Lakers Rumors: Soon to be Cleveland Cavaliers West, the guards
By Ronald Agers
J.R. Smith is coming Lakers fans. Let’s talk positives here
Look I get it, when reports from Yahoo! Sports, Chris Haynes got out that J.R. Smith could possibly be in a Lakers uniform this year, fans were probably thinking back to this very moment on May 31, 2018.
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Sure J.R. Smith will live in infamy of social media gifs, but Smith won a title with LeBron James back in 2016. People will always remember the LeBron James block on Andre Iguodola. People remember the Kyrie Irving shot over Stephen Curry to win the NBA Finals.
What gets overlooked in Game 7 was the eight crucial points that Smith scored in the third quarter of that game that cut into the Warriors lead and got the Cavaliers back into the game. Sure the Cavaliers sent J.R. Smith away for the season but remember why Smith was so upset.
As told to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic.
"“I don’t think the goal is to win. The goal isn’t to go out there and try to get as many wins as you can. I think the goal is to develop and lose to get lottery picks. I think that was always the plan.”"
He wasn’t lying, was he? Ty Lue got fired. Then his replacement, Larry Drew, got fired and the Cavs were 2-13 when Smith left the team. The Cavaliers have been trying to trade him because Smith refused a buyout.
Now the Cavaliers have to speed up the process. I mean you’d be upset too right? How do you go from NBA Finals runs to a youth movement with all of your minutes being taken away?
The Cavaliers have Smith under contract for $15.7 million dollars and as of this writing, only $3 million is guaranteed. At least for say, about 3 to 4 more days.
Next month, the contract is fully guaranteed. If Smith is traded away, most believe he will be waived immediately. As a fan of J. R. Smith, I would like to give some advice on how to handle a mercurial talent that is more combustible than Rajon Rondo.
J.R. Smith is effective when he realizes that one bad move can get him a spot overseas. Smith spent time in China and when he got back to the NBA with the Knicks, for a short span, Smith teamed with Carmelo Anthony as the NBA’s hottest duo. Then he got an extension and the bad behavior started.
Remember when Phil Jackson basically gave him away for a box of Newports and Puma sweats to Cleveland? What did J.R. do? He behaved. Then he got an extension from the Cavaliers.
Get the connection?
Give J.R. Smith a one year deal at the league minimum. The Lakers need shooters around playoff time and Smith is not afraid to shoot.