97.1 The Ticket -- Ish Smith has played nine seasons in the NBA. The only team he's spent more than one full season playing for was Detroit, where he spent the last three seasons.
That run has come to an end, as Smith intends to sign with the Washington Wizards when free agents can officially sign with new teams on July 6.
Smith spent the first six seasons in the league as a journeyman, bouncing between nine other teams. Only once did he play a full season with just one team -- Phoenix in 2013-14 -- before eventually settling into his role in Detroit. As he moves on from the Pistons, Smith took to Instagram to thank the city and the fans, saying "Detroit has been more than a team for me, it has been a family."
"I appreciate the welcoming arms of the fans, and the support and encouragement from the coaching staff," he wrote. "I will miss the strength and boldness of the city, and most importantly, my teammates! #DetriotStrong"
A post shared by Ishmael Smith (@ishsmith5) on Jul 1, 2019 at 3:53pm PDT
Smith developed into a dependable backup point guard to Reggie Jackson during his three years with the Pistons, averaging 9.8 points and 4.5 assists per game. He averaged 8.9 and 3.6, respectively, despite missing more than 20 games with a right adductor injury last season.
As Smith moves on, the Pistons turn to two veterans in an attempt to retain depth at the point guard position. They've reportedly agreed to terms with free agents Derrick Rose and Tim Frazier. Rose, who had a resurgent 2018-19 campaign in Minnesota, is reportedly signing a two-year, $15 million deal.
