NBA Free Agent Rumors: J.R. Smith ‘would love to be a starter’
J.R. Smith's future with the Cleveland Cavaliers continues to remain in limbo.
At the end of the season, the 29-year-old shooting guard declined his player option for the 2015-16 season and has since remained unsigned. Despite not having a team, Smith appeared to be very calm and unbothered when speaking about his free agency status with the Pacific Daily News
"I just want to be somewhere I can make a difference. I don't want to be somewhere I can't have an affect on the team," Smith said. "I would love to be a starter, but it depends on the situation and what team I'm on. Cleveland is in a situation where they don't really need me to start. I can come off the bench and bring the energy and stuff like that."
The 2013 sixth man of the year added that he would want to stay in Cleveland.
"I definitely want to come back to Cleveland. The coaches, the team, everything about the situation, it's perfect for me," Smith said.
Smith and his long-term friend, Gerald Green, who signed with the Miami Heat, recently participated as instructors at the Guam Basketball Clinics. The Clinics are a part of the Handy's 94 Feed of Game program. "I would love to be a starter, but it depends on the situation and what team I'm on. Cleveland is in a situation where they don't really need me to start. I can come off the bench and bring the energy and stuff like that."
Smith was traded to the Cavaliers in a three-team, midseason deal. With the Cavaliers, he averaged 12.7 points and shot 39 percent from the three-point line in 46 games. Despite his impressive offense during the regular season, Smith's performance during toward the end of playoffs, when it mattered the most, fell short.
Although it has been a very busy summer for the Cavaliers, who had to re-sign a lot of free agents, the rumors are claiming that they are currently trying to work out a deal with Smith.
The Cavaliers re-signed Kevin Love, LeBron James, James Jones, Matthew Dellavedova and Iman Shumpert. They also added veteran Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson.
