The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed with JR Smith on a new contract and this comes as LeBron James wants the Cavs to get an extension done with Tristan Thompson. The team is also reportedly preparing to sign Sasha Kaun and Quinn Cook for depth on the bench behind Timofey Mozgov and Mo Williams.
UPDATE: JR Smith is signing back with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Smith will be back, financials not yet released. Will Update with numbers when available. Check here for more on Smith signing back with the Cavaliers. Smith writes "Thank you to the Cavaliers for making this happen," on his Instagram account. Check here for FULL STORY on JR Smith signing back with the Cavaliers.
UPDATE II: Chris Haynes reports that sources say J.R. Smith, will be back on a two-year contract. Haynes reports for Cleveland.com that Smith will make $5 million next season and that the contract has a player option on second year.
The Cavaliers have been as active as any team this offseason, but one of their main priorities remains unchecked on their list. Thompson is a restricted free agent and reports have the big man considering signing his qualifying offer if the Cavs don't meet his price for an extension. James has mentioned Thompson by name along with Smith in the media regarding new deals and the Cavs are currently working on signing both players back.
The Cavs could be checking out some insurance as well for Smith, as reports have Jamal Crawford generating interest on the trade market. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Crawford is a target for the NY Knicks, as they have "expressed interest" in a deal with the LA Clippers. The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers were also connected to Crawford earlier in the offseason and Chris Haynes at Cleveland.com reported that Crawford would be open to playing for the Cavs if he was traded to the team.
Crawford averaged nearly 16 points per game for the Clippers last season while playing 25 minutes per contest, but this season he may not have as big of a role. The Clippers have signed Josh Smith, Paul Pierce, Pablo Prigioni and Wesley Johnson in free agency and the team also added Lance Stephenson in a trade. With DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin, JJ Redick and Chris Paul already in LA, there will not be too many shots to go around for Crawford, who previously won sixth man of the year for the team. Crawford now could be a target for the Cavs.
All this comes as the Cavs are working on signing back Thompson and while talks have been slow, the team is confident it will get done. According to Basketball Insiders, Steve Kyler reports that Thompson previously rejected a deal from the Cavaliers worth $80 million over five years. Thompson reportedly feels that other players with his talent level have gotten bigger offers than that and his side wants "more" based on those other deals. Brian Windhorst at ESPN previously reported the sides were in a "stalemate," as there is no solid precedent for the situation that Thompson is in with the Cavs, as Kevin Love is the starter at power forward for the team.
The Cavs are reportedly still interested in bringing back JR Smith, but it's very likely Smith will have to take a pay cut from where his player option was for this season. Smith opted out of his deal and so far he has not been able to find a solid offer this summer. Cleveland.com reports that the Cavs are offering "less" than the $6.4 million Smith would have made. The Cavaliers are also reportedly close to signing Sasha Kaun and Quinn Cook to deals.
Check here for more on the Cleveland Cavaliers moves and more on the interest in Jamal Crawford, the return of Tristan Thompson and the possibility of JR Smith coming back.
