Rockets Appear To Be Front-Runners In Signing Josh Smith

Free agent Josh Smith may not be without a team much longer, as the Houston Rockets are reportedly ‘very confident’ they will sign the former All-Star forward.

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Less than a week after adding Corey Brewer to bolster their bench, the Houston Rockets are ‘very confident’ they will add more reserve firepower, as they are reportedly the front-runners to add Josh Smith once he clears waivers at 5 pm Eastern on Wednesday.

Smith, who was released by the Detroit Pistons on Monday, immediately had a share of suitors, with the Rockets, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs among the NBA title contenders interested in adding the former All-Star, who wore out his welcome in Detroit after less than two seasons.

Josh Smith won't clear waivers until 5 pm ET tomorrow, but Rockets still very confident he'll come their way. Next game Friday v. Memphis.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) December 23, 2014

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders added that friendships would be a factor in where Smith heads to, which only strengthens the chances that Smith will head to Houston. He has had a longtime friendship with Rockets center Dwight Howard, who began to vouch for Smith before their win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

While the Pistons will be free of Smith and his 41 percent accuracy and his 26 percent mark from 3-point range, his contract will be an unwanted gift that will keep on giving for Detroit. While his cap hit will be lessened, Smith will remain on the books for the next five seasons in Detroit, which will cripple any chance of the Pistons upgrading with top-tier veteran talent if/when they begin to turn the corner.

As of now, that corner looks pretty far considering Detroit entered Tuesday with a 5-23 record.

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