Josh Smith Waived By The Pistons, Who Will Eat His Massive Contract

The Pistons need to blow up their roster and start over. Moving Josh Smith would have been costly if it was even possible. The franchise decided the best move for all involved was to waive him, less than two years into a four-year deal.

Smith was shooting .391 from the field through 28 games this season, which didn’t dissuade him from taking 14 attempts per game. He was signed to push the team back toward playoff contention. They never got there and rank dead last in NBA attendance. (Note: I have been living in Southeastern Michigan for three months, write about sports for a living and have not heard the Pistons brought up once.)

Not sure the exact parameters of how Smith’s contract is being paid out. But, he is owed $27 million over the next two seasons, plus the prorated share of the $13.5 million from this season, taking the figure well north of $30 million. Stan Van Gundy has the conch, in case that wasn’t clear.

UPDATE: The Pistons will use the “stretch provision” which allows them to pay out the remaining two years on Smith’s contract over five years and frees up cap space.

Pistons will use stretch provision on remaining $26 million of Josh Smith's contract, league source tells Yahoo. This gives some cap relief.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 22, 2014

The failure latent in this signing was predictable. Though few would have seen it going this poorly.

[Photo via USAT]