Los Angeles Clippers roster rumors 2015: Josh Smith sheds light on salary rant

Josh SmithReuters

When players bite the bullet and agree to a dramatic decrease in paycheck, financial problems are bound to happen. And for Josh Smith, such is only understandable.

However when a player makes such a reaction, it could mean a lot of things. It could be geared towards the actual financial package or leaning on something else like his tenure of stay. In all, his family would have to adjust not just due to financial issues but the fact that there is no guarantee that they will stay in one place for long.

Remember that Smith signed up with the Los Angeles Clippers for one year. He could be back next year or then again maybe not. It would all depend on negotiations next year and, of course, how he performs in a Clipper uniform.

Despite belief that Smith would stay with the Houston Rockets last year, his surprise move to the Clippers really caught everyone by surprise.

The mileage he had with the Clippers and the fact that he had close ties with Dwight Howard makes the move a bit of a surprise, although it is obvious that the forward wants a chance to win an NBA title.

To recall, Smith did sound off initially as someone who would be incurring financial problems for the coming season, during which he is set to earn only $1.5 million.

The curious part is that despite that meager salary for a tested player like him, Smith would also reportedly receive $4.9 million from the Detroit Pistons as a result of his previous contract.

Apparently such was misinterpreted and Smith clarified the whole issue through a post on the Player's Tribune. In the said article, Smith stated, "The whole thing about it being 'harder on me' comes down to family. It seems obvious to me, but maybe I could have said it more clearly. If you know the NBA, you know that moving to a new team is a decision that affects an athlete's whole family. That's even more true when you're signing a one-year deal. With a one-year deal, there's less stability because you know you might be moving again in a year."