5 Shooting Guards Cavs Could Sign If J.R. Smith Doesn’t Re-Sign

5. Kevin Martin

Martin was a player who used to average more than 20 points per game in multiple seasons throughout his career. But then the disastrous James Harden trade occurred between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, and Martin’s career just hasn’t been the same since.

After that trade, Martin scored under 15 points per game for the first time since his second year in the league as a member of the Sacramento Kings. After that brief stint in OKC where Martin went from starter to sixth man, he signed a contract with Minnesota and saw some of his numbers return to form before being bought out and signed to the San Antonio Spurs.

In San Antonio, his numbers hit career lows while averaging just over 16 minutes per game on a Spurs roster filled up at the shooting guard position with players like Danny Green and Spurs legend Manu Ginobili.

Long story short, one could argue that since Martin left the Rockets, his career has been more about opportunity and style of play than a deterioration of skills.

If Smith leaves the Cavs, Martin could be the perfect player to step in that role and fill nearly all of the void left behind.

For their careers, Martin has clearly been the better player, and has been the better shooter. Martin has shot 38.4 percent from beyond the arc for his career, while Smith has shot just 37.5 percent from 3-point land for his career.

Martin is just 33 years old, only two years older than Smith, which means he still has several good years of basketball left.

If Martin can be about 80 percent of his former self, one might actually consider Martin an upgrade from Smith.

And if Smith leaves, Martin is clearly the best plan B for the 2016-17 season.