LeBron James didn't hold back in weighing in on J.R. Smith's contract impasse with the Cavaliers.
James feels the Cavs owe the shooting guard, who helped them win an NBA title last season.
"Negotiations are always two-sides, but J.R. did his part," James said Friday following practice. "He showed up every day. ... Became a two-way player, a model citizen in Cleveland and he's a fan favorite, obviously we all know that. All of the sudden now he's a season ticket holder at the Indians games.
"We just miss him. We miss having him around. He's a big piece of our team and they just need to get it done," he said.
Smith remains unsigned as his agents and the Cavs have been unable to finalize a contract. When the team opened training camp earlier this week, general manager David Griffin said the Cavs have made Smith an "incredibly competitive and aggressive offer."
The sides, however, remain apart on the length of a deal for Smith, who came to Cleveland in a trade with the New York Knicks midway through the 2014-15 season. He arrived with a reputation for being difficult, but Smith has fit in smoothly with the Cavs and was a key contributor in June when Cleveland overcame a 3-1 deficit in the finals to beat the Golden State Warriors.
Smith made $5 million last season and could be seeking a deal for more than double that. With salaries around the league escalating at never-seen-before rates, Smith wants to cash in and he's using his value to the Cavs as leverage.
While negotiations go on, Smith attended to Indians games last week.
James has been friends with Smith for years and their relationship has grown tighter in Cleveland. They share the same agent, Rich Paul, who also represents forward Tristan Thompson. The Cavs were in a similar situation last year with Thompson, who missed training camp before getting a five-year, $82 million contract extension.
James has been through this before and he's not happy about it.
"I hate coming into another season — two years in a row — with one of my big guns not here," James said. "So, for a leader of a team and for me personally, I just hate to deal with this (crap) again. It's just too big of a piece to our team to have to deal with in another training camp. Hopefully things get resolved fast, because you know how big and important he is to our team."
Beyond Smith's shooting — he's one of the league's best 3-point shooters — he's one of the team's top defensive players and his size and athleticism allow Cavs coach Tyronn Lue to match him up on guards and forwards.
James, who has been through the free-agent process several times, remains hopeful Smith will sign soon, but he's bracing himself for any outcome.
"It's like you're buying a house," he said. "You can go find a house, you do all the negotiations and all that, but you never got the house until it's closed and you got the keys. Last minute someone can step in. Escrow could fall through or something. Then it ain't your house no more. So, J.R. is a free agent. He's not ours. He's still my brother right now. And I feel like when I play 2K17 he's still on the Cavs, so he's on my roster there, but it wouldn't be good if he was not here. It wouldn't be good for any side."
