Sources say Josh Smith has been traded back to the Houston Rockets

[Patr1ck]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--r ... 06838.html

The Clippers will send cash to cover the remaining $460,000 on Smith’s $1.4 million minimum salary this season and the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk. Houston sends the Clippers the rights to Maarty Leunen. Neither player is expected to play in the NBA.

Smith averaged 12 points, six rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 blocks in 55 games for the Rockets a season ago.

This year, including three DNP's in his final five games with the Clippers, Smith averaged 5.7 points in 14.3 minutes a game.

So is he going to torch the Clippers again in a future season or playoff game?

I'm glad he got traded. He was pretty much a sore spot on our bench. Maybe this is better for both teams.

[mp3]

I bet he wishes he never left Atlanta now! He was a force till he left there.

[NovU]

I thought the Clippers solved their issues at SF with Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Lance Stephenson, Wes Johnson acquisition. Lol, none of them worked out despite ample amount of opportunity.

Josh's similar to Rudy Gay. I think this is what teams will do with Gay starting his next contract.

[Patr1ck]

Seems like this could have been Doc's plan the whole time. Over stack the 3 spot and take away a player from an opponent who torched them. Only one more game between the Rockets and Clippers this sseason as well.

[NovU]

Yeah. Josh was crucial for the Rockets mainly for guarding Griffin during last year's playoffs series.

I guess Doc figured he is a total wash now that sinking Rockets can have him back at no possible risk coming back to bite them.

[Andrew]

I'm not too surprised to see Josh Smith traded, as that rumour's been floating around for a while. A return to Houston does raise an eyebrow, though.

It would be funny if it was Doc's plan to hamstring a Western Conference rival, and then ditch Smith when the damage has been done. Then again, Smith obviously wasn't working out and in the Clippers' efforts to deal him, maybe the Rockets were the only takers. After all, he did have his moments for them last year, so perhaps they figure he'll find that form again once he's back in Houston.

[Patr1ck]

Your probably right. I'm betting that it was just a good opportunity to get a solid player and take something away from a western conference rival. I mean, Doc is no genius, as he was playing Josh at the 5 a lot, trying for some small ball chemistry or something. The fact that they got virtually nothing, including paying cash to get the deal done can be speculated to support your theory as Houston being the only takers.

Interesting that Blake Griffin has been out and Doc didn't give Josh any extra minutes or even start him(except once, but less than 5 minutes played). I guess there were things going on behind the scenes, and this trade pretty much confirms that.

[Andrew]

It's probably a case of addition by subtraction for the Clippers anyway, so maybe it'll work out for both teams at the end of the day, if Smith does recapture his mojo in Houston.

[[Q]]

Aldrich's decent play made him expendable for sure. Is Stephenson next?

[Andrew]

Supposedly Stephenson's on the block as well. His value is likely pretty low right now too, so I'm guessing there aren't a lot of teams lining up to make great offers for him.

[mp3]

I think that Doc saw how much Smith shut down Blake and thought he could do that job for them more than any brilliant master mind plan, him and Lance have being a major bust which makes me wonder what's next for Lance in the nba and even if any team would want him now after Charlotte and LA?

[Andrew]

I think someone will take a chance on him, but it'll either be after he's a free agent, or it'll take the Clippers sweetening the deal as they did with Smith and the Rockets.

[mp3]

Well I never thought that Nate Robinson would be out of the league so soon and iam now thinking Lance has the same type of attitude so he best be careful here.

[iamSamke]

Next summer he will be back in Clippers

[NovU]

Well I never thought that Nate Robinson would be out of the league so soon and iam now thinking Lance has the same type of attitude so he best be careful here.

I was starting to wonder which short and under 6'0" player will have a long and successful career well into early 30s. It's been awhile. Last I remember is Avery Johnson and my best bet for the moment is Isaiah Thomas.

[mp3]

Isiah is a baller and has a game similar to Nate's scoring wise but the key difference is attitude and approach to the game, that's Nates and Lances biggest problem

[Andrew]

Can we say Robinson is officially done at this point? I mean, he only lasted two games with the Pelicans, but he has continued to find a place in the league right up until this season. There's a possibility that he'll resurface.

[[Q]]

Well I never thought that Nate Robinson would be out of the league so soon and iam now thinking Lance has the same type of attitude so he best be careful here.

It's been awhile. Last I remember is Avery Johnson and my best bet for the moment is Isaiah Thomas.

My ninja Earl Boykins, who is one of the best scorers I've ever seen, let alone scorers under 5 and a half feet

[NovU]

Wow. Didn't even realize Boykins played till he was 35. That's some achievement.

Boykins was pure joy to watch in Denver with Melo. Amazing small player.

[mp3]

Muggsy had a great career too but he was more of a passer than a scorer.

Andrew I think Nate's done in the league, when he was a knick people who worked at MSG saw how much he clowned around off camera to a point where he was pissing people off and he after leaving NY was known for breaking plays and over dribbling which I think is a coaches nightmare.