Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith reportedly turned down the chance to play on foreign soil recently by refusing a $1.6 million deal from Jiangsu, a Chinese basketball team.
Free agent guard JR Smith turned down a $1.6M net contract offer from Chinese team Jiangsu, a source told @Sportando.
Smith was Jiangsu's top choice at guard position— Emiliano Carchia (@Carchia) August 27, 2019
Playing in China would have meant relocating his family to another country or possibly spending time away from them, two options that the family-oriented Smith is likely not too keen on.
Additionally, the $1.6 million contract is much lower than the $3 million deal he signed in 2011 during an NBA lockout to play for the Zhejiang Chouzhou Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Smith is still on the lookout for a new team to play for after the Cavs waived him last month. Despite having a contract that could have helped a team clear some space on its salary cap, Smith had remained with the Wine and Gold throughout the offseason until his release.
The 15-year veteran was recently seen playing pick up basketball where he knocked down crucial 3-pointers to give his team the win. That is just a sample of the kind of player that he has been throughout his career in the NBA.
One of the league’s best streak shooters, Smith could get a shot at playing for another NBA team but will most likely have to accept the veteran’s minimum. Championship contenders such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers could take a chance on a player who has nailed 1,929 3-pointers in the regular season to help them in their bid to claim the Larry O’Brien trophy next year.
