Josh Smith
You recall when the Pistons unexpectedly cut Josh Smith in December. Suddenly, the team was on a hot streak.
Smith sucked. The Pistons were suddenly good.
The only downside was that the Pistons agreed to pay the remainder of his $26 million contract to make him go away. The team will pay it out over five years.
After being cut, Smith signed with the Houston Rockets for $2 million.
Now, reports Business Insider, Smtih is on a hot streak.
William Scott Davis writes in the Business Insider:
After a little bit of a bumpy start to his tenure in Houston, Smith has been on fire for the third-place Rockets.
In February, Smith is averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block per game in 31 minutes per game. His shooting — the biggest question mark about his fit with the Rockets — has been red hot, hitting 47.6% of his shots from the field, 48% of his shots from three (on five attempts per game).
With Smith on the floor in February, the Rockets have a 7.2 net rating, third best on the team. That number falls to -12 with Smith off the floor. In other words, the Rockets are losing when he's on the bench.
