After weeks of speculation, the Los Angeles Lakers decided to officially sign veteran guard JR Smith following the announcement from Avery Bradley that he wouldn't be joining the team in Orlando later this month.
The decision to bring in Smith made perfect sense, with the team needing some help in the backcourt after the departure of Bradley. The question now is whether he'll have a roster spot next season if he plays well in the NBA bubble, and he addressed the uncertainty of his future with the Lakers after this season on a Zoom call with L.A. media on Monday.
“For me, I just take it a day at a time,” Smith said of his future with the Lakers. “Literally, a breath at a time because I've been out for a while and being around and being in an environment is so refreshing and much needed, so I try not to focus on that part. I try to take it day by day and enjoy the moment as much as I can because, at the end of the day, I was just gone for a while.
“For being somebody who has been around the league for predominantly most of their adult life, when that's taken away from you, it kind of gives you that culture shock, which you obviously don't know what you've lost until it's gone. So for me, more than anything, I just want to appreciate the moment for what it is, and whether it be next year or never again, I just want to enjoy every possible moment I get.”
With Smith yet to play a minute for the Lakers, it's impossible to see what the future holds for the veteran guard in purple and gold or anywhere else for that matter. The team clearly hasn't worked out anything for next season, nor should they considering the fact Smith hasn't played a game since the 2018-19 NBA season.
Smith's play in the bubble will almost certainly determine his future beyond this season. If he puts on a show and helps the Lakers win a title, he could be in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future.
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