Rockets emerge as favorites to sign Josh Smit

The Houston Rockets are emerging as the strongest suitor to sign forward Josh Smith, according to league sources.

After the Detroit Pistons made the stunning move of releasing Smith, he's expected to clear waivers on Wednesday and become an unrestricted free agent. The Pistons owed Smith $26 million on his contract running through the 2016 season.

Houston has aggressively pursued Smith for the past two years, failing in the summer of 2013 to agree to a sign-and-trade agreement with Atlanta to acquire him.