The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t re-signed J.R. Smith to a new contract. With it being two months since the championship run, is it time to panic?
What a summer it has been for J.R. Smith.
He wins his first championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, becomes known for not thinking well of shirts, has a game on Facebook that pertains to not having on a shirt and just added another ring to his finger as he got married on Monday.
He’s had an eventful two months.
However, while all those events undeniably happened, he is still an unsigned free agent by the Cavaliers. He has stated that he plans to come back to the Cavs, but no agreement has been reached yet by either side.
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With training camp coming up next month, it’s vital that something gets done soon. There would be nothing worse than Smith holding out and missing significant time in camp.
The Cavs will finally be able to instill coach Tyronn Lue‘s system for a full camp and Smith is a huge piece to the championship puzzle.
According to Spotrac.com, Smith would have been owed $5 million on the two-year, $10 million contract he originally had. After struggling throughout the NBA Finals, but finally getting it together in Game 7, he’s going to want a long-term deal.
He’s likely going to want something in the $15 million range, but that figure had strapped the Cavaliers before re-signing LeBron James. Before the King’s three-year, $100 million extension, Business Insider reported that the Cavs had a payroll of $79 million after having the highest in the NBA last year at $105 million.
If they were to give J.R. $15 million a year, plus James’ $31 million salary, the payroll for 2016-17 would be at $129.7 million. With Dan Gilbert still paying luxury taxes, he wouldn’t get much relief!
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 fans might say he isn’t worth that much money, while others will still view him as a three-point threat and another body to spread the floor. He is one of the streakiest shooters in the NBA, but do the Cavaliers have another choice?
If Smith were to join a different team, it would leave Iman Shumpert as the starter, with Mo Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Jordan McRae and Richard Jefferson coming off the bench.
Shumpert is definitely a valuable asset to the team, but his struggles were magnified throughout the season and playoffs on both ends of the floor. Relying on him to put up decent numbers every night could be a lot to ask.
It is also tough to find another player that shot 40 percent from three-point range for the season. That is his second-best career percentage from long range. There has also been speculation that Ray Allen wants to come out of retirement and play for a playoff team.
Allen would cost much less at the veteran minimum, which is currently $500,000, but can he still play at a high level on a nightly basis at 41 years old? Does he still have that lightning quick release? It would be more questions than answers.
Another reason that negotiations have taken long could be due to the fact that Rich Paul is his agent. If there’s one thing that executives and fans know about Paul, it’s that he goes down to the wire with his deals.
He did it with Eric Bledsoe of the Phoenix Suns, Tristan Thompson last season, and now potentially with Smith. Would the Cavaliers be able to repeat as champions without him?
They still could, but it would be difficult without a true three-point threat. Dunleavy could be used in that role, but with his health issues and age, it’s a long shot (no pun intended).
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Both sides should reach an agreement soon, but I’m hoping it is before training camp where the journey to repeat as champions will be in full effect.