NBA: 15 potential ‘under-the-radar’ free agent moves
J.R. Smith, SG (Cleveland Cavaliers)
J.R. Smith needs to stay in Cleveland. It’s the best situation for everyone involved.
- For the Cavaliers, they get the perfect complementary starter for their core. It’s not much skin off the Cavs’ collective noses if J.R. goes 2-10 from beyond the arc, because he’ll go 8-10 often enough that the defense respects his shot. If he is on, then the Cavs are unstoppable; his shot is un-guardable simply because the defensive pressure doesn’t matter. He’s athletic enough to keep up with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving when they choose to run in transition. In short, his strengths aid the Cavs far more than his weaknesses hurt.
- For J.R. himself, Cleveland is the ideal location, in fact it’s perfect as long as he can avoid coming in contact with the locker room drama manufactured outside the locker room. J.R.’s job is to do his thing. Just keep chuckin’, pal. It’s easy to criticize for that playing style, so it must be nice to be celebrated without being forced to make a change. Plus, the trouble J.R. could find on off hours is capped by the quality of the Cleveland night-life.
- With the Cavs’ constant national TV presence, fans get to see J.R. Smith all the time.
Smith has a player option to stay in Cleveland. That option would pay him $5.375 million in 2016-17. A year ago, he turned down a $6.4 million player option to try for a larger contract, and he had just come off playing poorly. His consistency is tumultuous, but right now for J.R. fortune’s wheel is spinning up after some impressive three-point shooting efforts.
It would not be surprising to see him decline the player option again and seek more money and security elsewhere. But it would be so much better for everyone if he stays in Cleveland.
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