The L.A. Clippers have had a busy free agency so far. They re-signed DeAndre Jordan and added Paul Pierce. Another free agent who has agreed to come to play for the Clippers is small forward Josh Smith. Smith signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.
This will mark the fourth team that Josh Smith has been with. He played for the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, and the Houston Rockets. Last year he helped the Rockets go all the way to the Western Conference Finals. In the regular season he was mostly a bench player for them, averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. In the playoffs his game was even better, scoring 13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. In his 11-year career Smith has averaged 15.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
According to ESPN, Smith thanked the city of Houston and their fans saying, “Over my pro career I have spent a lot of time in Houston with friends and family. Over the past year, while with the Rockets, the team, fans and people of Houston have made it a second home. I want to express my appreciation to everyone for the support and kindness they have showed me and my family while I have been here. Thank you!”
Smith made the right choice to go to L.A. The Rockets are built, right now, to make the playoffs and possibly go to the second-round. With all the moves made during free agency, the Clippers are serious about making a run at the NBA championship.
Josh Smith will be a strong piece to the bench. When he is called upon to play, it will be with high energy. He will not only score on the offensive end but also play defense. This is the type of player the Clippers need to possibly get over the hump and win an NBA championship. They are closing the gap between themselves and the defending NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors. We will need to see how adding Josh Smith will improve this team from last seasons’ 56-26 record. The Clippers should still be a top three team in the West.
How will Josh Smith improve this team?
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