UPDATED 12/29, 5:00 p.m. ET: J.R. Smith has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
See original story below.
J.R. Smith is making his return to the NBA.
League sources tell the New York Time’s Marc Stein that the Lakers are finalizing a “rest-of-the-season” contract with Smith that should be finished before the NBA’s “transaction window” closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.
Smith’s name has been tossed by those associated with the organization since Avery Bradley revealed that he wouldn’t be making the trip to Orlando.
Although the NBA has created a bubble with regulations focused on player’s health and safety, Bradley’s eldest son has a history of respiratory problems and he feels like exposing himself to the virus could jeopardize his child.
J.R. Smith hasn’t played professional basketball since November 2019. But, he did play with Lakers superstar, LeBron James, in Cleveland for three years. Together, they won a championship in 2016 and became a reliable teammate—despite what happened during Game 1 of the 2018 Finals. This in addition to being a fan favorite, has NBA lovers taking to Twitter to react to the news.
Lakers signed JR Smith & Dion Waiters.. Playoffs should be hysterical
I see my Lakers sign JR Smith that swish swish boy about to get buckets I never forget JR Smith cross somebody up at Rucker Park and the announce said he could be your father let's go yessir lol #LakeShow
