Hmm, lots of interesting rumors. I don't hate the idea of Smith at PF for us though he's not an ideal fit. If we're making a play for Smith I think I look at it two ways:
(1) He cannot under any circumstances start at SF. As soon as he attempts more than 2 threes per game his overall productivity plummets and you're not going to stop him from shooting camped out there on the perimeter. Which means SVG taking over in Detroit has to mean Smith is on the way out one way or another. And we're committing to an under-sized lineup without a stellar backup C.
(2) Smith becomes the new lynchpin in the Rajon Rondo off-season plan and Rudy Gay becomes expendable. It's possible Rondo is the one guy who can keep Cousins, Smith, and Gay all well-fed and happy (in basketball terms) but you're in luxury tax territory here for a team with a lot of question marks. It could be fun as hell though, not gonna lie.
While I'd strongly prefer a move which brings in a low-usage defensive specialist in the frontcourt, Smith does at least have defensive credentials to go with his shot chucking. Looking at the salary cap numbers, I think the Smith deal probably means Rudy Gay is gone in a year. He has to be unless we win the lottery somehow and get our PG there. We know Collison isn't the long-term plan so whether it's Rondo or Bledsoe targeted for a max deal, we're not bringing in Smith and a max salary PG and re-signing Rudy. We probably shouldn't give up Williams in this deal because we'd be right back in no SF territory next year. We'd be doing them a favor taking on Smith's deal at this point. We don't need to do them two favors and hand over young talent with our expiring contracts.
I wonder how many people are still anxious to get rid of Ben after he put up 22, 6, and 4 today on 7-11 shooting, 2-4 threes, 6-6 from the line, 1 steal, 1 block, and 3 TOs. That's the whole package right there and he's 21 years old. Stauskas has shown some intriguing tools but he hasn't started a game in the NBA yet.
I can't understand what the big rush is to unload lottery level talent for overpaid veterans. It cost Detroit nothing to sign Smith as a free agent last year, just cap space. Why should we give up one or more of our limited assets to correct their mistake? They get expirings and bench fodder or it's no deal. Josh Smith is a decent player but he's not make or break for us.