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The 5 worst free agent signings in Detroit Pistons history

By Corey Rausch

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 03: Josh Smith #6 of the Detroit Pistons reacts duringa action against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on February 3, 2014 in Miami, Florida. The Heat defeated the Pistons 102-96. NOTE TO USER: User Expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Liscense Agreement. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 03: Josh Smith #6 of the Detroit Pistons reacts duringa action against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on February 3, 2014 in Miami, Florida. The Heat defeated the Pistons 102-96. NOTE TO USER: User Expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Liscense Agreement. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Detroit Pistons Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images /

Josh Smith

Could it have been anyone else honestly? During the 2013 offseason the Detroit Pistons signed Josh Smith to a four-year, $54 million deal to add him to the frontcourt of Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. Everything was looking up for the team adding a max player to a young team that should have an athletic edge on everyone.

As we adjusted contracts before this contract for Smith would be the equivalent of someone making $25.07 million per season today. This is marginally less than Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Jrue Holiday. So for this amount of money you would have guessed his production for Detroit would be impressive, right?

Smith played a total of 105 games for the Detroit Pistons and averaged 15.5 points 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 2.6 blocks while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from distance and a deplorable 51.5 percent on free throws.

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Smith and Coach Stan Van Gundy clearly never saw eye to eye, and that famously ended with the Pistons stretching Smith’s contract which would spread out the payments for him over additional time. The Pistons paid Josh Smith $14 million in 2014 and 2015 and then $5.33 million in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Smith played for Houston (in two separate stints), the Clippers and the Pelicans while still filling up the Pistons cap. He will finally stop receiving checks from the Detroit Pistons when this season is over.

Not only was Josh Smith bad on the floor for the Pistons but given that the front office chose to waive him rather than trade him or deal with him for two more seasons the contract has messed with the Pistons’ ability to add to their roster for seven seasons. Simply stunning.

Hopefully, the Pistons will be able to right these wrongs looking forward. Senior adviser (and de facto general manager) Ed Stefanski has proved to be somewhat better at this aspect of team-building so far but this looks to be his first offseason with financial flexibility. What he does with it will help define the rebuild the Pistons are in the midst of.

Times are changing in the Motor City and Josh Smith is finally going to be gone from the books.

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