Doc Rivers, head coach and president of basketball operations for the Clippers, on Friday traded forward Josh Smith back to the Houston Rockets for the draft rights to Maarty Leunen, a 6-foot-9 forward who currently plays for Scandone Avellino of the Italian Serie A.
This was in no way surprising.
Smith had played in just four of the previous 14 games before the Clippers (28-15) took on and routed the New York Knicks 116-88 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Smith this season had a shouting match with assistant coach Mike Woodson after one game and an in-game verbal row with Rivers during another.