Josh Smith Agrees to Contract with Sichuan Blue Whales
Free-agent forward Josh Smith is trying to revive his career in China, having agreed to a contract with the Sichuan Blue Whales.
International basketball reporter David Pick shared confirmation from the team, noting a source told him the contract is for three months and $1.5 million-plus.
Pick reported Sunday that the Chinese Basketball Association team had contacted Smith in an attempt to bring him overseas.
Smith, 30, last played for the Houston Rockets. He split the 2015-16 season between Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging career lows of 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds.
Smith's performance completely fell off on both ends after the Clippers signed him to a minimum-salary deal in an attempt to put them over the top.
He was shooting 38.3 percent from the floor when the Clippers traded him to Houston, where he'd revived his career a year earlier. But Smith never recaptured his rhythm, shooting even worse with the Rockets (34.3) while continuing to jack up bad threes.
Long an enigmatic figure with shaky on-court decision-making, Smith acknowledged that he needed to make some changes when talking to Shams Charania of The Vertical:
"I'm not a guy that is oblivious to my surroundings, I know that changes need to be made. It's something that I have done wrong to now be figuring out my next move and figuring out what I need to do to be better. Even yoga this summer has helped me become one with my spirit, body and mind. I've done things to take steps toward bettering myself, having patience.
I have a lot left to give to this game. I'm ready to go now. I feel like I'm in the best shape, and I've worked extremely hard this offseason. I'm ready.
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Charania reported Smith rebuffed an offer from the CBA over the summer in favor of staying in the U.S. The CBA season ends in March, so Smith could theoretically play out his contract with the Blue Whales and then sign with another team. CBA teams also often entice U.S. talent by offering them an NBA out in their deals.
This move is unlikely to be a financial one, as the Detroit Pistons are paying Smith $5.3 million over the next four seasons after using the stretch provision to waive him in 2014. He had signed a four-year, $54 million deal with the team before the 2013-14 season.
Still relatively young, Smith has the skills to be a dominant figure in China and could be an NBA contributor if he can get out of his own way. Given the lack of interest in him this summer, playing in China may be the only way Smith can reopen any doors stateside.
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