NBA Rumors: New York Knicks likely to continue benching J.R. Smith
By Josh Hill
They say that when you get on the bad side of New York Knicks owner James Dolan, you don’t escape his wrath. Few have ever been able to do that and guy in the game much more well respected than J.R. Smith haven’t been able to, which means that Smith’s days in New York are numbered.
After untying shoelaces around the NBA, Smith was fined by the NBA and benched by the Knicks for his repeated bad behavior and it’s a punishment that looks to be sticking. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks are expected to keep benching Smith as the punishment has the full support of owner James Dolan.
This is bad news for Smith, who has likely lost any chance of getting back in the good graces of the Knicks. They’re desperately trying to trade him and talks of the team getting into Andre Miller trade discussions means that they’re already planning his replacement. If the Knicks can’t find someone to trade for Smith, there’s a good chance they end up suspending him for conduct detrimental to the team, or some excuse like that.
Long story short, J.R. Smith’s days in New York may not be limited but his playing time there seems to be over.