NBA free agent guard J.R. Smith is near a deal to play the coming season for Shanxi of the Chinese Basketball Association for a Chinese league-record $3 million, Yahoo Sports reported Thursday.
Citing unnamed sources, the website reported that seven-year NBA standout Smith, who turns 26 on Friday, would lose his chance at unrestricted free agency ahead of the NBA season if he makes the deal to play in China.
Smith, who played for the Denver Nuggets the past five seasons, has averaged 12.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game over his NBA career.
The news comes as NBA players and club owners meet to try and reach a deal to end a lockout by owners that has shut down the league for the first time since 1999 and threatens to wipe out all or part of the season set to open November 1.
The Nuggets have already lost forward Wilson Chandler to China's Zhejiang Guangsha and Smith, like Chandler, would not be able to sign with NBA clubs until they return from China.
Chinese clubs no longer sign NBA players who want opt out clauses to return to North America before the Chinese season ends in March.
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