J.R. Smith is looking to cash in on last season’s performance with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The good news?
He wants the Cavaliers to be the team handing him that cash.
Per Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders:
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
Some friendly advice for the Philadelphia 76ers: Do it. Offer J.R. Smith a two-year max deal or something. Pay that man, if only to force the Cavaliers to up their ante.
More seriously, the Cavaliers cannot really afford to let Smith go. They could bank on Iman Shumpert, who is about $5 million cheaper per season than Smith’s desired salary, assuming a larger role, but he’s been inconsistent at best dating back to his time with the New York Knicks.
Smith is more of a known commodity for the Cavaliers. He works as a deadly spot-up shooter alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, and his defense improved to the umpteenth degree during the 2015-16 crusade. Cutting him loose can only be constituted as a loss. Parting ways with Timofey Mozgov was one thing. Bidding farewell to Matthew Dellavedova, while slightly risky, is another thing. Showing Smith the door would arguably be a disaster.
Maybe the Cavaliers still make it out of the East. They probably do. But they wouldn’t be any better suited to battle the Kevin Durant- and Stephen Curry-led Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, assuming the updated superteam makes it that far.
The combination of Richard Jefferson and Shumpert on the wings just won’t replace all Smith does—all he means to this Cleveland team. If this is a luxury-tax thing, the Cavaliers should consider dumping Shumpert’s contract off on someone, without seeking anything in return—as long as it helps them pay Smith. He needs to be this type of a priority.
