NBA News: Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat Among The Teams Interested In Newly Released Josh Smith

Newly released Josh Smith is drawing huge interest from up to five teams according to a report. Smith, a versatile veteran who can play both the small and power forward spots, was waived by the Detroit Pistons on Sunday and will become an unrestricted free agent if no one claims him off the waiver wire— a move that is not seen to transpire considering Smith’s considerably big contract.

Marc Stein, a writer for ESPN.com, tweeted the latest noise regarding Smith mentioning around four to five teams are indeed interested in the veteran forward. So who are the favourites to land Smith?

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Houston appears to be the front-runners considering they have a $2 million exception to offer and Smith is good friends with Rockets’ centre Dwight Howard. However, Dallas might be in the running as well as Smith is also close with new Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo, which arrived in Dallas just last week.

ESPN sources say both Kings and Mavericks have interest in signing Josh Smith as a free agent if (when) he clears waivers Wednesday

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 22, 2014

Close relationships Josh Smith has with Rondo (Dallas) and Howard (Houston) are likely to be a factors in this sudden sweepstakes. But ... — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 22, 2014

But Josh Smith has had no bigger fan in the NBA in recent months than Kings owner @Vivek Ranadive, so keep your eye on Sacramento

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 22, 2014

Teams like the Sacramento Kings, which reportedly offered forwards Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson for Smith earlier in the season; Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat have also shown interest to chase Smith, who is expected to hit free agency by Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Smith joined the Detroit Pistons as a free agent before the start of the 2013-2014 NBA season. He averaged 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocked shots this year for the Pistons, which are currently at 5-25 and one of the worst teams in the entire NBA. The 10-year veteran saw career years with the Atlanta Hawks playing with that team from 2004 to 2013 and was once considered one of the rising stars in the league.