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NBA: 5 Best Remaining Free Agents

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) defends a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) defends a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) greets the crowd during the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship celebration in downtown Cleveland. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

2. J.R. Smith

While Harkless’ value rests in his potential, J.R. Smith is coming off the most important season of what’s been a memorable career. He just won his first ever championship, he actually contributed in the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and he won over America between his emotional podium session and his unwillingness to wear a shirt ever since.

Though he’ll turn 31 in September, Smith has shown he can play a more measured brand of his game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 12.4 points per game on 40 percent shooting from three-point territory last season.

More than likely, the defending champs will do everything in their power to make sure that Matthew Dellavedova is the only key loss from the depth chart this summer:

However, the right offer may entice this veteran swingman to take the money. Three-point shooting is at a premium these days, and J.R.’s commitment to the defensive end was not lost on anyone during Cleveland’s playoff run.

However, there are some obvious question marks with Smith, aside from the obvious concern that Cleveland will re-sign him first. Can J.R. bring that same focus and poise to another team, or was he just locked in because he was playing with LeBron James on a title contender?

In other words, would that same maturation translate elsewhere? Or would he slip back into old habits without such a stable locker room around him? J.R. Smith still brings a lot to the table basketball-wise, but his free agency may just be a lesser version of LeBron’s where he ultimately re-signs and nobody’s surprised by it.

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