Free-agent guard JR Smith and the Lakers are working through the final steps of a deal on Monday, and he will be added to roster for the Orlando restart, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnariowski.
The Lakers and Smith have been in talks since Avery Bradley opted-out of the restart, and those will culminate with a deal that will include him on the roster Lakers will submit to NBA on Wednesday, per sources.
Smith, 34, hasn’t played an NBA game since November 2018 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Smith worked out for the Lakers in February before the team signed guard Dion Waiters to a deal. Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will ease much of the burden of Bradley’s departure, with Waiters expected to provide further depth in the backcourt. Rajon Rondo is another veteran guard on the Lakers’ bench.
Smith has played 15 NBA seasons since getting drafted in New Orleans out of St. Benedict’s Prep in 2004, including stops with Denver, New York and Cleveland. He won an NBA title with the Cavaliers and LeBron James in 2016 and was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2013 with the Knicks.
The NBA has a transaction window through July 1 that allows teams to sign free agents prior to traveling to Orlando to restart the season.
