Los Angeles Lakers: Like it or not, J.R. Smith is the man for the job

J.R. Smith appears to be the leading candidate to replace Avery Bradley on the Los Angeles Lakers, which is questionable but the right way to go.

A significant bombshell disappointed fans of the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night when it got reported that guard Avery Bradley would opt out on resuming the season. Without Bradley, Los Angles’ title hopes took a significant hit because of his play on both sides of the floor, but if the team desires a replacement, J.R. Smith is the most intriguing option.

Ever since his late blunder in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, where he dribbled out the clock in a tie game, Smith has had a target on his back. He only played 11 games the following season before being exiled out of Cleveland and has lobbied for a new job since.

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There have always been rumblings of Smith’s potential return, whether it be with the Houston Rockets, the Milwaukee Bucks, or, most recently, the Los Angeles Lakers, but nothing has ever come of it. After Bradley committed to sitting the remainder of the season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Smith was the frontrunner to replace him on a team with such high championship aspirations.

Smith seemingly already almost found himself on the Lakers earlier in the season when he had a scheduled workout with the team alongside then-free agent Dion Waiters. Los Angeles ultimately signed Waiters instead and left Smith on the open market. With the team now needing a guard, Smith makes the most sense for a plethora of reasons.

While J.R. Smith’s Game 1 blunder may haunt LeBron James fans’ memories everywhere, his versatile skill set is precisely what the Los Angeles Lakers need right now.

Bradley asserted himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the game this season, having provided a significant contribution to their defense. He performed exceptionally well on the defensive end, but he also proved to be a considerable threat with the ball in his hands. The guard averaged 8.6 points per game on 44.4 percent field goal shooting and 36.4 percent 3-point shooting in 49 games this season.

The guard was primarily the team’s starter, as he came off the bench in only five games this season. With that gap both on offense and defense missing from their lineup, the team needs some significant help. Although not as equipped as Bradley was for this team, Smith could be the next best thing.

Smith has always been a solid defender, particularly on the perimeter, which just so happens to be what the Lakers now desperately need. In his Cleveland Cavaliers days alongside LeBron James, Smith provided much-needed defense as one of the best defenders on the team. He took significant amounts of pressure off of James and others to provide a critical contribution to their defensive success.

Offensively, Smith did not play great in his 11 games with the Cavaliers in 2018-19, but going back to the 2017-18 season, he played stellar basketball as a role player on that contending team. In 80 games that season, Smith averaged 8.3 points per game on 40.3 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the arc, which is very reminiscent of Bradley’s numbers this season.

Because of his debacle in the Finals, many have forgotten how good of a role player Smith has been throughout his career. The former Sixth Man of the Year was a vital part of Cleveland’s championship run in 2016 and could provide considerable contributions to a team with similar goals. Given his history on that team playing alongside LeBron on those teams also makes sense to bring in a familiar face, despite how it ended.

Aside from Smith, the current free-agent market is rather scarce. Jamal Crawford could be a name that comes to mind for many, but his growing age and detrimental play on the defensive end would not fit what the Lakers need. Gerald Green or Iman Shumpert could also be viable options, but at the moment, JR Smith is reportedly the frontrunner, and rightfully so because of everything he brings to the table.

After over a year away from the game, many might question if Smith is ready to make the leap back into the NBA. While it remains questionable, his trainer, Chris Brickley, posted a video in December with a promising caption.

“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.”

Avery Bradley’s sudden decision to dropout put the Los Angles Lakers in an awkward position, but singing JR Smith would certainly help to fill the void left vulnerable on both ends of the floor. With a chip likely on his shoulder to redeem himself after the 2018 NBA Finals, Smith is undoubtedly the right man for the job.