The Detroit Pistons are reportedly working out a blockbuster three-team trade as they look to get rid of Josh Smith's contract in exchange for a couple of expiring deals, according to the latest buzz on the rumor mill.
League sources indicated the Pistons are now serious in dealing away Smith, who is having the worst season of his career. Aside from averaging just 13 points per game, Smith is shooting a career low 37 percent from the field and a cold 24 percent from beyond the arc, while his 43 percent free-throw shooting is also the worst in his 10-year career.
Smith, who is only in the second year of the four-year, $54 million contract, has been the subject of trade chatter since last year's trade deadline.
The Sacramento Kings attempted to salvage the forward last summer, but the Pistons denied the trade proposal as they wanted more assets in return. But after a 3-14 start, the Pistons are perhaps convinced that it's already time to part ways with Smith.
Three-Team Blockbuster Trade with Brooklyn Nets & Oklahoma City Thunder
The latest trade rumors circulating around the league is a potential blockbuster deal involving the Pistons, Nets, and the Thunder. In the proposed trade, the Nets will acquire Smith, the Thunder take Kevin Garnettr, while the Pistons absorb the expiring contracts of Andrie Kirilenko and Kendrick Perkins.
The Nets, who are also looking to get rid of burdensome contracts in an attempt to stay under the salary cap and avoid tax implications, have been trying to find trade partners for Kirilenko the past couple of weeks.
Moreover, the team appears to be on the verge of hitting the rebuilding button, and it won't be surprising if they are going to trade some of their ageing veterans like Garnett as well.
On the other hand, the Thunder has been searching for a veteran presence in the locker room, and it appears Garnett still has the passion & skills to help Oklahoma City make a big push towards their first NBA title.
As for the Pistons, getting Kirilenko and Perkins can provide both short and long-term solutions. Short-term for the reason that both Kirilenko and Perkins are still capable of putting up solid numbers in any given night, while it's also long term because these expiring contracts will allow them to create enough cap space for them to make some serious run at several marquee free-agents next summer.
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