![]() These were the kinds of shots that Smith’s fans both love and fear, heaved desperately off one leg or with his whole body fading away as time runs out, in a manner inspired, Smith has said, by his favorite video game, NBA 2K. Then Smith scored twenty points in the critical third game, making five three-pointers, often with defenders pressed against his muscular, six-foot-six-inch frame. This past June, Smith’s most recent team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, trailed the favored Golden State Warriors two games to none in the N.B.A. Smith earned a fifty-thousand-dollar fine and widespread ridicule. Days later, Smith made an attempt at the laces of Greg Monroe, of the Detroit Pistons Monroe, perhaps sensing Smith’s intentions, turned his enormous shoe away just in time. While lined up along the free-throw lane, awaiting an opposing player’s foul shots, Smith untied the shoelaces of Shawn Marion, of the Dallas Mavericks-reaching down slowly, as if to rest his hands on his knees, before making a quick and successful yank, just before play resumed, so Marion had no time to do anything about it. Like the Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez, who once high-fived a fan while turning a double play, or the soccer star Luis Suárez, who periodically bites his opponents on the pitch, Smith, who has been traded four times and spent a season in China, is best known for his ability to captivate and confuse.Ĭonsider an incident from January, 2014, when Smith was a member of the New York Knicks. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal has written that Smith possesses the N.B.A.’s “ most diversified portfolio of infractions,” having violated league policies and municipal laws related to marijuana and motor scooters, among other things. As a player, he has a singular talent for making improbable long-range shots that perhaps he shouldn’t be taking. Smith, who has played in the National Basketball Association for most of the past twelve years, has, in that time, been responsible for some of the league’s most unpredictable pleasures and diversions, both on and off the court. When the Cavs came back to beat Golden State 3-1 in the NBA Finals, Smith made two critical 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half in Game 7 to spark Cleveland’s rally.J. At 6-foot-6, he was also one of the team’s best defenders, able to handle smaller guards on the perimeter. He averaged 12.4 points and shot 40 percent on 3-pointers in 77 games regular-season games. Smith has also been a regular at Indians games in the past month. The tattooed-adorned Smith, nicknamed “Swish” by his teammates and fans, was a huge hit when he rode shirtless in the team’s championship parade last June. The 31-year-old Smith has become not only a valuable player, but one of the most popular among Cleveland’s fan base. ![]() Smith is expected to practice Sunday and he could play in the preseason finale Tuesday night in Columbus against Washington. We know he can’t wait to get back on the court with his brothers and we are certain that everyone in this organization and city feels the same way.” “He’s a special part of this family and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement that we all can feel good about. back as part of our core group was a priority for us,” Cavs general manager David Griffin said. If he stays four seasons, he will get $57 million. Smith’s deal guarantees him more than $45 million in the first three years of the deal, the $15 million per season he was looking for when negotiations opened this summer. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team’s policy is not to divulge contract terms. His agents were in a stalemate with the Cavs for weeks, unable to come to terms on a deal to keep him in Cleveland.īut the sides were able to come to terms Friday on a four-year, $57 million contract, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press on Friday night. ![]() Smith made a franchise record 204 3-pointers last season and was a major contributor during the Cavs’ run to the first championship by a Cleveland team since 1964. Smith can begin launching away for the Cavaliers.Īfter sitting out most of training camp, the free agent shooting guard re-signed Saturday with the defending NBA champions, who now have all their starting pieces in place to begin defending their title.
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