JR Smith has not played in the NBA this season after appearing in just 11 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers last year, but he has a chance to join a championship contender after the dust settles from the trade deadline.
Smith will work out for the Los Angeles Lakers possibly as soon as next week, Marc Stein of the New York Times reports. The Lakers are also the favorite to sign Darren Collison if he decides he wants to play, and they are expected to explore other moves on the buyout market.
The Lakers are expected to give free agent guard JR Smith a post-trade deadline audition (perhaps as soon as next week) and remain favorites to sign Darren Collison if Collison elects to make a comeback to the NBA — in addition to potential pickups on the buyout market
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 6, 2020
Smith would give the Lakers a three-point specialist off the bench who is very familiar with LeBron James. The 34-year-old played with LeBron during LeBron’s second stint in Cleveland. Smith was responsible for one of the most boneheaded plays in NBA postseason history during Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals.
The Cavs waived Smith last summer after they were unable to find a trade partner for him. Smith openly called out the team for tanking early last season and made it clear he did not want to remain in Cleveland.
