J.R. Smith remains to be one of the favorites in the NBA trade rumor mills. The former Cleveland Cavaliers' shooting guard hits the free agency this offseason and remains a free agent. According to reports, Smith could be joining Philadelphia 76ers.
Parent Herald previously reported that J.R. Smith and Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't agree on a deal but both parties want to reunite in the upcoming NBA season. However, the concern was not about the worth of the deal but the length of the contract.
Cleveland Cavaliers offered J.R. Smith a $10 million deal but the player demands a $15 million deal. Per the reports, there are no other teams betting for Smith, so Cavs didn't feel the need to increase their offer. Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that the dispute was not about the amount but the length of contract because Cavs want a shorter deal.
In view of this, per ESPN, J.R. Smith is skipping Cavs training camp because the deal is still not final. The Cleveland Cavaliers players and coaches are set to gather for workouts in Santa Barbara. The early gathering aims to develop camaraderie among players before they hit the training camp next week.
However, since J.R. Smith and Cleveland Cavaliers haven't sealed a deal yet, Smith will reportedly skip the early gathering. However, many remain positive that Smith will still play alongside LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in the upcoming NBA season.
Meanwhile, Christian Post suggested that Philadelphia 76ers might come up and steal J.R. Smith from Cleveland Cavaliers. Sixers have a remaining $24 million cap space to spare, so they can still accommodate J.R. Smith's pay hike demand.
However, recent reports suggest that money is not an issue and that Smith is just looking for a better deal with Cavs. J.R. Smith told Complex that he can go to any team for a better financial deal. However, his priority is his family and it seems that Cleveland Cavaliers remain the best option for him.
Do you want J.R. Smith to re-sign with Cleveland Cavaliers? Will Philadelphia 76ers be successful in acquiring Smith? How high are Sixers chances to steal Smith from Cavs? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
