The Los Angeles Clippers have signed free-agent forward Josh Smith, who helped eliminate them from last season’s playoffs when he was with the Houston Rockets. The Clippers announced the deal yesterday.
Smith reportedly signed a one-year contract for the veterans minimum worth $1.5 million. A source told ESPN’s Chris Broussard that Smith “chose winning and a defined role over money.”
Smith played 55 games for the Rockets last season after the Detroit Pistons waived him in December.
After he was released by Detroit, Smith was recruited to sign with Houston by Dwight Howard, his childhood friend.
Smith scored in double digits in 35 of 48 games where he came off the bench, with four 20-point games during the regular season. His impact was even greater in the Western Conference semifinals. With the Rockets down 3-1 in the series against the Clippers, coach Kevin McHale inserted Smith into the starting lineup for Game 5, and Houston rallied to win the series. In a do-or-die Game 6 in L.A., Smith and Corey Brewer combined to score 29 fourth-quarter points, helping the Rockets rally from a 19-point second-half deficit to win.
In an 11-year career with the Atlanta Hawks, Pistons and Rockets, Smith has averaged 15.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals in 33.6 minutes per game. He is the 25th player in NBA history with over 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocked shots.
Information from Espn.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
