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Detroit • The Detroit Pistons have waived forward Josh Smith, less than two years after signing him to a lucrative free-agent contract.
The Pistons are 5-23 and coach and team president Stan Van Gundy says the club wants to develop younger players. He says he felt it best to give the 29-year-old Smith his freedom to go elsewhere.
Smith signed a $54 million, four-year deal with the Pistons before last season, but he shot only 42 percent from the field in 2013-14. This season, Smith is at 39 percent.