cyber for the news. So that means that the full MLE will go to Llull? BTW, there are many teams that will offer more than the vet min to Josh.
So he's a replacement level backup. Fine. What do you expect to acquire for him in a trade? Another replacement level backup? So, change for the sake of change? You might find more consistency in limited minutes, or a specific skill set (3pt fg %, rebs, defense). Might. And does that type of acquisition even crack the rotation? There is also not a great deal of opportunity cost in letting a replacement level backup walk. Ish Smith, Cisco, JET, etc. He's either more valuable than you are portraying which would make the opportunity cost of not trading him a "thing". Or, if he truly has as little value as you have portrayed then we won't get anything that can crack the rotation for him. Those are fairly mutually exclusive.
He's been awful this series but so has the team in general. I'm not sure what to make of J.Smith. I think he's a solid rotational player but his inconsistent play worries me. He'll probably go else where and sign a contract in the 5-7 million dollar range per year.
