The Rockets announced yesterday that rookie guard Ishmael Smith had been sent down to their NBA D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Smith got some run early in the season while Kyle Lowry was sidelined with a back injury, and had backup duties following Aaron Brooks’ ankle sprain until Rick Adelman started using Courtney Lee to spell Lowry. Smith flashed good penetration and passing skills, but was a little overmatched on defense and wasn’t shooting very well.
Smith, signed as an undrafted free agent this season, will likely have the same sort of apprenticeship that Patrick Patterson had with the Vipers. A few weeks of playing everyday could help him develop a little more.
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