"Its no secret the Detroit Pistons are among the teams watching the Josh Smith drama in Atlanta unfold with a lot of interest.

But according to a league official, a published report in Atlanta that made reference to an Eastern Conference team having a sign-and-trade offer on the table for Smith, is not Detroit.

In fact, it has been more than three weeks since the two teams talked.

Still, multiple league sources confirmed Sunday night that despite no sign-and-trade offer on the table between the two teams, Detroit remains very interested in the 22-year-old restricted free agent.

With free agency nearly a month old, Smith remains the most talented player still available.

Smiths coming off a career-best season in several categories, as well as helping snap an eight-season playoff drought for Atlanta. Those factors led many to believe a long-term deal would have been completed by now with the Hawks or another team.

However, the unexpected decisions by Elton Brand (he signed with Philadelphia) and Baron Davis (he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers) to become free agents, knocked Smith down a peg or two.

And, with so few teams having enough salary cap space to bring Smith aboard, coupled with Atlanta not willing to offer Smith the kind of big-money contract hes seeking, both sides are expected to look more closely at sign-and-trade options.

A sign-and-trade would be especially beneficial to the Hawks, who fear Smith might sign a one-year qualifying offer, play out this upcoming season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer."