This. Replace our current player @ 2 mill for a much better one. Put a defensive stud in a position to do just that, without the burden of having to be "the man". If it doesn't work out, really no harm done. Maybe a few games we might've won were lost, but the potential of winning a ton more games with him being happy and cooperating is a risk I'm pretty sure we're willing to take.
A calculated risk. His best friend is the star player here. His role will be reduced to shotblocker/rebounder on defense, and passer/slasher on offense. All he has to do really is use his athleticism basically. There is no pressure on him to put up 20pts a night
I like you did not want Smith 24 hours ago but, after thinking about it my mind has changed. Why do i think the Pistons are dumping him? Becuz i think the Pistons were idiots in the first place to give him a fat contract and to expect so much. HE HAS NEVER PLAYED WITH ANYONE THE CALIBER OF JAMES HARDEN BEFORE, OR DWIGHT FOR THAT MATTER. You could be right, he could come here and cause problems but, there is no pressure for him to score 20 points a game, unless he gets hot one night. He does not have to try and be the #1 option here. On the Rockets, here is where i would rank him.... Harden Dwight Ariza DMo TJones(when healthy) Bev Brew Josh Smith
Who cares how tall Josh Smith is or isn't? Signing Josh Smith does not prevent the Rockets (i.e. hitting the hard cap) from upgrading depth or the PG position in a subsequent trade/signing. Black and Dorsey offer nothing on the offensive end. Josh Smith will at least draw defensive attention. If anything, the Rockets can run Smith and Harden pick and rolls all night and save Howard for the grind of the playoffs. That pick and roll can easily be as devasting as a Harden and Howard pick and roll.
Also, Josh Smith shooting numbers may be bad, but he is one of the best passing PFs in basketball. He can also throw the lob.
If he's a chemistry problem then you bench him. What the problem is? If we aren't willing to make the minimum financial gamble, the Clippers or the Mavs will.
I haven't kept up with all the posts in this thread. Can anyone give a brief update? Mostly, I'm wondering if there has been any more news about Houston being front runners (aside from the initial tweet that stated that). Also, everyone seems to assume that he's going to sign for $2 mil... is that just people hoping for the best or is there something factual behind that?
He's cheap enough that, if he is a terrible chucker and locker room cancer, he can just be dismissed from the team without setting us back whatsoever. That said, I don't think it will come to that. He would have to disregard the man he'd designated as the best man at his wedding in doing so, and I don't think many people would be selfish enough to do that.
Think about what you just said. Say he signs here and continues to suck and be a malcontent like he was in Atlanta and Detroit. So the Rockets decide to dump him - do you think that would have an effect on Dwight, the best man in his wedding? Again - so much of my angst is the personality side of this, not just that he is a lousy offensive player these days, but that there are a lot more risks chemically than folks are thinking about. DD
By the same token - do you think Dwight would have an effect on Smith and his play/mentality because they are best friends and he was the best man at his wedding?
You're a terrific fan, but you're also wrong quite a bit, so your naysaying is actually comforting. Thank you. It's proven that you can with crazy players and unharmonious teams- if they are good enough. The 1972 Oakland As. The 2002 Los Angeles Lakers. Ron Artest. Rasheed Wallace. Stephen Jackson. Dennis Rodman. Vernon Maxwell. Matter of fact, judging from that list, I'd say that you have at least one malcontent on your team who can also play well and who you can rein in a bit (e.g. Dennis Rodman), that is a key piece of a championship formula. You need a take-over-the-game superstar (Harden), a 2nd really good one (Howard), a top 10 defense, a decent coach, and luck.
I'm sorry if this comes off as rude......but what in the HELL are some of you smoking? Josh Smith would be our third best player....no doubt. Outside of his recent shot selection, he's way above average as a defender, a rebounder, a passer(big man). He does have issues with shooting his long range jumpers and 3s, and his free-throws in the past couple of years, but this is not a guarantee of future performance. He'll be in a very different environment....with different expectations. Better teammates, coaches, front office, and FANS. My god.....who cares what he did in Atlanta...nobody was there to see it!!! All joking aside--he's better than everyone except Harden, Howard, and others on certain nights. As a whole...he'll be our third best. How can anyone say that DMo is better than him??!!! He's had a few games that were pretty good....Smith has been a top 5 defender in the league for most of his 10 years....and his offensive game isn't terrible. He's been in systems with bad coaches and an attitude of "I can do what I want...we aren't gonna win anyways". That will screw up your desire...if you're constantly losing, you just don't care anymore. Around winners, he should rise to the occasion. This is all speculation on my part, but it's based in fact. Some of the arguments made on here are just crazy, imho.
Dwight is all about winning. You think if Josh was acting crazy on the court and playing out of our system that he wouldn't be on board for that? The fact that you're assuming people can't change or be happy in a different situation is laughable. 2 months from now DD will be back tracking from all the BS he throws up nonstop. Regardless of how you want to look at it... He is better than anyone on our bench currently.
Nothing has changed as far as Houston being the front-runner. Still being reported that they are, but Cyberx says that's coming from the Rockets camp. As far as the $2 million, the Rockets have the biannual exception, which starts at $2.077 million. None of the other teams, with the possible exception of the Heat, can offer more [than vet. minimum--$1.4 million]. Heat are applying for a Disabled Player Exception, worth $2.65 million.
No offense to you DD, but, usually when you are this passionately and adamantly against a player it always seems to work out really good for the Rockets. That being the case, I am liking the possibilities of getting JSmoove and what he can do for the Rockets more and more. MH
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: Clippers have reached out to Smith's agent, team still gauging interest</p>— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/547444303317196802">December 23, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
