{"id":1561,"date":"2016-10-14T23:31:37","date_gmt":"2016-10-15T03:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com?p=1561&preview=true&preview_id=1561"},"modified":"2017-06-08T02:43:21","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T06:43:21","slug":"report-j-r-smith-agrees-to-contract-with-cleveland-cavaliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2016\/10\/14\/report-j-r-smith-agrees-to-contract-with-cleveland-cavaliers\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: J.R. Smith Agrees To Contract With Cleveland Cavaliers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cleveland Cavaliers\u00a0have agreed to sign unrestricted free agent shooting guard J.R. Smith<\/a><\/strong> to a contract worth $57\u00a0million over four\u00a0years. The deal is guaranteed for three years and $45 million, with a limited period of time where the Cavaliers can buyout Smith prior to the fourth year.<\/p>\n

\n

ESPN sources say a hard push from Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo for J.R. Smith helped sparked Friday’s talks with the Cavs to get a deal done<\/p>\n

\u2014 Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 15, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Sources say J.R. Smith’s new Cavs deal is fully guaranteed for $45 million over the first three seasons no matter what happens in Year 4<\/p>\n

\u2014 Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 15, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Important note on JR Smith: Fourth year of his $57M deal becomes fully guaranteed unless the Cavs waive him shortly after the 2018-19 season<\/p>\n

\u2014 Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 15, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

J.R. Smith Signs Four-Year Contract with\u00a0the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/h2>\n

Smith’s contract will take him through the end of the 2019-20\u00a0season.<\/p>\n

Smith averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game last season\u00a0for the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/strong>. Smith’s numbers have\u00a0been\u00a0consistent over the last two\u00a0seasons, with his assists average the only stat to drop. Smith\u00a0was a part of Cleveland’s championship winning\u00a0team this season, the city’s first championship in\u00a052 years. Smith played a big role, starting\u00a0in\u00a0all 77 regular season games in which he played. Smith also played in 21 playoff games for Cleveland this post season, starting\u00a0every game\u00a0and averaging 11.5 points and 34.8 minutes on the court. Smith proved he can step up and play important minutes on the biggest stage of all.<\/p>\n

Looking forward, Smith provides veteran leadership and the ability to score from not only\u00a0beyond the arc, but also\u00a0driving to the basket. Smith\u00a0is good enough\u00a0to be the starting shooting guard in Cleveland. Smith is maturing every year he plays in the NBA<\/strong>. He plays\u00a0smarter and makes better decisions on the court every season, a trait the Cavaliers\u00a0will find invaluable down the stretch as Cleveland\u00a0looks to repeat as\u00a0Champions in the 2016-17 season.<\/p>\n

Smith is heading into his 12th season in the league, during which he’ll be 31 years old. Smith has played for four NBA teams. He\u00a0has spent time on the\u00a0New Orleans Hornets<\/strong>, Denver Nuggets<\/strong>, New York Knicks<\/strong>, and most recently the\u00a0Cavs. Smith was drafted 18th overall by New Orleans\u00a0in 2004.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n