Pistons release Josh Smith
DETROIT, MI (TheSpread) – The Detroit Pistons made a surprising move on Monday night, electing to waive forward Josh Smith, who still had two years remaining on his contract.
The veteran forward is owed $26 million on his contract after this season ends, but the Pistons cited a desire to get younger as the reason for making the move.
“Our team has not performed the way we had expected throughout the first third of the season and adjustments need to be made in terms of our focus and direction,” coach and team president Stan Van Gundy said in a statement. “We are shifting priorities to aggressively develop our younger players while also expanding the roles of other players in the current rotation to improve performance and build for our future. As we expand certain roles, others will be reduced. In fairness to Josh, being a highly versatile 10-year veteran in this league, we feel it’s best to give him his freedom to move forward. We have full respect for Josh as a player and a person.”
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Pistons currently have 5,000/1 odds to win the 2015 NBA Finals. They are currently tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the longest odds to win it all this season.
Detroit is currently 5-23 on the season, 17 games out of first place in the Central Division. The Pistons are just 2-13 at home and 3-10 on the road. Detroit is also 8-20 against the spread. Smith was averaging 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
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