Josh Smith was supposed to join Dwight Howard and James Harden with the Houston Rockets to form the Western Conference’s version of the “Big Three.”

Those plans seem to have been thwarted as the star forward now intends to sign with the Detroit Pistons.

With Houston, Smith would have become part of a team poised to be a serious title contender. Instead, he will join a team on the rise with young frontcourt mates Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond as well as point guard Brandon Knight and rookie Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

As Smith is now out of the picture, it is unclear whom the Rockets will look to add to their franchise as they seek to fulfill their promise to newly acquired Dwight Howard that they would bring in a third star.