Knicks Rumors: Signing JR Smith to Long-Term Deal Would Be Right Move for NY
The New York Knicks landed J.R. Smith when he was a coveted free agent last season and now must turn their focus to signing him to a long-term contract to make sure he doesn't get away.
Smith will not pick up the option in his original deal as he looks for a bigger deal, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times. Beck reports the shooting guard could receive a deal north of $12 million over four years from the Knicks.
When you consider some of the massive contracts being dolled out to shooting guards around the league, that's actually a small price to pay for Smith. And his new deal wouldn't have an impact on the team's attempts to bring back Jeremy Lin, which remains a top priority.
Smith averaged 13 points and four rebounds in less than 28 minutes per game after joining the Knicks following a stint in China. It took him awhile to find some consistency on the offensive end, but by the end of the regular season he was playing much better.
He struggled in the playoffs against the Miami Heat, but you could say that about every Knick aside from Carmelo Anthony. One bad series isn't enough to suddenly give up on him, especially since the team has limited depth at the shooting guard spot.
Even though it seems like Smith has been around forever, he's just 26. His best basketball should still be ahead of him, which means getting him to agree to a long-term deal now should actually save New York some money over the long haul.
He fits in nicely with the way the Knicks are currently constructed. Unlike most off guards, he doesn't need to serve as the go-to guy to make his presence felt. Carmelo Anthony has that role covered and Amar'e Stoudemire falls in right behind him.
Smith is the ideal third scorer with the ability to knock down outside shots and keep the defense honest. Having him for an entire season should help take a lot of pressure off Anthony and Stoudemire.
He's also a really good defender when he puts in the necessary effort. Going that extra mile hasn't always been Smith's style, but he's started to show more maturity and it should show up on that end of the floor moving forward.
If the Knicks are able to retain all of their key pieces from last season, including Smith and Lin, and make one or two depth additions during the offseason, they will be in good shape.
Chemistry is important in the NBA. That's why it took the Heat two years to win a title despite having the most talented roster. The Knicks have plenty of talent as well, now they just need to gel together and start playing as one cohesive unit.
Smith can become a big part of that, so New York should do whatever it takes to get a new deal done.
