The Detroit Pistons are expected to become very aggressive in the coming weeks as they try to move Josh Smith before the annual trade deadline on February 20.
Earlier reports indicated that the Pistons are still weighing their options on who to trade between Smith and emerging power forward Greg Monroe. Sources said that the Pistons are now convinced that they should keep Monroe instead of Smith, who has been underperforming this season.
"Sources briefed on the situation told ESPN.com this week that the Pistons have been telling teams with Monroe interest that the restricted free agent-to-be - no matter what you've heard - is not available. Sources say teams calling to inquire about Monroe's availability are being advised that he's not on the market," Marc Stein of ESPN reported.
According to reports, the Pistons are convinced that Smith would stunt the development of their promising front-line combination of Monroe and sophomore center Andre Drummond. The high-flying forward have spent a lot of minutes playing the small forward spot, but it did not produce good results for the Pistons.
The 28-year-old forward is averaging 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season, but has yet to make an impact for the Pistons on the defensive end of the floor mainly because the small forwards of other teams are way quicker than him.
However, moving Smith before the deadline is a long shot because of the former Atlanta Hawk just signed a four-year deal worth $54 million during the offseason - unless they decide to receive less assets in exchange for the 10-year-veteran forward.
"The Josh Smith experiment in Detroit is not going well, and there's strong opinion around the league that the Pistons would trade him if they could - and "could" is the key word. Since Smith is in the first year of a four-year, $56 million deal, he is one of the most untradeable players in the league," ESPN insider Chris Broussard noted.
According to reports, the best that the Pistons can get at this point is a trade centered on Boston Celtics forward Gerald Wallace along with several expiring contracts, while the New York Knicks are reportedly mulling offering Andrea Bargnani for Smith.
The Phoenix Suns are also reportedly in the mix should the Pistons decide to enter into a salary-dumping trade. The Suns could send Emeka Okafor's expiring contract along with picks in exchange for Smith.
