Josh Smith to Clippers

[Who]

Interesting move from Smith. Giving up both pay and play from the Rockets where it seemed he fit well...But hey, like someone mentioned, hes getting paid by the Pistons so it doesnt really matter.

[dang] great move for the Clips however.

Ditto. I like that Smith turned down more money from Houston to join the LA Clippers. I agree with other posters that, on paper at least, the West has some very good teams. I'd rank them

Warriors
Spurs
Clippers
Thunder
Rockets
Grizzlies

Then a muddle of:
Utah/Dallas/New Orleans/Sacramento/Phoenix/Portland

6 of the top 7 teams are in the West.

Cleveland is the only high caliber team in the conference. The East is ridiculously weak at the top of the conference after Cleveland. It is in infuriating how uncompetitive (at the top) the East is heading into next year.

I even think 2 or 3 of those next teams (Phoenix, Utah, New Orleans = 7th-9th seeds in the West) could challenge the likes of Atlanta, Washington, Chicago, Toronto, Miami for the #2 and #3 seeds in the East. Atlanta got worse since last year (D.Carroll left). Washington got worse (Pierce left). I think Chicago probably take a step back without Thibs around anymore.

Sidenote: As an aside, this is a good reason why a team like Boston could beat someone in the first round and make a playoff run. Outside of Cleveland, the East is ridiculously weak at the top of the bracket. The difference between the top seeds and bottom seeds is much smaller than normal.

[danglertx]

If the teams in the West don't like it, they only need to look at their players to understand why.  No big name free agents went West to East, and a lot of secondary stars like Pierce went East to West.  Can't complain about the competition when all the free agents are picking West coast teams.

[hodgy03038]

I am really surprised that Josh Smith signed for the veteran minimum. Wow! He personally took a big financial hit to try to win. I don't know what his salary will be but I am guessing it's significantly less than "Austin Rivers". At Smith's age I am surprised he went this rout when he probably could have signed for much more to play with his buddies in Sacramento. Can you imagine making less than the coach's son?

[saltlover]

I am really surprised that Josh Smith signed for the veteran minimum. Wow! He personally took a big financial hit to try to win. I don't know what his salary will be but I am guessing it's significantly less than "Austin Rivers". At Smith's age I am surprised he went this rout when he probably could have signed for much more to play with his buddies in Sacramento. Can you imagine making less than the coach's son?

He didn't take that big of a financial hit, because some of his new salary counts against the $5.6 million the Pistons are paying him each of the next five years.  The Rockets were supposedly offering him the room exception, which is $2.8 million.  However, he would only have kept about $1.825 million of that.  He instead signed for the vet min, which is $1.5 million.  He gets to keep $1.175 million of that, so he left about $650k on the table.  Which isn't nothing, obviously, but it means he's getting paid $6.775 million to play basketball this year instead of $7.425 million (or more than double Austin Rivers).

[hodgy03038]

I am really surprised that Josh Smith signed for the veteran minimum. Wow! He personally took a big financial hit to try to win. I don't know what his salary will be but I am guessing it's significantly less than "Austin Rivers". At Smith's age I am surprised he went this rout when he probably could have signed for much more to play with his buddies in Sacramento. Can you imagine making less than the coach's son?

He didn't take that big of a financial hit, because some of his new salary counts against the $5.6 million the Pistons are paying him each of the next five years.  The Rockets were supposedly offering him the room exception, which is $2.8 million.  However, he would only have kept about $1.825 million of that.  He instead signed for the vet min, which is $1.5 million.  He gets to keep $1.175 million of that, so he left about $650k on the table.  Which isn't nothing, obviously, but it means he's getting paid $6.775 million to play basketball this year instead of $7.425 million (or more than double Austin Rivers).

Thanks for explaining that. I was thinking it was a ridiculous move on his part financially but now it makes sense that he still gets his money and has a chance to go all the way.

[Csfan1984]

I do wonder if they get Ray Allen now.

[Moranis]

I do wonder if they get Ray Allen now.

Isn't Rivers the reason Allen left Boston.  The whole benching him for Bradley, etc.

[MJohnnyboy]

I do wonder if they get Ray Allen now.

Isn't Rivers the reason Allen left Boston.  The whole benching him for Bradley, etc.

I think Rondo was the primary reason Ray left.

[Celtics4ever]

I do wonder if they get Ray Allen now.

They need to get a lot to beat the Spurs.

[celts10]

I do wonder if they get Ray Allen now.

Isn't Rivers the reason Allen left Boston.  The whole benching him for Bradley, etc.

I think Rondo was the primary reason Ray left.

I agree. The benching certainly didn't help, though. I don't think Ray can still get over the fact that he lost his starting job to a guy (Bradley) who was the third option behind Pietrus. But all that contributed to one heck of a final run.