Smith: ‘I’m not seeking a buyout’
One day after watching the trading deadline pass without seeing his name attached to a deal, Thunder forward Joe Smith said he is not seeking a buyout of his contract, contrary to media reports.
"What for?” Smith asked before Friday night’s game against Phoenix. "I’ve been here all year. Why would I want to do that now? I’m (not) seeking it.”
The 33-year-old Smith, who is in his 14th NBA season, quelled any theories that he hopes the Thunder agrees to a buyout so he can join a title contender and have a shot at a championship before the end of his playing days.
"A lot of people assume that when you reach a certain amount of years in the league that you always want to seek a title,” Smith said. "It’s (not) just me. It’s been like that for a lot of veterans that have been around.
"Like I’ve said all year long, I like these young guys around here. We’ve developed some type of chemistry now where I got faith in them and they got faith in me. The way we’ve been playing lately, it’s been a good thing.”
Smith said he hasn’t talked to his agent, Dan Fegan, about a buyout. Fegan has not returned several phone messages seeking comment.
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