It is not a secret that the Los Angeles Clippers are keen on trading Josh Smith once the December 14 trade restriction expires next week. Reports have arisen that Smith and teammate Lance Stephenson are currently on the trading block, but no teams have yet to express interest in dealing for the two veteran forwards.
Bleacher Report noted, citing Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears, that the Clips may actually have a "hard time trading Smith" as one NBA exec commented that "there is not much of a market for them (Smith and Stephenson). They are buyout candidates".
One more league official said that the fact that the two are having "trouble fitting in" with the Clippers is making potential trade partners shun away from pushing through with a deal as they worry that bringing in either one of them will disrupt any chemistry that the teams have already built at this point in the season.
Add to that Smith's recently reported "shouting match" with an anonymous Clippers bench tactician and any organization would expectedly think twice about acquiring the 30-year-old, 12-year veteran even if he comes with such an affordable salary.
Sports World Report indicated during this year's free agency period that the Dallas Mavericks actually had interest in signing Smith last summer as a potential backup to ease the minutes of its resident superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who turned 37 last June and is playing his 18th year in the league.
The report noted that while he could not "help with size" which the Mavericks' are still looking for ever since the botched DeAndre Jordan-deal, Smith's "versatility would be a welcome addition to the roster and at least give Dallas another needed boost".
But with the recent happenings over in L.A., is Dallas still willing to take the risk of trading for Smith?