A number of mediocre players have already signed lucrative deals with teams this summer, yet somehow J.R. Smith remains a free agent. From the way it sounds, the 30-year-old swingman is not really testing the market.
On Wednesday, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin expressed confidence that Smith will be back with the team next season.
“I think the good news is J.R. wants to be here and we want J.R. back,” Griffin said, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “These things sometimes take time and he has representatives that want him to be with us as well. When the time is right something will get done. I’m very confident about that.”
Smith declined his player option for the 2016-2017 season, so he likely wants a raise. He would have been paid $5.3 million if he picked up the option, which is clearly far below market value given some of the contracts we have seen this offseason. But, as Griffin alluded to, the Cavs hold Smith’s Bird rights and can exceed the salary cap in order to bring him back.
Nobody had more fun than Smith after the Cavs won their first NBA title in franchise history, and these photos are proof of that. Most importantly, Smith seems to have a good relationship with LeBron James. If LeBron wants him back, he’ll be back.
