NBA: 6 best free agents who are eligible to play in resumed season
By Dalton Sell
J.R. Smith
Another former Sixth Man of the Year winner, J.R. Smith could be another name that could help several teams, despite his controversial past. After his blunder in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, Smith has been exiled out of the league but has stayed ready for the call back to action.
Last December, trainer Chris Brickley posted a video of Smith getting shots up in the gym, with a compelling caption. He stated, “Patiently waiting, [J.R. Smith] is ready! Jr can still shoot the ball VERY well! He can still put the ball on the floor & get past his defender. Always been a willing & active defender. At this point, he is bound to get a call from a team that could use his skillset.”
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The last time Smith played in the NBA, he averaged a career-low 6.7 points per game on 34.2 percent field goal shooting and an uncharacteristic 30.8 percent from behind the arc. The 2016 NBA Champion only played in 11 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers before they released him, and no team has taken a chance on him since.
Regardless, as Brickley said, Smith can still perform well on both ends of the floor, he just needs the opportunity. Many might cringe at the idea of reuniting Smith with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers, but with Avery Bradley’s potential return this season up in the air, the team may need a replacement.
Likely highly motivated to get back into the league and showcase he can still produce, Smith could be a compelling option for several teams across the league. With a chip on his shoulder after his blunder in the NBA Finals, J.R. Smith could soon make his return to the league.