Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons why signing J.R. Smith was a bad move

BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the first half against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. J.R. Smith simply is not very good anymore

Without mincing words, I think that as an NBA player, J.R. Smith is well below average, and has been for three years now.

In 132 games played between 2016-2019, Smith has the following statistical averages:

27.7 MPG
8.2 PPG
37.9% FG% on 7.8 attempts per game
36.2% 3P% on 5.2 attempts per game
70.4% FT% on 0.6 attempts per game

Smith’s role on the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn’t be a huge one, as I believe that he was brought on the team as both a floor-spacer and a bench scorer. However, in this large recent sample size, he’s shown an inability to even provide that.

The advanced stats reinforce Smith’s mediocrity in recent times. Over that same three-year period, J.R is the owner of a negative Offensive Box Plus/Minus (-2.0), a negative Defensive Box Plus/Minus (-0.6), and a negative Value Over Replacement Player (-0.6).

His drastic and unceremonious fall from grace occurred over his age 31-33 seasons, which are usually seen as late prime years for the majority of NBA players. Expecting a 34-year-old player who hasn’t played a professional game since November 2018 to play at a level that he hasn’t exhibited since age 30 is ludicrous.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of him being the horrendously bad player he’s been since 2016-17 is far greater than the likelihood that he’ll magically wind back the clock 4 years.

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