Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, LA Clippers Favorites To Sign Josh Smith- Friends Rondo & Howard Recruiting Dumped Pistons Forward

The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, L.A. Clippers, Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies are all jostling to sign dumped Detroit Pistons star Josh Smith after the forward was stunningly waived by his former team yesterday with $26 million remaining on his contract. Smith will clear waivers Wednesday and reportedly the Rockets — with Smith's good friend Dwight Howard leading the charge — are the frontrunners to sign the former star and current wayward walking inefficiency.

Houston has strengthened its position as the frontrunner to sign Josh Smith, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) December 23, 2014

According to Yahoo! Sports journalist/warlock Adrian Wojnarowski, the Houston Rockets are the frontrunners to sign the former Detroit and Atlanta combo forward, saying that the Texas team have "aggressively pursued" trades for Smith overt the past two years.

Not only that, says Wojnarowski, but Houston center and noted good decision-maker Dwight Howard "is a childhood friend of Smith's", says Woj, which dates back "to their days growing up in Atlanta." The means Howard, unsurprisingly, "is a strong advocate of signing Smith."

Fortunately for the Rockets, Dwight Howard isn't their General Manager; that'd be Daryl Morey, and it's an interesting question as to how Smith — who has been shooting 39% from the floor and 24% from three-point range this year — would fit into the Rockets spread-and-run offensive system. Woj says the fit for the Rockets is more on the defensive end, saying that the team are after Smith and his "ability to block shots, rebound and pass as a unique complement at the power forward to Howard". Because it’s clearly not his ability or willingness to shoot corner threes:

CORRECTION -- Josh Smith's shot chart THIS season: https://t.co/Jmk2H6vk4K #NBAStats #Pistons pic.twitter.com/qf9O590A0d

— NBA.com (@NBAcom) December 22, 2014

ESPN's Kevin Pelton figures that Smith's best fit would come with a team who need him to be "a versatile post player capable of defending stretch 4s while playing with teammates whose floor spacing allows him to play near the basket." That, says Pelton, "sounds a lot like a role on the Clippers," while his defense could also work next to Chris Bosh in Miami, where "Smith's athleticism would work well in the Heat's trapping defense".

Co-captain Udonis Haslem wants Josh Smith to join the Heat, for what it's worth. Heat can offer $2.6 M if NBA allows for exception.

— Joseph Goodman (@JoeGoodmanJr) December 23, 2014

It's an idea backed up by ESPN's Marc Stein, who reported that the Heat used their Disabled Player Exception to free up extra dollars after forward Josh McRoberts' season ended with a knee injury.

As for the Mavs, their approach is being spearheaded by new point guard Rajon Rondo. Stein reported a source as saying that Smith is "just as close to Dwight as he is to Rondo." Says Stein, "Rondo believes his friend and former high school teammate would be a good fit for the Mavs."

It's a long shot, but Grizz have a roster spot, and hearing they've expressed some interest in Josh Smith.

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) December 22, 2014

Grantland's Zach Lowe added that the Memphis Grizzlies "have made their interest known" in Smith, saying that that's "a smart move - if only to keep him away from other contenders."

Where will Josh Smith end up? We'll find out tomorrow... but if there's one Christmas miracle we all need, it's Smith going to the New York Knicks and teaming up with JR Smith and Carmelo Anthony for the most entertain disaster in recent NBA history.

For now, this is what we have to go on:

Josh Smith and Dwight Howard have gone to WNBA games together. Repeat: THESE GUYS ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS. https://t.co/a0qeWUcHcI

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 23, 2014