Josh Smith Signing A Bad Decision for the Detroit Pistons?

Josh Smith may have been a star in Atlanta, but in
Detroit? Only time will tell.
Picture Courtesy: Bleacher Report

DETROIT, Mich. -- One of the most targeted free agents this off-season has found a home in Detroit. Free agent forward, Josh Smith has agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal to become the new face of the Pistons rebuilt franchise. Despite most Pistons fans being happy about the acquisition on Saturday, it may not have been the signing that Detroit is looking for.

Before digging into the possible cons of the signing, let's get the facts straight. Smith will add tremendous size to Detroit lineup which already features Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. Along with Smith's size, he is also one of the best defenders in the league. Smith was the NBA's youngest player to get to 100 career blocks, and also won the NBA's defensive player of the year award following the 2007-08 season. Smith will add a tremendous presence on defense for this team, but the offensive end is where most of the issues will be presented.

Smith's size is a great asset on defense, but on offense? This couldn't be a worse signing from an offensive standpoint. Smith's 6-foot, 9-inch frame is something that will clog up the court on offense. With the Detroit big men, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond down low, they'll need room to operate, which is something Smith won't allow. Smith is an awful jump shooter, but plays well in the post, just like Monroe and Drummond. The interior of the Pistons offense will end up extremely clogged and not allow much room for the big men to operate. With Josh Smith starting at small forward, he'll be stuck playing on the perimeter, which is a location that Smith is not used to. Smith dominates in the post, but playing small forward, he won't be placed there often.

Another issue with the three post players in the starting lineup is the lack of sharp shooters in the back court. Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey are projected to be the starting guards, and both are not known as knockdown shooters. Stuckey has been rumored to be traded a few times this off-season, but there is a chance of him remaining in Detroit. With Smith, Monroe, and Drummond down low and a lack of shooters on the perimeter, defenses will be allowed to collapse on the interior and shut down the post play. Unless Detroit makes one more acquisition for a shooter, the offense may become a logjam on the inside.

Nonetheless, Josh Smith should be a decent acquisition. However, $56 million may be overpaying for a player of Smith's ability. Smith does not fit well in Detroit's system, but Joe Dumars needed to overpay for Smith due to missing out on a target like Andre Iguodala, who would have fit better in Detroit. With all the cap room the Pistons had left to spend, the pressure was on Dumars to sign that star, which is what he found in Smith, but sacrificed a player that fits in the system. On the bright side, Smith will just add to one of the most young and dangerous front courts in the Eastern Conference. This dangerous front court should place fear in teams playing Detroit once again for the first time since the Ben and Rasheed Wallace tandem during the 2004 Championship run.




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