Seven-year NBA veteran J.R. Smith is finally able to return to the league since his season with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China is over.
The Golden Bulls were ousted from playoff contention Feb. 12, which means Smith is a free man to hoop in the NBA.
Smith, who played with the Denver Nuggets for five seasons before the summer's NBA lockout, is a free agent. He doesn't have to remain a Nugget as he can go to any team he wants. Honestly, I don't think the Nuggets want to re-sign him.
There are plenty of teams who could use a scoring threat such as Smith. In his five seasons on the same roster as scorers such as Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, Smith managed to average 15 points per game.
He doesn't always have a great shot selection and he makes bad decisions when it comes to passes and how to run a fast break. However, Smith is a valuable player to have come off of the bench.
I wouldn't put him in a starting lineup because most benches need scoring power and he doesn't play with a high enough basketball IQ to earn a starting role. This all depends on what teams he lands on.
These are the teams Smith would be a good fit for and teams that would be a good fit for Smith.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have one of the worst benches in the league in turns of scoring. I wouldn't trust Josh McRoberts (2.7 ppg), Troy Murphy (3.7 ppg), Matt Barnes (7 ppg), Andrew Goudelock (4.9 ppg) or Devin Ebanks (2.7 ppg) for more than three points on any given night.
Barnes the best producing member of the Lakers bench isn't a scorer and is more worried about intimidating players with a hard chest bump than adding points to the score board.
LA needs someone to take a little of the scoring burden off of the shoulders of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
I don't see why Smith can't be the guy.
Chicago Bulls
Reigning NBA MVP and top five superstar Derrick Rose is forced to put his body on the line night in and night out because he doesn't have much scoring talent around him. In turn, he has missed eight games this season because of injury.
The most recent being back spasms, which in my opinion, is from having to carry so much of Chicago's offensive workload.
Ronnie Brewer has had good nights replacing Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton in the starting lineup, but he isn't reliable in every game. Hamilton who was the Bulls only offseason addition has been hurt off and on during the season and lackluster when he can suit up.
Smith would be a much welcomed offensive threat.
Indiana Pacers
If the Pacers can sign Smith, they would be the hands down third best team in the league behind the Bulls and the Miami Heat. As of right now, Indiana is in sixth place behind the Bulls, the Heat, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks.
Smith would provide the Pacers with some depth and scoring they desperately need. Danny Granger is an All-Star caliber talent and Paul George is on his way to this level, but they obviously can't do it all when they're not on the court.
This pickup would allow them to get some minutes off and the opportunity for Indiana to stay in games when they're not on the court. It's going to be awfully hard for Granger, George and the rest of the Pacers' back court to stay healthy and productive if they have to overwork themselves every game of the regular season.
What would be left come playoff time?
