L.A. Clippers trade underperforming Josh Smith back to Houston Rockets
The Los Angeles Clippers have traded forward Josh Smith back to the Houston Rockets, the team he enjoyed success with last season, the Clippers announced Friday.
Houston also receives the draft rghts to Sergei Lishouck, who plays for UCAM Murcia in Spain, and cash considerations, while the Clippers receive the draft rights to Maarty Leunen, who plays in the Italian Serie A.
Welcome back Josh Smith! #bandbacktogether
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) January 22, 2016
Smith and the Rockets completed an epic second-round comeback from down 3-1 last season that sent the Clippers home and Houston to the Western Conference finals. Smith, somewhat surprisingly, left Houston and boyhood friend Dwight Howard and signed with the Clippers in the offseason.
But he failed to win over Clippers coach Doc Rivers and never found a role on the team. He has averaged a career-low 14.3 minutes a game -- even with forward Blake Griffin out with an injury since late December.
According to Wojnarowski, the Clippers had considered waiving Smith. The trade allows them to save $2 million in luxury tax. The Clippers will cover the remaining $460,000 on Smith’s $1.4 million minimum salary this season.
Josh Smith on returning to #Rockets: "I'm excited. I feel great. It's a place that I probably should have never left."
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 22, 2016
Smith expressed excitement about returning to Houston and regret for leaving. The Rockets are 22-22 and clinging to seventh place in the West.
