With J.R. Smith returning, only one more player is left to complete the Cleveland Cavaliers lineup — Tristan Thompson.
For those who haven't heard, Smith agreed to a two-year deal with the Cavaliers recently. The thing is the contract is a bit lower than what he would have gotten if he opted in after the last regular season. But with no interest coming from other teams, Smith may have done the wise choice of accepting the offer than enter the season without a team.
Smith lost about $1.4 million with that decision, although he could make up for it next year when the NBA salary cap for teams are expected to increase. His current contract is valued at $10 million for two years but with a player option next year, it is likely that he will opt out again and hope to snag a bigger salary.
But all that would depend on Smith and how he performs in the coming season. There is no doubt that if he keeps his mind on playing basketball, he could be deadly. The bad side about him is when he starts to lose focus such as in that incident when he punched Jae Crowder.
Other than that, Smith could be an efficient scoring machine if he keeps his mind on the game. And for the Cavs to succeed, he will have to do that this coming season.
Smith stepped up in the last NBA Finals when Lebron James needed support. And with a full cast this season, that contribution will come in handy. So for Smith to rise, he simply has to prove himself and be more mature.
And the lone man who has yet to be signed is Tristan Thompson. He is expected to settle for a one-year deal but the twist is on whether or not agent Rich Paul was serious when he said that this season will be his boy's last with the Cavs.
Making such a claim may get the Cavs management thinking. If Thompson is simply signing to be on a team, then the angle of loyalty comes into mind. Why get a player whose heart is not wholly for the team?
Don't be surprised if Thompson is eventually traded for that, a move that could ensue seeing that the team will lose him anyway.
