Boston Celtics: 3 best free-agent fits during upcoming transaction window
By Mark Nilon
Free-agent fit No. 3: J.R. Smith, SG
J.R. Smith is a shooting guard by trade. Unfortunately for him, the Boston Celtics are the most stacked at the two. Jaylen Brown has become a fringe All-Star as a 20 point per game scorer while Marcus Smart has spent the last six seasons establishing himself as the heart and soul of the C’s as a leader in the second unit.
Smith’s shooting can be an asset for every team. That said, his best fit would be on a squad with strong veteran leadership to keep him in check.
The Los Angeles Lakers would be a good fit if LeBron James wanted to put up with the mercurial Smith again as a teammate. The Clippers would also be a good fit, if for nothing else than to see how he would work in a locker room led by Kawhi Leonard.
The C’s are a team with rising stars who need the ball. Jayson Tatum‘s shot totals are starting to be in the 20s on a consistent basis, and the last thing he needs is a Smith performance gone wrong as he continues to ascend.
While the scoring would be welcomed on a second unit starved for long-distance gunners, the character fit wouldn’t make sense on a Celtics team that features more reserved personalities like Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Gordon Hayward.