Report: Rockets assuring Smith he'll start if he signs with Houston
The Houston Rockets desperately want to add Josh Smith to their 20-7 roster. How bad do they reportedly want the 29-year-old former Detroit Pistons shooter? This bad:
Latest Josh Smith rumble: Houston, I'm told, is assuring Smith that he'll have a starting spot, which only makes Rockets more of a favorite
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 24, 2014
The Philadelphia 76ers are the only team with the cap space to claim Smith, and they have no intention to do so, Stein adds. That means Smith will officially be a free agent at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Christmas Eve.
Smith is good friends with Rockets center Dwight Howard, leading to speculation that Houston is the favorite to land the soon-to-be free agent. Also working in Houston's favor is the fact it can offer Smith more than the minimum, thanks to the club's $2.1-million biannual exception.
Check out the storyline below for more on Smith's future and his horrific shooting.