How Much Will J.R. Smith Earn from His Los Angeles Lakers Contract?

The news of Avery Bradley deciding not to fly to the Bubble came as a shocker. Los Angeles Lakers have a strong roster, but missing out on a former NBA All-Defensive Team member is a blow. But the Lakers, being Lakers, did not take much time and signed J. R. Smith to strengthen their bench. 

The signing of J.R. raised some concerns because he had been out of touch for quite a time. His 2018-19 season did not allow him to leave any mark. Although, his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers was spent rather effectively. In the 2016 NBA Finals when the Cavaliers faced the Warriors, he averaged 10.6 points per game with 66.7% FT. These numbers and the performance by LeBron and team helped them bounce back from 0-2 to a 4-3 victory. Even LeBron is delighted to have his old teammate back with him.

How much is this contract with Los Angeles Lakers worth?

The Front Office Insider for ESPN NBA, Mr. Bobby Marks Shared that the contract will get J.R. a total of $289,803. However, that is not it. Smith is still obliged to receive another $1,456,667 this season (through 2021-22) from the Cavs who had waived him. 

We have witnessed Russell Westbrook signing with Houston Rockets and reuniting with James Harden. When LeBron and J.R. play together again, let us see how Smith will bounce back from that clumsy error he made in game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals. That one mistake cost Cavs the match and eventually the Championship. 

Where do Smith’s earnings stand against other NBA players?

According to Basketball Reference, Smith’s career earnings stand at $86,826,390 (not adjusted to the present trade with the Lakers). 

The players who are making the most this year seem way ahead than J. R. Smith. Stephen Curry (GSW) with $40.2 million ranks first on the list, followed by Chris Paul (Thunder)’s 38.5 Million, and Russell Westbrook (Rockets)’s $38.1 Million. The list has John Wall, James Harden, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Kyle Lowry, and Paul George making it to the top ten.

Having said that, we know that these earnings do not define a player’s capability and we are hopeful that Smith will put on a great show. He will be an unrestricted free agent once the season ends.