Josh Smith
In 2004, Josh Smith was a high school basketball player that had tremendous potential. The Atlanta Hawks saw Smith’s potential as they drafted him 17th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. In Smith’s first four seasons in the NBA, his points per game average increased each year as he became more of a focal point in the Hawks offense. During the 2011-2012 NBA season, Smith averaged a career high in points (18.8) and rebounds (9.6) as he was seeking an extension from the Hawks. In 2013, Smith became a free agent as he was looking for a hefty payday. The Detroit Pistons were impressed by Smith’s ability as they signed him to a four-year deal worth $56 million. Smith would lead the Pistons in scoring last season at 16.4 per game, but it wouldn’t translate to Detroit being a successful team as they would only go 29-53. The Pistons bad season would mean that there would be wholesale changes across the board.
As a result of the futility in Detroit, longtime Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars was relieved of his duties. Stan Van Gundy would be hired as the Pistons new head coach as well as being the new president of basketball operations. Van Gundy was previously the head coach of the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic respectively where he built a reputation as far as being a no-nonsense guy. The Pistons have stumbled out of the gate this season with a record of 5-23 and looking for a shakeup, Van Gundy today waived Smith.
Stan Van Gundy
When the Pistons signed Smith he was compensated like a star player which is something that he has never been. Not too long into his tenure in Detroit, Smith had problems with former Pistons head coach Maurice Cheeks. Like Van Gundy, Cheeks is an old-school disciplinarian that didn’t tolerate certain things and he was eventually fired. But when Van Gundy came on board this season you expected Smith’s time with the Pistons to be numbered.
The Pistons organization was hopeful that Smith could take his game to another level while also being a leader for their young team. But you simply cannot force someone to be what they are not. The move to waive Smith lets it be known that Van Gundy is not playing around and it also shows Smith that he cannot become complacent.
If Smith is not claimed on waivers within the first 48 hours by another NBA team, he will then become an unrestricted free agent. The Pistons however are on the hook for the remaining money on Smith’s deal which illustrates the desperation of Van Gundy to part with him.
Throughout his NBA career Smith has been a classic “tweener” as he is too big to be small forward and too small to be a power forward. At 6’9″, 225 lbs., and being 29-years of age, Smith’s best option to this point is to sign with a club and become a bench player. Smith was expected to be the guy with the Pistons and he failed at it miserably.
For Van Gundy the departure of Smith will allow him to continue doing what any first year head coach would do which is to evaluate his team. The Pistons are young and they have a pair of talented big men in center Andre Drummond and power forward Greg Monroe. Monroe is set to become a free agent next summer and Van Gundy must assess whether or not that he will be part of the potential turnaround in Motown. At 5-23, the Pistons are well out of the running for a playoff spot (even in the weak Eastern Conference), and it is time for Van Gundy to begin looking ahead to next season. Van Gundy can say whatever he wants to publicly, but he wasn’t attached to the hip with Smith like Dumars was which made him very expendable.
Source: Basketball-reference.com
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