Detroit Pistons: 5 worst free-agent signings of all time

Detroit Pistons: Josh Smith was the worst free-agent signing in team history

Leuer was probably the worst free-agent as far as talent, but Josh Smith takes the honors as the worst free-agent signing in Pistons’ history.

Joe Dumars’ downfall was that he always thought he was the smartest guy in the room. After having a few brilliant seasons and winning a title, Dumars thought he had the Midas touch and decided to build his team around three big men while the rest of the league was loading up on 3-point shooters.

He signed Josh Smith to a 4 year, $54 million contract that went so badly the Pistons ended up paying Smith to leave and then continued to pay him for five seasons after he was jettisoned.

He’s one of the few NBA players who I can honestly say I could beat in a shooting contest, as Smith was one of the All-Time bricklayers from behind the arc, which didn’t stop him from launching them anyway.

The Smith era was defined by the groans that would come from the arena whenever he decided to hoist a long-range shot and the sound it made colliding with the backboard. They must have had to reinforce the hoops back then because Smith might as well been firing those shots out of a medieval cannon.

These five players should be a warning to the Detroit Pistons that overpaying for free agents because you think you have to is not the way to build a team.