Free-agent Swingman JR Smith is currently showing on her Twitter page and New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers as the teams he is considering.
But the Knicks and Clippers seem to be the front runners to sign him, according to the source familiar with negotiations.
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Wednesday that he has spoken with Smith recently and the conversation went "very, very good."
The Knicks are still the presumed favorites to sign Smith, because they can offer him a pro-rated portion of their $ 2.5 million mini-midlevel manager exception and a player option for another year. The New York Daily News reported Thursday that the two sides closer to an agreement. Smith's agent, Leon Rose, met with Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan after Wednesday's Knicks game, the newspaper reported.
The Clippers, meanwhile, can offer Smith only has the veteran minimum for the rest of this season.
While Smith would probably do far more than $ 2.5 million, an unrestricted free agent this summer, security in the player option for next season will be an important factor in his decision, according to a source.
Smith had to fly back to U.S. from China late Wednesday evening. He had expected to make a decision on Tuesday, according to two league sources, but has yet to choose.
Each day that passes is lost money to Smith. New York's $ 2.5 million mid-level exception will be pro-rated for each game missed after 10 February. All other contracts are pro-rated from the beginning of the season, which means that the gap between what the Knicks can offer, and a pro-rated veteran minimum will actually narrow as time passes.
Of course, each day that passes another day new suitors may arise or a team like Indiana - which currently has the most salary cap space in the league - could skip the line and offer more than the Knicks.
Clippers point guard Chris Paul has been actively recruiting Smith, who he played with the Hornets for two seasons.
"I think our chances are very high," Paul told ESPN.com 's Marc Stein earlier this week. "Who knows J.R. better than me?
"Also, he knows he will have the opportunity to play here," said Paul. "He can only make us better."
Paul believes that the presence of three of Smith's former teammates at the conn Clippers roster and the minutes and shots opened the season ending Achilles injury of Chauncey Billups will be strong lures.
Paul - having regard to Kenyon Martin and Billups, who both played with Smith in Denver - told Stein he attributes his optimism to "my relationship with JR, Kenyon relationship with him and Chauncey relationship with him."
The Clippers were interested in Smith even before Billups' injury last week, believing that they could use more offensive firepower off the bench. But it would be a harder sell with the Knicks so desperate for shooters to play along with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and the rapidly growing Jeremy Lin.
Without Billups, but LA is suddenly offering a greater role, which could offset the Knicks financial edge. The choice will be able to get down to where Smith believes he has the best chance to prove to the rest of the season after signing in China during the lockout.
The challenge for the Clippers is that Smith also is being recruited hard by Anthony, another former Nuggets teammate, who, like Smith and Paul, represented by Rose. Smith has been a legend about his intentions, often respond to fans of the Knicks, Lakers and Clippers heat via his Twitter feed in the days leading up to the end of his Chinese season on Wednesday.
On Tuesday he tweeted that he had a good conversation with Lakers coach Mike Brown.
But the Knicks and Clippers seem to be the front runners to sign him, according to the source familiar with negotiations.
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Wednesday that he has spoken with Smith recently and the conversation went "very, very good."
The Knicks are still the presumed favorites to sign Smith, because they can offer him a pro-rated portion of their $ 2.5 million mini-midlevel manager exception and a player option for another year. The New York Daily News reported Thursday that the two sides closer to an agreement. Smith's agent, Leon Rose, met with Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan after Wednesday's Knicks game, the newspaper reported.
The Clippers, meanwhile, can offer Smith only has the veteran minimum for the rest of this season.
While Smith would probably do far more than $ 2.5 million, an unrestricted free agent this summer, security in the player option for next season will be an important factor in his decision, according to a source.
Smith had to fly back to U.S. from China late Wednesday evening. He had expected to make a decision on Tuesday, according to two league sources, but has yet to choose.
Each day that passes is lost money to Smith. New York's $ 2.5 million mid-level exception will be pro-rated for each game missed after 10 February. All other contracts are pro-rated from the beginning of the season, which means that the gap between what the Knicks can offer, and a pro-rated veteran minimum will actually narrow as time passes.
Of course, each day that passes another day new suitors may arise or a team like Indiana - which currently has the most salary cap space in the league - could skip the line and offer more than the Knicks.
Clippers point guard Chris Paul has been actively recruiting Smith, who he played with the Hornets for two seasons.
"I think our chances are very high," Paul told ESPN.com 's Marc Stein earlier this week. "Who knows J.R. better than me?
"Also, he knows he will have the opportunity to play here," said Paul. "He can only make us better."
Paul believes that the presence of three of Smith's former teammates at the conn Clippers roster and the minutes and shots opened the season ending Achilles injury of Chauncey Billups will be strong lures.
Paul - having regard to Kenyon Martin and Billups, who both played with Smith in Denver - told Stein he attributes his optimism to "my relationship with JR, Kenyon relationship with him and Chauncey relationship with him."
The Clippers were interested in Smith even before Billups' injury last week, believing that they could use more offensive firepower off the bench. But it would be a harder sell with the Knicks so desperate for shooters to play along with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and the rapidly growing Jeremy Lin.
Without Billups, but LA is suddenly offering a greater role, which could offset the Knicks financial edge. The choice will be able to get down to where Smith believes he has the best chance to prove to the rest of the season after signing in China during the lockout.
The challenge for the Clippers is that Smith also is being recruited hard by Anthony, another former Nuggets teammate, who, like Smith and Paul, represented by Rose. Smith has been a legend about his intentions, often respond to fans of the Knicks, Lakers and Clippers heat via his Twitter feed in the days leading up to the end of his Chinese season on Wednesday.
On Tuesday he tweeted that he had a good conversation with Lakers coach Mike Brown.
