National Basketball Association

J.R. Smith: Re-signing with Cleveland Cavaliers for dynasty run

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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J.R. Smith signed a four-year, $57 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

It’s official. J.R. Smith is back with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a summer long contract dispute that seemed like an eternity for Cavs players and fans, Smith signed a four-year contract worth $57 million according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.

For Smith, four years is definitely in line with what he wanted when he said he wanted a long-term deal. Furthermore, $57 million over four years, is fairly close to the $15 million per year figure that the Cavaliers front office and Smith were having a standoff over. No matter what, the Cavs will pay Smith $15 million over the first three years of his contract.

The change in the Cleveland Cavaliers stance was reportedly a significant contract offer from the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers have over $19 million remaining in cap space. Though they aren’t title contenders like the Cavs are, they would have offered Smith the chance to post career numbers as he became the biggest perimeter threat on the team. Smith would have also been the leader and veteran presence for the young and rebuilding franchise.

Ultimately, the Cavs upped their offer and re-signed Smith. In a way, the Cleveland Cavaliers responding so quickly to a contract offer from a non-playoff team such as the 76ers validates the popular opinion that the team needs him more than he needs them. Of course, Smith would never say it that way. He’s matured and genuinely loves Cleveland and his Cavaliers teammates.

However, the Cavs will be able to release themselves from paying the rest of the guaranteed money of the contract after the 2018-2019 season.

That season, LeBron James‘ contract is set to expire if he declines his player option in the summer of 2018. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Smith will want to follow James and that James will want to keep Smith at his side. James has been Smith’s most vocal supporter since his arrival in Cleveland. He was ecstatic when Smith shared the news that he re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have at least $30 million to sign a max contract free agent for James to pass the torch to. Young players such as Devin Booker, Jahlil Okafor, Karl Anthony-Towns or Kristaps Porzingis could be signed. A player like Paul George could also be lured to Cleveland.

Expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to look ahead to the summer of 2019 as well. Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson all become free agents. The Cavs will want to surround the trio with the best possible talent in order to retain their services.

In the present, the Cleveland Cavaliers re-signed Smith to be their elite three-point shooter and provide the team with offensive firepower that made them so dangerous last year. Iman Shumpert has filled-in for Smith admirably and made shots consistently. However, Shumpert’s not a volume shooter like Smith is. He isn’t prone to get hot from behind-the-line like Smith is either.

Therefore, defenders don’t respect Shumpert’s three-point stroke and as a result there’s still less space on the floor for the other Cavs to operate. With Smith on the floor and as defenders edge towards him to stop him from launching a three, the Cavs Big Three will have the extra space they need to make the team hum like a well-oiled machine. They can penetrate, post-up, facilitate and shoot with efficiency as defenders struggle to cover the ground needed to stop the Cavs from scoring.

Smith is also capable of playing elite defense. At 6-foot-6 220 pounds, the athletic Smith is able to guard a variety of backcourt players. He’s determined, aggressive and alert on this end in man-to-man defense.

With Smith re-signed, not much has changed in the Cleveland Cavaliers training camp battles. The team already anticipated Smith re-signing and there was always more-or-less two remaining roster spots. Smith’s re-signing simply pushes Shumpert back into the second unit.

On a personal note, Smith’s re-signing has righted the basketball world. Smith has earned this contract and he’s rebuilt his image through hard work, dedication and maturation.

He didn’t ask for this contract because he wanted to spend it all on unnecessary luxury. As a matter of fact, the family man wants to spend it on his new family. A new family that’s expecting a new addition.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are happy to have Smith back. The team wasn’t right without him on-the-court or off of it.

What do you think of the Cleveland Cavalier re-signing J.R. Smith? Let us know in the comments section or tweet @KJG_NBA.

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