The Cleveland Cavaliers have a pair of free agents they’ve yet to sign: LeBron James and J.R. Smith. We know LeBron James is going to re-sign with the team, and after opting out of the second-year of his two-year, $10 million deal with the Cavs, Smith is looking to get paid.
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Smith is virtually irreplaceable to the Cavs because of perfect game he brings to the team and because the Cavs have no one to replace him with if he decides to walk. The Cavs own his Bird Rights, meaning they can go over the cap to re-sign him, but they won’t have nearly enough to sign a free agent of his caliber for the veteran’s minimum.
According to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler, Smith is looking for a contract worth around $15 million a year.
Yikes… hearing JR Smith seeking huge deal to return to Cavs, in the $15m per year range. Can Cavs really pass on bringing him back?
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) July 17, 2016
Keep in mind – Cavs have zero cap room, so its pay JR or replace him with minimum guy. Not usable anywhere else https://t.co/mAdRgF5Hcs
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) July 17, 2016
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With the situation the Cavs are in financially, their only clear option is to pay J.R. Smith. Just pay him what he’s asking, bring back the core, and make another championship. It’s also worth noting that Smith is being represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, the same agent who represents Tristan Thompson and got him the massive 5-year, $82 million deal last year that looks like an absolute bargain right now.
Considering the fact that Timofey Mozgov was awarded a 4-year, $64 million deal ($16 million a year), Smith’s asking price of $15 million annually is a good one. We’ll see if the Cavs match the reported asking price of Smith.