Joe Smith

According to reports on Tuesday the Lakers have made a deal according to which they have sent Sasha Vujacic to New Jersey and has acquired power forward Joe Smith. It seems Lakers are not relying on Andrew Bynum for the frontcourt boost up entirely by himself. Andrew Bynum has showed his first appearance tonight in Washington after staying away for the whole season recovering from a knee surgery. Though the Bynum is back but Lakers have acquired Joe Smith who is 6 foot 10 inch. Smith has played really cautiously this season.

Smith in his 16 year basketball career has averaged 11 points and 6.4 rebounds. The Lakers rid themselves of Sasha Vujacic who was taking 5.4 million dollars salary and has averages 1.8 points throughout his career which is really low. But till Wednesday the trade cannot be finalized according to NBA rules that rule out players who have signed in the offseason as Joe Smith did as being traded. The trade is also restricted upon Smith to pass the physical.

Joe Smith, who is 35 years of age, has played just four games this season for the Nets and has averaged 0.5 points and 0.8 rebounds which are really down in his stats. The trade will also save the Lakers some money which also includes Nets to send Terrance William to Houston. Smith is earning relatively lower this season, 1.4 million dollars. Sasha Vujacic has made 5.4 million dollars in the last season from a contract of 3 years that he has made in 2008 with the Lakers of total 15 million dollars.