The NBA is getting Back to work with the season set to resume in Orlando City at the top of July. Fans’ excitement is at its highest level with all the new deals getting finalized every passing day. Lakers fans were also given something to cheer about after hearing the latest speculation about JR Smith in the transaction window.
What talks are going on?
Multiple reports suggest that the L.A Lakers are finalizing a deal with the veteran guard JR smith and add him on their roster for next month’s season restart in Orlando. In line with ESPN, the Lakers are in talks with Smith since Avery Bradley opted out of the restart last week to remain together with his family.
The NBA transaction window closes at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, with all the teams asked to submit their final roster by Wednesday.
What do we know about the Lakers and JR Smith?
The L.A Lakers have won 16 NBA championships, one behind their arch-rivals, the Boston Celtics. The team has been a member of the pacific division of the western conference. The Lakers have participated in 31 finals and lost 15. The team has the second-highest win-loss record percentage within the NBA after the San Antonio Spurs. The team was referred to as the Minneapolis Lakers before 1960.
JR Smith has not played within the NBA since an 11 – game stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the beginning of the 2018 – 19 season when he accused the team of tanking before eventually parting ways. His last full season came in 2017 – 18 with the Cavs, when he averaged 8.3 points and a couple of rebounds in 80 games in LeBron James’ final season before he left to hitch the Lakers. In Game-1 of the NBA Finals that year, Smith infamously lost track of the score during a gaffe that ultimately led to Cleveland losing to California in overtime. Across 14 seasons Smith has a career average of 12.5 points in 971 games.
What impact can JR Smith bring to the Lakers?
Smith has 15 years of experience within the NBA, but he hasn’t played a game of basketball since November of 2018. Smith has the smallest amount of experience on the team when it involves playing for Frank Vogel, but he has the foremost experience playing with LeBron James.
As a result of Smith’s arrival, he could take in a number of the minutes Bradley left behind? Or will he play at the expense of somebody like Alex Caruso or Kyle Kuzma? He may find himself riding the bench for a whole lot of the season, except for right away, all possibilities need to be considered.
Soon, The teams will visit Orlando between 7- 9 July to start training camps before the season restarts. The Lakers will play their first game that day against the L.A Clippers when the season was halted on March 11 due to the corona-virus pandemic.
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