After an examination, Gobert suffered a shoulder injury in the Christmas game and will be sidelined for two weeks, and the Kings are suddenly tightened inside, leaving only one big man in Whiteside.Gobert averaged just nine minutes per game last season, scoring 21 points, 32 rebounds and 08 blocks.This season, he averaged 264 minutes per game, and his statistics skyrocketed to 104 points, 95 rebounds, 13 assists and 23 blocks, becoming the league's hottest center and expected to win the Most Improved Player award.The absence of such a big man has an obvious impact on the team, and on the 27th, the Kings lost to the Hawks away.Whiteside can also protect the basket, the defense is slightly inferior, and the Hawks' offense is mainly for guards to break through, shoot from the perimeter, and not attack the interior at all, which is just aimed at the characteristics of the Kings.After this game, the Kings announced the cutting of fringe man interior Chuck Hayes.Hayes rarely played on the team, playing 18 minutes against the Hawks, scoring two points and three rebounds, and the offensive end was lively, but the defensive end was not very useful.The coaching staff can be sure that he's not the great defensive interior lineman he used to be.His movement speed has slowed down, and he is not tall enough to be a "meat shield".Hayes couldn't defend Jeff Green alone, and he couldn't stop Teague and Ellis from breaking through after blocking and dismantling.The Eagles have also played small-ball this season, with Millsap sometimes playing as a center at times.When center Antich starts, he has the range beyond the three-point line and can open up space.When the Kings play Aminu and Carroll as power forwards, Millsap can also attack.After arriving at the Eagles, he was the star of no compromise.It would be better to send Hayes to let Patterson play more, at least he can shoot three-pointers, and he will be more effective on the offensive end.The Kings are not short of people at all positions, and there are no serious injuries, and one position is vacated because the Pistons suddenly announced that they have cut Josh Smith.The Kings management feels that the team's No. 4 position is the weakest, but it is not enough to defend the outside line, and the power forward lacks the ability to respond, as long as Smith is poached, this problem can be solved.Last summer, the Pistons signed Smith for four years and $54 million.Now, he has two years left on his contract with a total value of $26 million.Adrian Wonarowski, a well-known Yahoo Sports reporter, has been informed that the Pistons will use an extension clause that will split the remainder of Smith's contract over a five-year period of $5.4 million per year.As a result, the Pistons have $8.1 million in salary cap space over the next two summers.According to league rules, within 48 hours of Smith's cut, the team with salary space can claim it directly, but must take over Smith's contract in full.Of course, no team would do such a stupid thing.After the 48-hour claim period, Smith will become a free agent and can sign with any team except the Pistons.Commenting on why he cut Smith, Stan Van Gundy, the Pistons' new head coach and president of basketball operations, said: "The team isn't performing as expected, and we need to make some changes to get back in focus and direction.Now, we will prioritise developing young players while expanding the roles of the rest of the squad to build the future.Smith has played in this league for 10 years, and we think giving him freedom is the best way to go.For Smith, we have a lot of respect. ”So far this season, the 29-year-old Smith has played a total of 28 games for the Pistons, averaging 32 minutes per game, handing over 131 points, 72 rebounds, 47 assists, 17 blocks and 13 steals, but shooting only 391 from the field and 468 from the free throw line.The Pistons have a 5-23 record in their first 28 games, which is the third lowest in the East.As a super-mobile and all-round power forward, Smith is not worried about not leaving home, and he has successively received olive branches from many strong teams such as the Clippers, Cavaliers, Kings, and Mavericks.The Rockets played the emotional card, and Howard and Smith had been friends since high school, and the two won the AAU Amateur League together.After Smith was cut, Howard told his old friend, "If you want to win, Houston would be a very good choice." ”The Rockets' pursuit of Smith can be described as perseverance, and in 2013, the Rockets, who just had the "Morden Combination", tried to recruit Smith through trades several times, but unfortunately failed to make the trip.Petri contacted Smith's agent and received no answer, so he called Wang Jun again and explained the situation."
Wang, I hope you can call and talk to Josh in person, so that you will appear more sincere first."
Wang Jun hopes that the lineup will be stronger, and of course he is willing to cooperate."
No problem, can I say I'd like to win the championship with him" Petri smiled: "That's right, you can also promise that he will not play less with the Kings and be willing to extend his contract next season."
He has strength, his defensive experience is not Aminu, Covington can be compared to these people, he has a lot of experience in the playoffs, praise him a few more words, and he must be poached. ”There is no time to wait, and Smith will certainly not want to miss the regular season and will make a decision as soon as possible.Wang Jun immediately called Smith.When he was with the Bulls, Wang Jun played four games with the Hawks in the regular season a year, and Smith and Hinrich were teammates for a while, and they had dinner together.Smith saw that it was Wang Jun's call, and happily picked it up: "Wang, hello, what's the matter?"
"Of course we invite you to join the king, we have vacated the place, just waiting for you to nod."
You're going to have plenty of opportunities to perform, and you can extend your contract next season. ”Wang Jun thought for a moment and added."
If you want a championship, the Kings are the best choice."
Smith smiled: "I was going to say think about it, but I'm really the most optimistic about the Kings right now, and your 101 points shocked me too much." ”"You promised to welcome, come on, you won't be disappointed."
Wang Jun didn't expect it to go so well, his face was getting bigger and bigger.Josh has not been able to find his touch this season, and playing with Wang Jun can get some open opportunities, and the Kings are suitable for him.Anyway, he won't get a high salary, and he doesn't want to beat around the bush.If he wins the championship this season, he will enter the free market and try to sign a long-term contract with a high salary, and he will never regret it again.There are only a few teams that may win the championship, the Spurs, the Warriors, the Kings, and the Nets.The other three teams all have star power forwards, and Josh must have played as a substitute when he went, or even a marginal person, and there was not much room to play.As for the Rockets, it's true that he and Howard are good friends, but the Rockets can't win the championship, and he thinks it's too unpromising.Smith is an assertive person, and after hanging up the phone, he contacted his agent, and the matter was settled, and he joined the Kings with a base salary.At the press conference of the franchise, Smith was asked by reporters how he felt, and Smith excitedly said: "It's definitely an exciting time for me, to be able to play with the best player and best team player Wang Jun, I think we can do something special together."
I hope to win the championship, I will contribute my strength" This signing made headlines, basketball experts analyzed, after Josh joined, Patterson can mention the center position, play small ball tactics on the field, the Kings will be sharper on the counterattack, and the defense will also improve.Josh has top-tier lateral movement at the No. 4 position, dunk king-level jumping, pick-and-roll defense, and excellent blocking ability, and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2010.The Kings have improved significantly and are getting closer to the championship.s: