Dec 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Ish Smith (4) drives the ball as Houston Rockets guard
(3) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Ish Smith
Ish Smith is a 6’0″ point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. While he played a productive role with the Philadelphia 76ers on the court in the 2014-2015 season, his 12.2 points per game in a limited role worked against the team retaining him.
The problem with Ish Smith, and the same problem that you’ll find with Thomas Robinson and others, is that he was due to become a free agent that can command some non-league minimum sum of money. Smith’s final two months of the season, where he averaged 12 points and six assists per game in only 27 minutes, surely raised some eyebrows, enough so that he should receive significant free agent interest. The Sixers have more cap room than the oceans have water. But the Sixers are not in the business of overpaying people for marginal improvement on a non-contender that does not “move the needle.”
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Ish Smith could make a difference for the Philadelphia 76ers early in the 2015-2016 season, but he’s best suited to play as a reserve point guard. With the Pelicans, he gets the chance to come off the bench in relief of former Sixer Jrue Holiday. He is putting up a good number of assists (6.6 per game) and limiting his turnovers (1.8 per game) while maintaining some offense (9.9 points per game.
But Smith is in his sixth NBA season. His production right now is likely at or nearly at his NBA career ceiling. The Sixers are swinging for the fences. Had the team assembled a core group of high scoring stars already, Ish would fit in nicely. But for this time at this time, his role is better suited for a team with productive veterans looking for a breather.
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