NBA Rumors: As J.R. Smith's Status with Cavs Hangs, Boston Celtics Reportedly Targeting NBA Champ

By Carlo Monzon
J.R. Smith
Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after beating the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.  Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Despite helping the team win the 2016 NBA Finals, J.R. Smith's status with the Cleveland Cavaliers still remains uncertain since he is still a free agent. Because of this, there's a strong chance that the shooting guard might entertain offers from other teams, such as the Boston Celtics.

According to previous reports, Smith's future with the Cavs will depend on LeBron James, who had already stated that he will re-sign with the team. However, since James has not yet signed a contract, it is not yet clear how much the Cavs will be able to offer Smith.

If James goes for a multi-year deal with a higher payout, this could endanger Smith's spot on the team, since he is reportedly asking for about $15 million per season. For a player like Smith, that figure is a bit high. Also, the Cavs might not have enough cap space to cover his salary since aside from James, they also still have to sign head coach Tyronn Lue.

But, if Smith is really determined on getting $15 million a year, then there's a strong possibility that he might entertain offers from other teams, such as the Celtics, just to motivate the Cavs to give him what he wants.

"The question is whether Smith can find a suitor to force the Cavaliers to pay him what he wants," Kevin Pelton of ESPN said. "He doesn't really make a lot of sense for any of the teams with significant cap space remaining, though if the Boston Celtics renounce the rights to Tyler Zeller they could offer Smith a one-year deal worth nearly $12 million to supply shooting they need."

If this happens, it wouldn't come as a surprise since the Celtics have a lot of cap space. Also, coach Brad Stevens of Boston had previously said that the team's top priority is to get shooters. Sure, Smith only averaged 12.4 points per game last season but he was at 40 percent at the three-point line.

But then again, based on recent rumors, Smith's status will depend on the figures. If the Cavs are not able to supply what he wants, then Smith might actually consider signing with another team that could provide that.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories