Josh Smith Waived by Pistons in Surprise Move

In a move that pretty much took the NBA by surprise, the Detroit Pistons have decided to refocus their priorities and waived Josh Smith (206 cm). This is an unprecedented move in the sense that Smith is the highest profile player to be waived by a team to date.  The athletic  29-year-old  forward is still owed over $26 million over the two years remaining in his contract. The club is finally admitting that Smith was not a good fit for the team and that in order to move forward they had to let him go. The Pistons signed him to a four-year deal worth $54 million. Detroit ended up with a log jam in their frontcourt and playing Josh at the small forward position ended up being more of a mess than anything else. In 28 games this 2014-15 season Smith was averaging 13.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, and 4.7 apg. The Pistons will now feature young big men Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe.

“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,” coach and team president Stan Van Gundy said in a statement.

“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.”

Several teams are now lining up to pick up Smith once he clears waivers. The Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers are all potential landing destinations for the forward.