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Former NBA player Josh Smith signs with Chinese team

By The Sports Xchange
Houston Rockets F Josh Smith (5) jammed between Golden State Warriors Draymond Green (R) and Shaun Livingston (34) in the second period of game 2 of the playoffs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on April 18, 2016. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
Houston Rockets F Josh Smith (5) jammed between Golden State Warriors Draymond Green (R) and Shaun Livingston (34) in the second period of game 2 of the playoffs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on April 18, 2016. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Josh Smith will continue to get paid by the Detroit Pistons through the 2019-2020 season, but with none of the 30 NBA teams willing to open a roster spot for him, Smith has signed to play in China.

Smith, who will turn 31 next month, signed a $1.5 million deal to play for the defending Chinese Basketball Association champion Sichuan Whales for the next three months, according to international basketball reporter David Pick. He hopes to catch on with an NBA team after his contract in China expires.

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Detroit is scheduled to pay Smith $5.3 million per season through 2019-20.

Smith spent last season with the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, averaging 13.6 points and 7.9 rebounds in 55 games between the two clubs. His best season in the NBA was 2011-12, when he averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks.

In China, Smith joins a team that featured former NBA players Metta World Peace and Hamed Haddadi in recent years.

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