Chicago Bulls sign forward Greg Smith for rest of season

Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets forward Greg Smith (4) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) in the second half during game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Less than a week after being waived by the Houston Rockets, big man Greg Smith has found a new home after signing with the playoff bound Chicago Bulls for the remainder of the 2013-2014 season.

Greg Smith is rehabbing a knee injury. Signing is for future, both as potential trade flexibility and big man depth.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 14, 2014

As K.C. Johnson notes above, signing the 23-year-old Smith doesn’t have any immediate impact for the Bulls, simply because he won’t be permitted to appear in the playoffs as a result of the rules in place to prevent tampering and late-season additions. Still, Smith has proven to be a talented player during his time with the Rockets, and the Bulls aren’t giving up anything of substance in order to take a flyer on Smith.

Smith appeared in only 11 games with the Rockets before being waived in favor of Dexter Pittman (who Houston already got rid of this week), but in 2012-2013, the former Fresno State big man was quite effective in posting 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 70 appearances. The short term focus of the Bulls will be to escape the first round with a playoff series win, but this is a nice move for the future.

Home/Chicago Bulls