NBA Free Agency News: Josh Smith Believes Detroit Pistons Already Title Contender

Newly-acquired Detroit Pistons forward Josh Smith said his new team is good enough to vie for a playoff spot or even win a championship right away this season.

Smith, who signed a four-year, $54 million deal with the Pistons, confessed he had no option heading into the free-agency period but to join the Pistons.

The do-it-all forward was reportedly courted by several teams and offered a chance to join forces with former high school teammate Dwight Howard in Houston, but in the end, he decided to pick the up-and-coming Pistons.

"This was my only option," Smith said. "I didn't have any other options. This is where I wanted to be. We're definitely a playoff team, and we're definitely a contender."... "They've won championships here,"  

Smith, who averaged 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his final season with the Atlanta Hawks, credited Pistons' GM Joe Dumars for bringing him in Motown.

"(Dumars) has had success as a player and as an executive. I've been in the second round of the playoffs three times." Smith told USA Today, "I'm very excited. When I first met with Joe, he had me sold from the word 'go.' I've always wanted to be a part of a good organization that has a lot of diehard fans. This is the first time I've ever seen a lot of people like this at a press conference."

The 27-year old Smith added he's intrigued with the Pistons' young and talented lineup, believing his leadership will help the franchise return to the playoff contention.

"We have a good, young nucleus. We have a lot of potential. When I looked at this roster, I felt like we're going to be a playoff team this year. I feel like, with the leadership I can bring to the table, we can be an elite basketball team. We should be tough to score against on the inside," said Smith.

Speaking of leadership, the Pistons brought back former NBA finals MVP Chauncey Billups on a two-year deal. The veteran point guard returned to his former team, almost a decade since guiding the Pistons to a NBA title in 2004.