It’s safe to say that J.R. Smith has made a lot of mistakes during his NBA career. His most recent seems to be opting out of a $6.4 million option with the Cleveland Cavaliers to hit free agency. It looks like Smith overestimated his value to the Cavs and in the league, as the contract offers have not exactly been rolling in for the guard.
A troubled gunner who offers little more than a roller-coaster of a shooting touch off the bench struggling to get offers? Shocking.
Smith is still hoping to land a deal that will make his opt-out a smart move. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, that’s not likely to happen this summer.
The hard part for Smith is he knows he should have picked up the player option for $6.4 million for 2015-16. When he passed and became a free agent, he really believed a multi-year offer for more money was coming his way.
It didn’t happen.
The Cavs have made him an offer. I hear it’s less than $6.4 million that he turned down. They know Smith is not thrilled with a lesser deal. But right now, he has no leverage, and a one-year contract puts him in position to cash in next summer when the salary cap rises 30 percent.
Smith may continue to wait. But right now, it seems Cleveland is his only option.
Ouch.
While this setback is likely to cost Smith at least a few million dollars, signing a one-year deal with the Cavs could bring him a ring and the opportunity to make himself a valuable asset right as the cap jumps.