Despite the fact that former Cleveland Cavaliers guard and 2016 NBA Championship starting guard J.R. Smith is expected to hit the open market, the Los Angeles Lakers don’t look like a team that will sign as their is almost full with just over two months to go until training camp begins across the league.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s sources tell him that Smith is unlikely to join the Lakers even after he clears waivers. After signing rookie Talen Horton-Tucker, the Lakers currently have 14 guaranteed contracts on their roster and one two-way player.
With other veteran free agents still on the market such as Kyle Korver and Carmelo Anthony, it appears that the Lakers are saving their powder and open roster spot once the season gets closer. Smith would have helped the Lakers in terms of 3-point shooting, but they are in a much stronger position in that regard after the past few weeks.
Three of their offseason acquisitions (Jared Dudley, Troy Daniels and Quinn Cook) shoot 39% or better from the 3-point line over the course of their careers. Newly signed guard Avery Bradley is a 36% career 3-point shooter while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a career 34.5% 3-point shooter on five attempts per game. Last season the Lakers were 29th in the league in 3-point shooting.
