The Cleveland Cavaliers may finally have competition if they want to bring back J.R. Smith.
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the Boston Celtics are among several teams with interest in the swingman.
There are, of course, caveats. If Smith went to Boston, he’d be giving up a starting job with the reigning champions to be Avery Bradley’s backup. The Celtics also only have about $9 million they can spend on Smith unless they make a move to clear more cap space, which is still less than the $15 million Smith is said to be seeking.
It’s not clear where the rumor came from, but perhaps it’s a leverage play to put pressure on Cleveland, with whom Smith is a few million apart. That reunion still seems inevitable, but there are definitely bumps in the road.
