Report: J.R. Smith contract dispute is over length of deal, not money
The Cavaliers and Smith agree on a figure, but the shooter wants a long-term deal.
By
Matt Moore
•
2 min read
The J.R. Smith standoff with the Cavaliers continues. Smith just finished winning the title and spending the summer without a shirt (except for when he got married). LeBron James has made it clear he believes Smith should be re-signed. But the shooter who played a pivotal role with the Cavs in their championship run remains without a contract with just a week before training camp starts.
Cleveland.com reports that the length of the deal, not the total money, could be the hold-up.
The Cavs are already more than $22 million over the the NBA's $94 million salary cap. By league rules, they can go over the cap to retain Smith, but couldn't replace him with a free agent who would command a similar contract.
While neither Smith nor Paul has ever confirmed this figure, it is believed he's looking for a contract worth about $15 million annually. The two sides may not be arguing over money so much as the length of the deal -- the Cavs would likely prefer a shorter contract.
Source: J.R. Smith said he hopes to re-sign with the Cavs 'soon,' but there's a catch | cleveland.com.
That's a huge deal, the kind Smith has been searching for. Owner Dan Gilbert has made it clear he's fine paying the luxury tax for huge amounts to keep a title team together, so this is going to get done. But the Cavaliers might want to keep their options open, especially with how the Warriors continue to maintain constant flexibility despite their incredible roster.
Smith has taken short deal after short deal, first in New York and then in Cleveland, to try and set himself up for this payday. The fact is that this is his best and maybe last chance to secure the huge money contract he's wanted for years. He switched to LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, last year, and the King wants him back. He has all the leverage, and Paul has shown a willingness for long holdouts that get resolved at the last minute before with Eric Bledsoe in Phoenix and Smith's teammate Tristan Thompson last summer.
The most likely outcome remains that Smith winds up with a big money deal in the next seven days, and if not, then definitely before the start of the season. But you have to at least credit the Cavaliers for not completely going overboard with a player who's been so inconsistent in his career despite how crucial he was for the Cavaliers' incredible run to their first championship.
HT: PBT
