While the Houston Rockets were already in one of the upper tiers in a crowded Western Conference, their team improved exponentially this offseason. Adding a floor general like Chris Paul to a team already led by a playmaker such as James Harden will only give the Rockets additional offensive versatility.
Houston has been heavily involved in the sweepstakes for forward Carmelo Anthony, but he’s not the only player that seems to be on their radar. Josh Smith last played in the NBA during the 2015-16 season as a member of the Rockets and he may be on the verge of suiting up for H-Town yet again.
According to Kelly Iko of ESPN 975, Smith is interested in a return to the Rockets and the two sides may start working on a deal soon:
Just spoke with Josh Smith, formerly with the #Rockets. Very interested in a return to the team and a deal could be in the works soon.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) August 19, 2017
Not only has Smith expressed his willingness to rejoin Houston, but according to his Instagram, the combo forward was also working out with a handful of Rockets players recently including James Harden and Chris Paul:
While Smith’s previous stint with the Rockets was a rocky one, a lot of that had to do with his inability to known down free throws consistently. From an athletic standpoint, Smith still seemed to have all the requisite skills to make an impact off the bench. Throughout his career, Smith has always been considered a talented player but his tendency to fall in love with his nonexistent jumpshot comes back to haunt him too often.
Though he wouldn’t come in and be a star like he was during his days with the Atlanta Hawks, the now 31-year-old Josh Smith could provide an added punch to a Rockets bench unit that already boasts pieces such as Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, and Nene.
