NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Can't Let J.R. Smith Escape Their Grasp

Signing J.R. Smith would make the New York Knicks a significantly better team without having to lose any of their current players. This is not an opportunity that they can afford to squander. 

A chain of reports on Thursday produced different results on how close the Knicks are to bringing in Smith. It started with this tweet from Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. 

Thursday, Feb. 16 at 12:48 p.m. EST

That looks good for the Knicks fans. But not too long after that, we got a different update from Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles.

Thursday, Feb. 16 at 2:08 p.m. EST

Shelburne reported that the Knicks were only one team that Smith is considering. 

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"Free-agent swingman J.R. Smith currently lists on his Twitter page the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers as teams he is considering."

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The Knicks can't let this opportunity pass them by. They need Smith's production to stabilize the backcourt and turn the Knicks into a potentially incredibly deep team. Come playoff time, that is going to be a valuable asset, especially in a compacted season. 

A starting five that includes Jeremy Lin, J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire could beat anyone in the playoffs. New York still wouldn't be quite as good as the Bulls or Heat, but neither of those teams would be especially happy to see the Knicks in a seven-game series. 

Averaging just under 25 minutes per game last season, Smith averaged better than 12 points. In the previous two seasons, he averaged just less than 28 minutes a game and was over 15 points per game. 

Those seasons are important because he was a teammate of Anthony for most of that time. They know that his skills mesh with at least one of the Knicks' best players, and that is exceptionally important. 

Adding Smith would also enable New York to move Landry Fields out of the starting lineup. Fields is not a starter but would be better than most players coming off of the bench.

Overall, the addition of Smith would just make the Knicks a far more stable unit. Their core group of talent would be kept together and players would fall into roles they're better suited for.

Also, when defenses are focused on Anthony and Stoudemire in the frontcourt, Smith would give another backcourt player to knock down the open shots.

There is no reason for the Knicks to not make this happen. The team would be undeniably better and an actual force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

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