Report: Kings showing 'very strong' interest in Josh Smith

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Is Rudy Gay calling the shots in Sacramento?

Gay famously lobbied for Rajon Rondo, which led to an agreement on a one-year, $10-million deal for the fallen superstar. Then, Gay was caught sending Snapchats with Josh Smith. That was followed by this:

The Kings are already stocked with questionable personalities, so what's the harm in adding another to the mix? Smith isn't liable to fly off the handle, but he's a somewhat unrestrained player who can become destructive if unchecked by a rigid scheme. His failure to adhere to the script cost him his job with the Detroit Pistons.

But Smith enjoyed a turnaround season upon landing with the Houston Rockets. Smith was deployed as a playmaker in the frontcourt which maximized his passing and driving abilities against bigger defenders. Smith averaged 12 points, six rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 55 games in Houston.

Based on his skill set alone, Smith projects to fit nicely into coach George Karl's system. Pairing Smith in a frontcourt with Gay and DeMarcus Cousins would give the Kings a surplus of playmaking in the paint, something Karl is known to covet. Smith's defensive versatility would also be an asset.

The worry, however, is that the Kings' main weakness is a lack of shooting. Pairing Smith with Cousins clogs the paint, and it might create a situation where Smith is forced to the perimeter to launch ill-fated jumpers as he did in Detroit.

The Rockets also have some interest in re-signing Smith.