NBA Rumors: J.R. Smith Right to Disregard Money to Play for New York Knicks

It's all about the money, right? 

In J.R. Smith's case, not so much. 

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Smith had other options with more money, but he wanted to play with Jason Kidd and the New York Knicks. 

Smith is making the right move to disregard the money in order to win a championship. 

The decision was all about playing with Kidd, according to Berman. 

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“Wherever J-Kidd is, that’s where I’m at. That’s where I want to be. I love his game, said Smith. "I don’t know him personally. I love his demeanor toward the game, how serious he takes the game. I heard he’s one of the best teammates. He’s a class act from what I understand.’’

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Who wouldn't want to play with a guy who has 11,842 assists? Playing with a point guard who is pass-first is comforting to a scoring guard. He knows he's getting the ball in the right parts of the floor and in shooting motion, which places him in perfect rhythm.

Playing with Jeremy Lin didn't provide that for Smith. Lin always had the ball in his hands, looking to score first. According to Berman, Smith wants J-Kidd by his side, not Lin.

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J.R. Smith says he doesn't care if he starts, just wants to be paired with Kidd, not Lin in backcourt tandem nyp.st/N7nMpM

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"— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) July 14, 2012"

From a shooting guard, I can see why he would want something like that. Kidd provides leadership, experience, consistency and a winning attitude. 

Lin provides youth, inexperience, energy and a whole lot of buzz. Sometimes even too much buzz.

With Kidd, Marcus Camby, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, J.R. Smith and others, the Knicks are a loaded team capable of making noise in the Eastern Conference.

Smith would have been out of his mind to join another team if his idea was to win a championship. There are only a handful of teams with as much talent as New York.

He wants to be a part of the team that turns that talent into playoff series victories on the basketball court. 

Smith choosing the Knicks and not the money was the right decision to make.