Houston Rockets Plan on Targeting Josh Smith As Backup Plan in Free Agency

By Josh Hill | Jun 4, 2013

Apr 27, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith (5) tries to drive past Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George (24) during the first half during game three in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Philips Arena.The Hawks defeated the Pacers 90-69. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

The Houston Rockets are going to target Dwight Howard when he hits the open market on July 1st, but he’s not the only players they’ll be looking at. According to Pete Vecsey, the Houston Rockets will be targeting Josh Smith in free agency if they swing and miss on recruiting Howard away from the other teams looking to pursue him.

If Rockets are unable to recruit Dwight Howard, I'm told second preference is Josh Smith. Sixers also targeting Smith, says a source
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) June 3, 2013

Right now it looks like Houston is the favorite to land Howard as they have the best roster of the teams trying to recruit him and they could potentially have the cash to top everything off. If the Rockets trade Thomas Robinson like they reportedly plan on doing, they’ll be able to offer Howard $20 million a year or more which is an outrageous sum of cash.

But Smith isn’t a bad second option as he was productive for the Atlanta Hawks during the season despite numerous rumors that he’d be moved by the trade deadline. The Hawks held onto Smith and didn’t move him and Houston apparently likes what they see out of him.

Smith is a fit with the Rockets and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them maybe change their minds and target him over Howard if Hollywood starts to become a diva in free agency. Atlanta themselves are targeting Howard as well so this could be a situation where Smith goes to Houston and Howard ends up in Atlanta in some weird transaction that mimics a trade.

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