http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/9450161/jr-smith-return-new-york-knicks-agent-says
Knicks to re-sign J.R. Smith
Updated: July 4, 2013, 1:16 PM ET
By Ian Begley | Special to ESPNNewYork.com
The New York Knicks and free agent J.R. Smith have agreed to terms on a four-year, $24.7 million contract, the guard's agent, Leon Rose, said Thursday morning.
The contract is the maximum amount the Knicks can give Smith via the early Bird rights, which allows a team to offer the average player salary with standard annual raises of 7.5 percent. The league's financial figures for 2013-14 will be released next week, but the average salary is projected at approximately $5.5 million.
According to a league source, Smith's deal contains a player option in the fourth and final year.
Rose said Smith had other offers, but he wanted to stay in New York. Earl Smith Sr., J.R.'s father, said Wednesday that his son had drawn interest. A league source said the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks were among those to show interest in Smith earlier in the week.
Smith, though, has a strong relationship with Knicks coach Mike Woodson, and the Freehold, N.J., product enjoys playing close to his family. Those likely factored into his decision to stay in New York.
The 27-year-old averaged 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season, in which he won the league's Sixth Man of the Year award. He played an integral role in the Knicks' regular-season success but struggled mightily in the playoffs, making just 33 percent of his field goal attempts.
Signings can't become official until the league-wide moratorium is lifted July 10.
Smith's deal is similar -- though for fewer total dollars -- to contracts offered to other shooting guards on the free-agent market.
J.J. Redick agreed to a four-year, $27 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, via a sign-and-trade on Tuesday. Oklahoma City Thunder sharpshooter Kevin Martin signed a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $30 million with the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
Smith averaged more points and rebounds per game than both players, but his reputation for inconsistent play and his subpar postseason may have caused teams with cap space to shy away from offering him a lucrative, long-term pact.
With Smith's deal agreed upon, the Knicks can now turn their attention to restricted free agents Pablo Prigioni and Chris Copeland. Prigioni will return to the Knicks, according to his agent, with a three-year deal. The third year is a team option. His contract will start around $1.5 million, the agent said, but can increase to $2 million with incentives.
New York extended a qualifying offer to Copeland and will have the opportunity to match any offer he gets on the open market, although it will be hard for them to match any significant offer.
A league source told ESPN.com that the Indiana Pacers have made an offer to Copeland. Another league source told ESPNNewYork.com's Jared Zwerling that the Los Angeles Lakershave made an offer to the 29-year-old and that the Cleveland Cavaliers have shown interest.
The Knicks have made a qualifying offer to Copeland worth $988,872. If another team offers Copeland more money, the Knicks could use all or part of their $3.1 million mini mid-level exception to match the offer.
