NBA News and Rumors: 4 Players Contend for Cleveland Cavaliers Final 2 Roster Spots; Will J.R. Smith Join Celtics?
According to one report, the Boston Celtics are interested in getting the services of Smith to shore up their shooting guard rotation
Every athlete dreams of being a champion. And, what better way to take them closer to this goal than to play for a league contender.
And, the Cleveland Cavaliers offer just that after the Ohio-based team reigned over the recently-concluded 2015-2016 NBA season. On top of that, who wouldn't want to play alongside the greatest basketball player in the world today? Never mind playing with piffling number of minutes on the floor and parking your rump on the bench for the most part.
Two Roster Spots Left in the Cavs Roster
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As the NBA pre-season commences, teams are on the hunt for the right fit to fill out their rosters. They are hoping to find players that they feel can provide what they need, particularly in the third-stringer positions.
The Cavs have a couple left and some players in their training camp lineup are hoping to land one of those. The players competing for the roster spots are Jordan McRae, Dahntay Jones, DeAndre Liggins, and Toney Douglas.
The four, including those who have non-guaranteed contracts, will be given the chance to prove themselves in their upcoming Monday game against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Celtics Want J.R. Smith
For all intents and purposes, J.R. Smith is going to be back in Cleveland. He helped the team in bagging its first title in franchise history, but he and the Cavs have currently reached an impasse in his contract negotiation.
According to one report, the Boston Celtics are interested in getting the services of Smith to shore up their shooting guard rotation. The Celtics would have to hurdle cap limitations if they hope of signing Smith, who has been offered by the Cavs a little over $10 million per year, which he turned down.
And, LeBron James, the pseudo Cavs GM, doesn't want to let go of Smith, either.
"Negotiations are always two-sides but J.R. did his part," said LeBron. "He showed up every day. Worked his ass off every day. Became a two-way player, a model citizen in Cleveland and he's a fan favorite, obviously we all know that. All of the sudden now he's a season ticket holder at the Indians games."
It's no secret that James and Smith are close pals and the two, together with teammate Tristan Thompson, also happen to share the same agent, Rich Paul. James said that he is hoping they can move past the issue and have Smith signed because he has been an integral part of the team.
The Cavs MVP has also lobbied for the cause of Thompson the previous year after a similar standoff. The team's front office, eventually, budged and the Cleveland center was signed to a lucrative 5-year contract worth $82 million.
