Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard JR Smith (L) drives past Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry. (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA rumors on free agency are still not done as a few big names are still on the table. One of them is JR Smith, and the Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in a familiar situation.
The Cavs found a gem when they took JR Smith from the New York Knicks, who was just a throw-in when they traded Dion Waiters in a three-team deal with the OKC Thunder. LeBron James confirmed this during their championship presser, as covered by Sportscast New York
"When our GM came to us last year and said 'Hey we've got a deal to get Timofey Mozgov and get Iman Shumpert, and the Knicks are going to throw in J.R.' I was like, 'What they're going to throw in J.R. into the deal?'" James said.
Smith was seen as a liability because of his on-court antics (taking off opponents' shoelaces) and off-court activity but James believed that he can make him a valuable player. "Okay, I got him," James said, in reaction to the news that JR Smith was joining the team. He became a valuable contributor for the team and was a key to their championship run.
Now, Smith would like to cash in. He mentioned in ESPN His and Hers (h/t Uproxx) that he is
"I've thought about that situation," he said. "Then I thought about it the other way, too, going back and winning again, both of those juggled in the air. I'm actually kind of nervous about that choice when it gets presented to me."
The prospect of Smith actually leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers is real. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, Smith wants to get $15 million.
Yikes... hearing JR Smith seeking huge deal to return to Cavs, in the $15m per year range. Can Cavs really pass on bringing him back?
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) July 17, 2016
The Cavs can re-sign him but the team will take a huge hit with the luxury taxes since they are way above the cap.
There are teams that have a definite need at shooting guard and the cap space to make the offer. One of them is the Philadelphia 76ers who was reported to make an offer for Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, but the Argentine hoops star chose to return to San Antonio despite Tim Duncan's retirement.
The Sixers could make a run at Smith and get their shooter. Right now, the ball is in the Cavs' ownership's court. If they don't give Smith his asking price, he could bail. But it's also not an easy choice for him since he wants to win and he has also stated that playing with LeBron James is the "best thing that happened in his career."
