Detroit Pistons Owe Josh Smith $28 Million, Decide To Cut Him Anyway

Josh Smith's torturous run with the Detroit Pistons came to an end Monday, Dec. 22, when head coach and team president Stan Van Gundy cut him from the roster.

While this might not seem like crazy news (an underperforming player losing his job?), we haven't told you the best part: the team will still owe Smith $28 million after this season.

In other words, they hated having him around so much that they're willing to eat 28 MILLION DOLLARS.

"Our team has not performed the way we had expected throughout the first third of the season and adjustments need to be made in terms of our focus and direction," Van Gundy said in a statement (via MLive).

Currently 5-23, the Pistons were expected to contend for a playoff spot this season with their nucleus of talented players, while Smith was supposed to be a big part of the squad's success. But he's effectively transitioned from an All Star-caliber player in Atlanta to an inefficient dumpster fire in Detroit over the past three seasons.

"We are shifting priorities to aggressively develop our younger players while also expanding the roles of other players in the current rotation to improve performance and build for our future," Van Gundy continued. "As we expand certain roles, others will be reduced. In fairness to Josh, being a highly versatile 10-year veteran in this league, we feel it's best to give him his freedom to move forward. We have full respect for Josh as a player and a person."

ESPN reports that the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers are interesting in signing the 29-year-old Smith.

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