Just when we thought it was pretty much a done deal that JR Smith would stay with the Knicks — he has been very vocal about wanting to be there — another team has jumped in the mix and has a strong interest in JR and teammate Chris Copeland.
Find out who it is & what they can offer after the jump…
Via Jared Zwerling and Chris Broussard at ESPN:
The Milwaukee Bucks have “strong” interest in the New York Knicks’ J.R. Smith and also want to make an offer to his teammate Chris Copeland, two league sources confirmed to ESPN.com.
The Bucks will be entering free agency with their starting backcourt, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, testing free agency. But they also have leverage because they are under the cap, unlike the Knicks, and they can outbid for the services of Smith and Copeland.
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The most Smith can make in New York is $5.58 million with early Bird rights. He declined his player option of $2.9 million earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent. For Copeland, who is now a restricted free agent because the Knicks extended an qualifying offer to him on Tuesday, the highest amount he could receive is $3.18 million — the Knicks’ mini mid-level exception.
According to one league source, several other suitors will make pitches for Smith and Copeland. Smith has received early interest from the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns, and Copeland’s list includes the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans,Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.
