HOUSTON – With the Houston Rockets now 44 games into the season, the first of what could be several moves was finalized Friday with the team reacquiring forward Josh Smith.
The Rockets also received cash in the swap and the teams traded the rights to a pair of players who have each spent lengthy careers playing overseas, which is likely to continue.
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Smith joined the Rockets last season after he was waived by Detroit and played an important role in helping the team advance to the Western Conference finals.
He signed with the L.A. Clippers this season in free agency, but never gained a regular spot in their playing rotation and often didn't play at all, as was the case Monday, when the Clippers beat the Rockets in overtime.
"He fits here well with us," Rockets interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Friday after the team's morning shoot-around. "How we relate to Josh, how he relates to his teammates, all that makes a big difference (to how a guy fits in and performs). He brings another level of skill, (and) the more skilled hands on the floor, the better."
Bickerstaff said he hoped to have Smith in the building Friday night, but he did not expect him to play against Milwaukee.
"He can make plays for everybody else, He can do things defensively. He's very versatile," Bickerstaff said. "He should be comfortable with what we try to do."
He said Smith should be ready when the Rockets host Dallas on Sunday and he won't hesitate to put him out there.