The Pelicans Are Already So Fucked They Have To Sign Josh Smith

Josh Smith, the guy who even three years ago was a withered hand choking to death any offense’s hopes of spacing and scoring, was last (un)seen touring with Maccabi Haifa this NBA preseason, following a stint with the Sichuan Blue Whales in China. He was reportedly looking for an NBA comeback, and it looks like he’s found a team desperate and helpless enough to give him one:

Christ, an “injury hardship exception” might be the saddest phrase I’ve ever heard, but it certainly exists for a team like the Pelicans, who are currently dealing with the losses of Solomon Hill, Frank Jackson, Rajon Rondo, Ömer Aşık, Alexis Ajinça, and Anthony Davis. Smith, with a non-guaranteed contract, will be a warm body able to approximate basketball movements until the team recovers enough to at least try and put out a competitive squad.

But for any New Orleans fans who think this is rock bottom—at least he’s getting less than $54 million this time.