Sacramento Kings are trying to have a new look going into this season. They’re looking to play a more up-tempo style under George Karl. While some of their moves this summer like the signing of Kosta Koufos or trading away Nik Stauskas, Jason Thompson and Carl Landry have been questionable, they have made another decent move. They brought in Marco Belinelli and kept Omri Casspi to help address the lack of perimeter shooting this team has and you would expect them to go after another shooter.
Instead, the player they are currently enamored with is a guy who isn’t that much of a sharp shooter and might actually create more issues with the big man rotation for the Sacramento Kings. They’re interested in Josh Smith for reasons that might not be related to the system they want to play.
Following from Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
With players able to sign contracts the Kings have a "very strong" interest in free agent forward Josh Smith
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) July 9, 2015
That from league sources familiar with the Kings' plans. No deal imminent but Kings would love to add Josh Smith
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) July 9, 2015
Kings remain interested in Rockets free agent F Josh Smith, a source said. Smith & new Kings PG Rajon Rondo were Oak Hill Academy teammates.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 9, 2015
Smith is a career 28 percent shooter from three but he did ‘improve’ up to 33 percent with the Rockets last year. The Kings do have some shooters who can space the floor like Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore and Belinelli, but they could use more to help out some of these guys who lack the skills to shoot. Despite the fact Smith shot 38% from three in the Rockets playoff run, it’s hard to believe that’s going to continue for him and teams will be more than willing to let Smith fire away.
Beyond his on-court issues, you always have to consider the state of mind that Josh Smith is in. Adding Smith would just make the Sacramento Kings the most interesting locker room in the NBA. George Karl and their star DeMarcus Cousins already have an issue, they added Rajon Rondo, who might be too honest at times and if they add Josh Smith, it will just make them the most interesting team to watch for non-basketball reasons.
