NBA Free Agency 2013: Top 10 Worst Contracts So Far
By Chris Philip
May 3, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith (5) looks down the court in the second half of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Philips Arena. The Pacers won 81-73. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
#2. Josh Smith, Detroit Pistons
4 years/$54M ($13.2M)
Age: 27 (2017-2018: 31)
Peers: James Harden, David Lee
Role: Starting Small Forward
2012-2013 Statistics: 76 games, 35.3 mpg, 17.5 ppg (46.5%/30.3%/51.7%), 8.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.8 bpg
Rationale: Josh Smith is an elite defender and finisher with questionable shot selection and perennial conditioning issues. Presumably Detroit signed him to form a supersized frontcourt alongside Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, neither of which can shoot either. Detroit won 29 games last season; Milwaukee took the eighth seed with 38 wins. Does adding Josh Smith net those crucial nine wins, especially now that Detroit’s best point guard will be suiting up for the Mavericks?