Don't count out the Kings and Josh Smith pairing up just yet.
Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News snuck this tidbit into a larger piece about Greg Monroe and the Pistons:
The Sacramento Kings are still interested in Smith, a source told The Detroit News. The man with final say, Van Gundy, turned down the Kings proposal over the summer - one that amounted to a pu pu platter of talent relative to Smith's, as he wanted a chance to see if he could unlock all of Smith's versatility and turn it into consistency.
Smith has gotten off to a slow start, although he had his best game of the season in Sacramento on Saturday night, with 21 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks - in front of Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, the man who was behind acquiring Smith from the start.
This is largely unsurprising, especially given the Kings' recent firing of Michael Malone, who it has been reported was against the Kings trying to land Smith this summer. Smith has continued to be a disappointment in Detroit this year as the Pistons are just 5-20 and Smith is shooting a career low 38.8% from the field (down from 41.9% last year). Smith has two more years at $13.5 million each left on his contract.
A trade for Smith would be a gamble on par with the one Sacramento made a year ago with Rudy Gay, trading for a slumping but talented player in the hopes that he would raise his game up in a new situation. Smith is also very good friends with Rudy Gay and would fit the uptempo style of basketball the Kings management would like to play.
Stan Van Gundy turned down a trade for Smith this summer because he wasn't satisfied with the value in return for Smith, and it's unknown whether or not he's inclined to change his mind, especially with the ever growing risk of Greg Monroe leaving this summer for nothing. Still, I expect Smith and the Kings to continue to be connected in rumors for the foreseeable future.