NBA Trade News: Josh Smith Sent Back To Rockets [VIDEO]

Josh Smith thought he provide help for the Clippers, ditching the Rockets and signing at the veteran’s minimum.

And as everyone probably figured by now, Smith didn’t exactly have great success in Doc Rivers’ system compared to his performance last season in Houston.

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So in perhaps a rare move, Smith is back to the team where he was last playing -- the Rockets.

The Clippers were weighing their options on Smith as early as December, but it was only now that they realized Smith was simply not a fit, per the Bleacher Report. So Smith is headed back to his former team, a place which he never should have left in the first place.

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Josh Smith on returning to #Rockets: "I'm excited. I feel great. It's a place that I probably should have never left."

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 22, 2016

While that should give Smith some sigh of relief, his return is not expected to make an immediate impact to help the team’s woes.

He will have to blend in with interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and try to help out in any way he can for the Rockets, who are currently 22-22.

Last time he played in a Rockets uniform, Smith averaged 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He is best remembered as filling in at the point guard position when the team saw most of their regulars downed by injuries.

Per ESPN, the Rockets sent the draft rights of Maarty Leunen and Serhiy Lishchuk (two foreigners both 30-plus-years-old) to the Clips in exchange for the 11-year veteran. L.A. will also send cash back to Houston to settle the balance of Smith’s salary.

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