There was a time not long ago that Josh Smith was a max contract player and seen as one of the most exciting young talents at the forward position in the NBA.
Fast forward to the 2016-17 NBA season and Smith is nowhere to be seen, relegated to playing in China at the age of 30.
Once Smith lost a little bit of that elite athleticism that made him a special talent and the NBA moved away from players at his position who couldn’t shoot the three ball effectively (especially those who still launch them at will despite shooting under 30%), his value as an NBA took a nosedive. A failed stint with the Clippers and second stint with the Rockets made it seem like Smith’s days as an NBA player were over.
Apparently the third stint could be a charm for Smith and the Rockets (or so each hopes), as according to Kelly Iko of ESPN, Smith and the Rockets are working on a deal to have him join the team for the 2017-18 season.
A Josh Smith return to the Rockets may be in the offing.https://t.co/MjXzXjLqBk
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 21, 2017
Smith averaged 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 blocks per game last season in China (while shooting 28% from three in over seven attempts per game) and has been working out with the Rockets the past week.
If the Rockets move Ryan Anderson, Smith could have a chance to have a role for the Rockets next season, an unexpected development to say the least.
