Butler, Rose Getting Along, Clippers Sign Josh Smith

Coming off his breakout season, Jimmy Butler shot down any talk of tension with Chicago Bulls backcourt mate Derrick Rose.

"I think he's always been supportive of me being aggressive, especially on offense," Butler said on ESPN's "First Take" on Wednesday. "We all know that I'll be the aggressor on defense. So from what I can tell, the guy's always been in my corner."

CBS Chicago reported in May that tension between Butler and Rose had been building for weeks with Butler's emergence as the Bulls' primary scorer.

A first time All-Star last season and the NBA's Most Improved Player, Butler averaged a team-leading 20 points a game for the Bulls, who welcomed back Rose after two injury-plagued seasons. Rose, a former MVP, returned to average 17.7 points in 51 games.

Butler believes his relationship with Rose only became a storyline because of the way the Bulls ended their season, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs after taking a 2-1 series lead.

"The only reason that it came up is because we lost," Butler said. "I don't think we have any beef or whatever you want to call it. I think we just want to win. We didn't win, so now [people say] we're beefing, now we have a problem with each other, and I don't think that's the case."

Butler acknowledged in a "Be Honest" podcast with ESPN's Cari Champion that there were teammates he "definitely" didn't get along with during his four-year tenure with the Bulls but didn't specify names. He said he doesn't hang out with Rose much off the floor but doesn't believe that matters much in regard to how he and his teammates play.

Clippers Sign Josh Smith

The Los Angeles Clippers have signed free-agent forward Josh Smith, who helped eliminate them from last season's playoffs when he was with the Houston Rockets. The Clippers announced the deal Thursday.

Smith reportedly signed a one-year contract for the veterans minimum worth $1.5 million. A source told ESPN's Chris Broussard that Smith "chose winning and a defined role over money."

Smith played 55 games for the Rockets last season after he was waived by the Detroit Pistons in December.

"Over my pro career I have spent a lot of time in Houston with friends and family. Over the past year, while with the Rockets, the team, fans and people of Houston have made it a second home," Smith said in a prepared statement. "I want to express my appreciation to everyone for the support and kindness they have showed me and my family while I have been here. Thank you!"

After he was released by Detroit, Smith was recruited to sign with Houston by Dwight Howard, his childhood friend. It turned out to be a solid move.

Smith scored in double digits in 35 of 48 games where he came off the bench, with four 20-point games during the regular season. His impact was even greater in the Western Conference semifinals. With the Rockets down 3-1 in the series against the Clippers, coach Kevin McHale inserted Smith into the starting lineup for Game 5, and Houston rallied to win the series. In a do-or-die Game 6 in L.A., Smith and Corey Brewer combined to score 29 fourth-quarter points, helping the Rockets rally from a 19-point second-half deficit to win.