GoFundMe Campaign Looks To 'Provide For Josh Smith's Family' While He Makes Nearly $7 Million
By Dan Jenkins
@DanTJenkins
When the Detroit Pistons signed forward Josh Smith to a four-year, $54 million contract in 2013 it was the richest in franchise history.
The team cut him just over a year into that contract, but is still on the hook to pay him $5.4 million per year due to the NBA's stretch provision. On top of that, Smith signed a veteran's minimum contract with the Los Angeles Clippers this week worth around $1.5 million this season.
Don't let all of that money fool you; Smith says that things will be tough for his family after taking a nearly $7 million per year pay cut.
"At the end of the day, you know, I do have a family," Smith said at his introductory press conference in Los Angeles. "So it is going to be a little harder on me this year. But I'm going to push through it, you know."
Smith's comments received some well-deserved criticism, but one Metro Detroiter is "sympathizing." Canton resident Christopher Burlew set up a satirical GoFundMe campaign to "help provide for Josh Smith's family."
"I'm not here to talk about the NBA's starvation wage of $1.5 million dollars, I'll leave that to the politicians in Washington.
Needless to say I spent a sleepless night wondering what I could do to get Josh Smith back on his feet. I am only one man, there isn't much I can do. All I can do is ask us average Americans to help flip the other $7.1 million to make wage comparable to the $14 million a year he made as a member of the Detroit Pistons. I would hate to see Josh Smith have an inconvenience made from only making $6.9 million. If a man can only afford one gold-plated toilet, then what is the meaning of life. Let's start the hashtag: #SaveJoshSmith and help him through these dark times.
God Bless Josh Smith."
So far, the campaign has raised a staggering $0 after opening up on Thursday.
