NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding JR Smith, Vince Carter and More
Professional baseball and football are understandably getting the most attention of the major sports in the United States right now. But in about a month, the NBA season will also take its place among the most-followed American sports.
To get ready for the regular season, teams are beginning to make the tough decisions as to which 15 players deserve to make the final roster, and those decisions will continue into training camp. The players on the roster bubble are working just as hard as their coaching staffs to prove their worths.
Let's dive in to a few players' situations, all of whom are at a different point in securing a roster spot with an NBA team.
J.R. Smith
For the second year in a row, the Cleveland Cavaliers are having trouble bringing back a key contributor because of financial complications. Last year, Tristan Thompson and his agent, Rich Paul, held out for a max deal until finally settling for a five-year, $82 million contract late in the preseason.
This season, it's J.R. Smith (also represented by Paul) who's causing some difficulties. According to Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon, Smith is seeking approximately $15 million annually. He added that "the two sides may not be arguing over money so much as the length of the deal—the Cavs would likely prefer a shorter contract."
Smith is probably looking for three years or more, which would be fine for the Cavaliers if they didn't already have so much money tied into their future. Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and Thompson are all locked into large contracts through the summer of 2020, and the team also probably wants to keep LeBron James past his next opt-out opportunity in the summer of 2018.
In the end, expect some sort of compromise between the two parties. Cleveland is understandably reluctant to sacrifice future flexibility just to re-sign its fifth-best player, but Smith was a huge part of its title run last season. An acceptable deal for both parties could be something like a two-year deal worth a little bit less than the $15 million annually.
Vince Carter
Vince Carter has stuck around in the league much longer than most people would have expected, considering his best skill in his prime was his freakish athleticism.
The 39-year-old's production has gradually declined ever since his prime, but he's remained somewhat effective due to a strong three-point stroke and high-IQ play, along with the experience he brings.
The Memphis Grizzlies, not surprisingly, have shown no indication that they want to get rid of Carter yet, according to the Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery. Carter is due $4.2 million for the 2016-17 season, but Memphis would have to pay $2 million if it cut the veteran swingman.
The Grizzlies aren't terribly deep with NBA-caliber talent on the wing and could use Carter's experience presence and his talent as a security blanket. Prized free-agent acquisition Chandler Parsons does have a history of knee injuries in recent years, so the team might be wise to keep a proven player like Carter around.
Steve Blake
Steve Blake is another guy who's stuck around the league longer (13 seasons) than most probably would've expected. He's spent much of his career as a backup point guard, making his open spot-up shots and being judicious with the ball.
Now, at the age of 36, the free-agent floor general is having a tough time finding a team. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported that Blake isn't giving up, though:
Portland was where Blake had the finest seasons of his career. In 2008-09, he started all 69 games he played for a 54-win Trail Blazers squad and averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. A return there could make for a fun reunion with the Rip City faithful.
But any team, including Portland, expecting a positive on-court impact from Blake in 2016-17 would be foolish. His defense is poor at a position where defense is so important, and his shooting (34.4 percent from behind the three-point line last season) isn't dangerous even to the point that teams are afraid of him firing away from the outside. He also doesn't have enough speed to consistently turn the corner on a pick-and-roll and get into the lane.
The value of veteran leadership is hard to measure. Is Blake's experience worth one of the 15 roster spots on a team? Or would squads rather use his spot on a potential diamond in the rough? That's the dilemma teams will have to answer when considering the 36-year-old Blake.
