Free-agent shooting guard J.R. Smith has reportedly agreed to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a four-year, $57 million deal, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.
It appears the Cavaliers got a deal done just in time, as Stein reported earlier Friday that multiple clubs could have begun engaging with Smith if the Cavaliers didn’t sign him to a deal: “Sources say it’s only a matter of time before Smith starts engaging with other teams. There are currently six, for the record, with anywhere from $13 million to $27 million in available cap space: Minnesota, Phoenix, Utah, Denver, Brooklyn and Philadelphia.”
Smith talked about Cleveland as a fit for him on Sept. 16 with Complex’s Adam Caparell:
Yes and no. It depends on how you look at it. Financially, you can always go somewhere else. Team morale-wise, there are a few teams that I could see working. There are guys I would like to play with, guys I have played with. Being able to live in that city or a particular place, school systems, kids, family life—[with] free agency, everything comes into play. Before, I could just sit there and be like, “I don’t care where I go.” But now I have the kids, and it’s like, “OK, what’s the best fit?”
Smith, who declined his $5.3 million player option to test free agency, is in line for a considerable raise after he averaged 12.4 points on 41.5 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from three-point range last season.
Smith remained scorching-hot in the playoffs, notching 11.5 points per night on 43.6 percent shooting overall and 43 percent shooting from distance.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
