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J.R. Smith Will Return To The Cleveland Cavaliers

By Quenton S. Albertie

May 4, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) celebrates a three-pointer with Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (not pictured) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) celebrates a three-pointer with Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (not pictured) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Teams are inquiring about J.R. Smith, but they’re just being told that the free agent is staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When teams call and inquire about J.R. Smith‘s availability, his new agent -and one of LeBron’s oldest friends- tells teams that he’s unavailable.

Rich Paul of Klutch Sports tells teams that his client, an athletic and versatile wing that wields his power from behind the arc, is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Cleveland.com‘s Chris Haynes.

That’s the best news that Cavs fans could have gotten this offseason.

With all the hoopla surrounding Kevin Love and Dwyane Wade, Smith has been as important and is far more effective than either of those players. Outside of LeBron James, Smith was the most important free agent for the Cavaliers to retain.

That includes “Snapchat God” Richard Jefferson. It also includes the beloved Matthew Dellavedova.

What makes the Cleveland Cavaliers so dangerous, as LeBron stated multiple times in the playoffs, is that they’re a balanced team.

The team gets LeBron and Kyrie Irving going downhill fast in order to start the Cleveland Cavaliers offensive engine. Then Love provides the traditional post play. Love’s basketball IQ and intent to get second chance points combined with LeBron and Irving’s ridiculous efficiency from inside make them an elite team as far as scoring in the paint.

In order to be elite from the outside the Cavaliers still rely on Kyrie and LeBron going downhill.

Related Story: Why The Cavs Need To Keep J.R. Smith

This opened up space for Dellavedova (98), Richard Jefferson (66), and Channing Frye (43) to combine for 205 threes. Smith knocked down 204 by himself.

Smith is an elite shooter when he’s open but relishes the opportunity to make a shot when actually being guarded by a defender. As a matter of fact, the shot that Irving hit over Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals?

J.R. Smith does that all the time.

In addition to his shooting, Smith’s occasional forays into the teeth of the defense are done efficiently. He finished with 62.3 percent rate around the rim in the regular season last year. That figure jumped up to 80 percent in the playoffs.

It was largely due to intelligent basketball and smart timing either off-the-ball or in deciding when to attack the rim off-the-dribble. He dunked, he showed off a nifty floater and hit circus layups.

He was even a playmaker, and intelligent basketball player, when passing. After mastering LeBron’s no-look tip passes, Smith fired shots from three and fired passes to teammates with equal proficiency and velocity.

The only two campaigns where Smith had less bad passes than this season were when he was a backup. In the playoffs, Smith had one recorded bad pass in 21 games. It’s only part of the reason the Cavaliers won the NBA championship but a low amount of turnovers is key to a team’s ultimate success.

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Defensively, the reason he’s Tyronn Lue’s most important defender is because he has a defensive rating of 88 points per 100 possessions against point guards, 98.9 points per 100 possessions against shooting guards, and holds small forwards to a 12.3 PER.

In the playoffs, Smith tied his career-high with 1.2 steals per game last season. When Smith is focused defensively the team is hard to beat.

Then, off-the-court, Smith balances being a role model and a rockstar. To be a better role model, he only needed to focus on his family and basketball. His affection for those with mental disabilities is particularly heart-warming as well.

The Shirtless One also knows how to go a week without a shirt then get one made in his honor of his tattooed body and one in honor of his political ambitions.

He knows how to not just be best friends with LeBron James and Lil Wayne but to get the musician to make a song about the player.

Next: LeBron James: How 'The Decision' Changed The NBA

In sum, Smith is a great player, friend and asset to the NBA community. The Cleveland Cavaliers will be glad when he’s re-signed to the team.