Knicks Rumors: Re-Signing JR Smith Would Be Bad Move for New York

In what has been a relatively quiet offseason for the New York Knicks, they are starting to make some noise with their own free agents. J.R. Smith is looking to get a long-term deal, and it appears the Knicks will acquiesce. 

According to Howard Beck of the New York Times, Smith is going to opt out of his contract and sign a new deal to remain with the Knicks. 

"

JR Smith will decline Knicks option but intends to re-sign for longer term w/NY, source says. Story posting soon.

— Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) June 25, 2012"

Without knowing the parameters of a potential deal involving Smith, this does not sound like the kind of move the Knicks should be making at this time. 

Smith is a quality sixth man, with the ability to score 10-12 points off the bench. But he is not a strong fit for the way the Knicks play. He is a volume shooter, forcing a lot more shots than he should to try and get his points. 

But the Knicks have plenty of players who can come off the bench and score. They need to focus on building their starting five and allocating any available resources to that area. Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields are restricted free agents, and the Knicks made qualifying offers to both players, according to Newsday. 

This is the kind of move the old Knicks would make. They keep an exciting player around longer than they should. Smith does have value in the NBA. He just isn't the kind of player the Knicks need right now. 

Their biggest problem is having too many cooks in the kitchen, so to speak. They don't have enough shots to go around as it is. Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire are already fighting for shots and touches. 

Smith only compounds the problem by shooting 10-12 times every game. They need to focus on staying healthy and building their defense. Smith doesn't help on the defensive side of the ball, so it is a question of how much you value his offensive contributions.

Apparently the Knicks think highly of Smith. It is not the direction I would like to see them go at this point in their rebuilding process. 

Follow @adamwells1985