Late in September, J.R. Smith is still a free agent. The shooting guard appears to be locked in negotiations with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs want flexibility in his contract while he believes they have no way of replacing him.
The contract negotiations are now starting to seep into the on-court product with Smith potentially holding out. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the recent shirtless champion may be skipping the Cavaliers’ minicamp scheduled for next week:
Shooting guard J.R. Smith will not attend the Cleveland Cavaliers’ minicamp this week in California as he and the team remain at an impasse in contract talks, sources told ESPN.com.
Smith clearly believes he deserves to be paid handsomely for his role in the Cavs’ title win. It’s difficult to argue with his logic. J.R.’s shooting and defense were crucial ingredients to the winning formula.
Last summer, the Cavs went through a similar process with Tristan Thompson. Coming off a Finals loss, Thompson held out until just before the start of the season, eventually nabbing a max deal from Cleveland.
Smith isn’t looking for a max deal. Reports indicate that he wants to be paid $15 million per year and have long-term security.
The process may be a long one, but Smith will almost certainly re-sign with the Cavs. What remains to be seen is whether a compromise will be reached or if the Cavaliers will cave in to Smith’s demands.
