NBA: Bigger impact signing, J.R. Smith or Jamal Crawford?

A pair of NBA veterans will get another shot when the season restarts this month, but will J.R. Smith or Jamal Crawford have a bigger impact?

Both J.R. Smith and Jamal Crawford have not played an NBA game this season, and will now both get the opportunity to come back and play in the league’s restart this month. Smith will join the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers, while Crawford accompanies the depleted Brooklyn Nets.

Two former Sixth Man of the Year winners, each player brings something different to the table to help their teams. At 40 years old, Crawford brings in that seasoned veteran mentality that can help a squad missing several players, and everyone knows he can also spark some offense. Smith can be hot or cold offensively but is a versatile defender that can get thrown at several opposing positions on a top-heavy team.

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Crawford is certainly an excellent addition for the Nets, but they are currently the 7-seed in the Eastern Conference, slated to play in the restart without a majority of their roster. The 19-year-veteran will give Brooklyn fans something to look forward to ahead of the restart, but his signing ultimately does not boost their championship aspirations to a reasonable level.

Smith, on the other hand, was a significant signing after Los Angeles’ starting shooting guard Avery Bradley opted out of the restart. Bradley was an efficient scorer and one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, which gives Smith big shoes to fill, but he was the best option on the market without a doubt.

The 34-year-old reunites with LeBron James, four years after winning the title together in the 2016 NBA Finals. Smith was a vital part of those Cleveland Cavaliers’ teams that went to the Finals four straight years and could similarly be a crucial piece for the Lakers in this restart.

Most people will only look at Smith and think of his blunder in the 2018 NBA Finals, but he has been a solid contributor otherwise in his last four postseason runs. In 79 playoff games with the Cavaliers since 2015, Smith averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Smith has always been a streaky player on offense, but his postseason numbers are solid, with 41.2 percent field goal shooting and 40.2 percent 3-point shooting.

As previously stated, Smith is also a stellar defender. Whether he can fill the void left by Bradley remains in question, but his track record says it is possible. The Lakers could match Smith up against the likes of James Harden or Paul George in potential playoff series, something they desperately need with Bradley out.

This type of all-around play in the postseason could be useful to Los Angeles, who plan to play for the next several months in a likely deep postseason run.

While both additions are fantastic for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, the signing of J.R. Smith is undoubtedly the superior move. Their loss of Avery Bradley was a significant hit to their championship chances, and although Smith is not guaranteed to produce that same production, he is a stellar fit to try and fill the void.

Both players have something to prove after being out of the NBA for the entire 2019-20 season, but for far different reasons. Crawford wants to prove his doubters wrong that he can still play at his age, and Smith wants to clear his name after his slip up in the 2018 NBA Finals. Regardless, it will be exciting to see a pair of fan favorites back in the NBA within the next few weeks.