We’re in the middle of October, with the NBA season just days away. Somehow, J.R. Smith still does not have a contract.
The Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard is in the middle of a long negotiation with the team for a new deal. So far, the two sides appear to be far apart with no end in sight.
It appears that Smith may be becoming impatient, at least according to Marc Stein of ESPN:
Sources say it’s only a matter of time before Smith starts engaging with other teams.
Recent reports have indicated that the shooting guard is getting interest from the Celtics. Any deal will be difficult to pull off considering most teams have used the entirety of their cap space already.
J.R. Smith seems to be looking for leverage and pressuring the Cavs to up their offer but it may not work for the reason listed above. Smith’s best negotiation tactic may be sitting out entirely, like Tristan Thompson did last summer before getting a max deal.
Of course, there’s the giant risk of not getting a contract, and thus no money, by doing that. It’s a tough decision for Smith. I still believe the two sides will reach an agreement before the start of the season. However, it’s becoming slowly less likely that that happens.
