Why keep him if he isn’t playing anyway?
This is the most obvious reason as to why it doesn’t make too much sense to keep Smith. At least until something changes, Smith has been stripped of the solid role he had when signed as a free agent this summer.
He started as a backup power forward and center in small-ball lineups, and averaged 15.5 minutes over the first 16 games of the season. While he never did much in the way of scoring, with just 5.3 points on 37.8 percent shooting, he did at least make an impact with his defense. And, if given the chance with either Griffin or Jordan in at center, his lob passes have been a great asset from a backup power forward who can handle the ball and pass.
That being said, in recent weeks, the same cannot be said for the promising role that Smith was going to have when brought to L.A.
Over the last 10 games he’s appeared in, Smith has averaged just 11.3 minutes a night. When looking at the last couple of weeks, though, things have gone a few steps further. Over the Clippers’ last eight games, Smith has received five DNP’s, while playing no more than six minutes in any of the three contests he’s actually appeared in.
He even received less minutes than Branden Dawson against the 76ers who has played 13 minutes all season, and even then those minutes came from garbage time in the fourth quarter when the Clippers had amassed a huge lead.
Essentially, this lack of playing time only serves as more reasoning to trade him. If Doc is playing him for a few minutes a night or not bringing him off the bench at all, what’s the point in keeping him? Maybe if he’s dealt elsewhere, he could at least help bring in a role player that may actually contribute.
This also brings us to the next matter of Smith’s near-nonexistent playing time. While Smith has been demoted, Cole Aldrich has instead risen up as the Clippers’ backup center, and he’s doing a great job.
Next: Cole Aldrich needs to keep his role