J.R. Smith is inexplicably still a free agent. Earlier this week, we finally saw concrete numbers that explain the stalemate between Smith and the Cavaliers: Smith wants $15 million a year, while the Cavaliers want him to accept $10-$11 million.
And now we're hearing of a potential twist in the situation: the Boston Celtics are interested in signing Smith, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. The Celtics are reportedly looking for more scoring punch off their bench.
"Barring a trade to clear cap space, the Celtics have approximately $9 million to sign Smith," Isola reports. "He’s looking for a bigger payday, somewhere in the $15 million per season range. The Cavs are currently offering between $10 and $11 million annually. The Celtics would have to get close to $15 million for Smith to want to leave Cleveland to be a back-up to Avery Bradley."
This might sound like a stretch, and Smith almost definitely wants to stay in Cleveland, but it's not unthinkable. There's no sense in blindly speculating who could be moved, but Boston could clear $6 million for 2016-17 without too much hassle considering what they'd get in return. You can see the Celtics' cap breakdown here.
This has to be frustrating for Cleveland fans. J.R. Smith contributed 12.4 points per game and shot 42 percent from deep for last year's NBA championship team, but perhaps his biggest contribution was his improved defense. Does he deserve $15 million a year, roughly the same figure Draymond Green and Reggie Jackson receive? Probably not. But he did his part, and GM LeBron James wants him back on the squad, like, yesterday.
There's something to be said for team continuity and loyalty. So, in other words, Dan Gilbert: time to pay up.
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