No, you’re not experiencing deja vu. This is just a firsthand run-in with the Sacramento Kings.
According to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, the Detroit Pistons have resumed talks—that started prior to the NBA draft—with the Kings on a trade that would land Josh Smith in Sacramento:
The Detroit Pistons and the Sacramento Kings have resumed trade discussions on a deal that could send Josh Smith to Sacramento, according to sources with knowledge of the talks.
Sources told ESPN.com the Kings have continued to express interest in Smith and the parties are on the hunt for a third team that could help facilitate the deal.
As ESPN.com reported last month, Detroit and Sacramento have engaged in trade discussions that would potentially land Smith in the same frontcourt with DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. Initial talks called for Sacramento to send Jason Thompson and either Derrick Williams or Jason Terry to the Pistons for Smith, but those discussions reached an impasse and were pushed into July along with the rest of both teams’ free-agent business, sources said.
This is sooooo Kings. Pairing Smoove with Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins after letting Isaiah Thomas walk and signing Darren Collison as his replacement is soooooo Kings.
And thankfully it is sooooo Kings, because the Pistons really need this deal to happen.
Neither Derrick Williams nor Jason Terry solves their problems, but they’re both short-term commitments. Smith has three years and $40-plus million left on his cap-clogging contract. And that’s not good news for the Pistons, who want to retain Greg Monroe, but can’t. Not in good conscience. Not with Smith still on the roster.
Not if Monroe doesn’t even want to return.
Chances are he does. Monroe hasn’t signed an offer sheet yet. Players of his caliber don’t sit around doing jack shit this time of year. He should have signed one by now to apply pressure to Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons. And yet he hasn’t. That shows some form of loyalty and patience.
Ask yourself, though: Does Monroe really want to play with Smith?
This isn’t an indictment of Smith’s character. Nor does this suggest the Pistons couldn’t keep Monroe no matter what if they’re willing to overpay. It’s just an acknowledgement that the two don’t work together.
Both of them have limited range on the offensive end and are most effective playing inside 10 feet. Thing is, they both cannot play inside 10 feet with Andre Drummond’s massive self protecting the rim and grabbing rebounds. One of them might need to go.
Letting Monroe walk is the easiest thing the do. They can allow him to sign with another team or sign-and-trade him somewhere else. Moving Smith, however would allow them to keep Monroe without pause, though truth be told, it’s surprising Van Gundy likes him at all, given his penchant for one-in, four-out lineups. Perhaps he sees Monroe as someone who can develop more range, or maybe he’s totally fine running with a more traditional power forward when that traditional power forward isn’t Glen Davis.
So, yeah. The Pistons are trying to pawn Smith off on the Kings.
And they might just succeed.
Because, Kings.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
