Joe Smith Should be an Option for Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards next season will be one of the NBA teams that will have to pay the league's luxury tax. That means they are going to have to pay one dollar to the league for each dollar their payroll exceeds the salary cap level.

Since Washington sat back and watched Orlando trade for Vince Carter, Cleveland trade for Shaq and Boston sign free agent Rasheed Wallace, they have no choice to go over the cap and acquire some players to compete for an NBA title.

Washington has the mentally of win now and will do whatever it takes to win. Ernie Grunfeld, Washington's general manager, said he expects the team to sign a veteran big man this offseason to make sure the team has depth at the power forward and center position.

Washington has expressed interested in players such as Antonio McDyess, Jamaal Magloire, Channing Fry, Jason Collins. McDyess would be a better fit for Washington, but he is looking for the mid-level exception money, something Washington can't offer him.

A guy that may be a good fit for Washington and who played for Flip Saunders in Minnesota is 14-year veteran Joe Smith.

Smith is an unrestricted free agent and will probably settle for the veteran minimum, something that Washington can offer him.

Smith can hit the mid-range shot, he is a great defender and he knows his role.

Acquiring Smith would give Washington a power forward to come off the bench who could provide great minutes and give starting power forward Antwan Jamison some rest.