Report: Rockets solidifying case for Josh Smith; Dwight Howard comments

Best friends means friends forever. It may also mean that Josh Smith is headed to the Houston Rockets.

Waived by the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Smith is meeting with his camp Tuesday to discuss his future. That future will almost certainly see him clear waivers, making him a free agent at 5 p.m. Wednesday, allowing the forward to sign with a team of his choosing.

The Rockets were thought to be the frontrunner in the immediate aftermath of Smith's release, a status they've only secured since, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

A factor in that edge is that Smith and Dwight Howard are childhood pals, with Howard declining to hide his interest in playing with his friend on Tuesday.

"He would be a good piece," Howard said. "He would fit right in. A guy like him and myself in the paint, it would be tough for guys to get in there and try to score."

Smith's fit on defense is clear, with the Rockets still in need of help at the power forward position. Offensively, things aren't as clear, as explained in the post below. Smith can't shoot threes and has struggled to finish inside, major tenets of the Rockets' offense, but the opportunity to nab such a talent surely outweighs any fit concerns.

The Rockets can offer more than most contenders, with their $2.1-million bi-annual exception still available. The Miami Heat will be able to offer $2.7 million if their disabled player exception application is approved, while the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings - among others - remain interested, according to Zach Lowe of Grantland. But at this point, the Rockets should be considered the favorites.