ESPN Report: Josh Smith Still On The Trade Block
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
The Detroit Pistons have a new general manager and head coach in Stan Van Gundy --and it appears Van Gundy is doing things his way, which may or may not be the correct way.
Van Gundy has signed Jodie Meeks, D.J. Augustin, Caron Butler, Aaron Gray and Cartier Martin. Four out of those five can really fill it up from long range and Aaron Gray will be a decent big man to come off the bench.
Now do I believe they are the saviors that will turn this franchise around and become the best shooting team in the Eastern Conference? I don't believe so, but I'm sure Van Gundy knows better than me.
Today, another report came out saying the Pistons are still very interested in trading forward Josh Smith.
According to ESPN.com:
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.
Josh Smith's stay in Detroit might only end up lasting for one season if a deal reportedly being discussed between the Pistons and Kings comes to fruition.
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.
I think this would be such a great trade for the Pistons. Derrick Williams never turned into the player the NBA experts thought, as he was drafted second overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 NBA Draft. He could wind up being a very good player, similar to Antonio McDyess for the Pistons. Jason Terry would just be another guard in the Pistons rotation and might be the vet Van Gundy is looking for to help his young point guards. Jason Thompson is another high draft pick that didn't pan out but would be a great piece to come off the bench. Oh, have I mentioned how nice it would be to unload Smith's contract and awful shooting percentage?
The ESPN article also mentions how the Pistons are still exploring the options of a sign and trade for Greg Monroe. One landing place they had for Monroe is Portland but yet the story states that Portland could also be out of the mix now...
Sources said the Pistons also seriously discussed various sign-and-trade scenarios this month that would have landed restricted free agent Greg Monroe in Portland, but the Blazers ultimately pulled themselves out of the race for Monroe by signing free-agent big man Chris Kaman to join Robin Lopez in the Blazers' center rotation.
It's nice to see the Pistons are at least trying to get out from under this mess that was left by former GM Joe Dumars.
