J.R Smith had one of the best seasons in his career averaging 18.1 points per game, being the Knicks second option in scoring and capping it off with the Sixth Man of the Year award. There was a lot of chatter about him garnering big contract offers and the Knicks possibly being unable to keep him but then things changed. Read more after the jump.
Smith elbowed Jason Terry during game 3 of the Knicks series against the Boston Celtics, he was suspended for game 4 and when he returned for game 5 he was never the same. Smith hit a shooting slump he just couldn’t seem to break out of. The Knicks season ended Saturday night in a game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
With Smith now becoming a free agent and hitting a slump during the worst possible time, his plans suddenly may take a different turn.
Via ESPN:
“I want to retire a Knick,” Smith said when asked about his future following the team’s season-ending loss to the Pacers on Saturday night. “I don’t want to go anywhere else. I love it. I love my teammates. I love my coaches. I was sitting in the locker room looking at my jersey after the game just knowing I don’t want to be anywhere else except for in the orange and blue. So we’ll see.”
Smith has a $2.9 million player option for next year and is expected to opt out and test free agency. The Knicks likely will make it a priority to re-sign Smith. New York has Smith’s Early Bird Rights and can offer him a four-year contract starting at approximately $5 million with standard raises.
But they may have competition for Smith’s services. Another team with significant cap space can offer Smith more than $5 million.
Smith was asked if he’d take less money to stay in New York.
“I haven’t even thought about all that thus far. Still got to talk to [agent] Leon [Rose] and see where we’re at,” he said.
