The Los Angeles Clippers signed Josh Smith for the league’s veteran minimum salary. The 29-year-old will collect $1.5 million from the Clippers next season.
He’ll also take home $5.4 million from the Detroit Pistons, who opted to waive him last December with two years and $26 million remaining on his contract. When you factor in the rest of what Smith was owed for the 2014-15 season, the Pistons were left on the hook for upwards of $30 million, thus they were obligated pay out the remainder of the deal.
The Clippers held an introductory press conference for Smith on Tuesday, where the six-foot-nine forward noted the financial challenges he faces this coming season.
“At the end of the day, you know, I do have a family,” Smith said (via the Orlando Sentinel). “So it is going to be a little harder on me this year. But I’m going to push through it, you know.”
Add it up and Smith is due to earn $6.9 million for the 2015-16 season. He’ll push through it, you know.
Smith helped knock the Clippers out of the 2015 post-season while coming off the bench for the Houston Rockets. He averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in 83 games with the Pistons and Rockets last season.
The former NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team forward inked a a four-year, $54-million deal with the Pistons in 2013. He earned $13.5 million in the first year of the deal and $14 million in 2014-15.
For many, Smith bemoaning his impending struggles while earning $6.9 million, will serve as a reminder of a legendary quote from former NBA All-Star Latrell Sprewell. Sprewell, facing free agency following the 2004-05 season, famously turned down a three-year offer believed to be worth $30 million from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004, saying “I’m at risk. I have a lot of risk here. I got my family to feed.”
Sprewell would not sign another NBA contract.
You could do worse, Josh Smith.