Cavaliers’ Smith not planning on invite

Akron Beacon Journal (TNS)

CLEVELAND

J.R. Smith is healthy again and on the move. Whether or not he’ll get that long-awaited invitation to New Orleans remains to be seen, but he isn’t optimistic about it.

Smith made three 3-pointers in Friday’s win over the Detroit Pistons to move into 15th place on the all-time list. If he stays healthy, he should climb into the top 10 all-time, yet he still has never been invited to a 3-point shooting contest during All-Star weekend.

“It’s going to be what it’s going to be,” Smith said.

Among the shooters ranked ahead of him, only Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Jamal Crawford and Kobe Bryant never competed in a 3-point contest. Smith made a career-high 204 3-pointers last season, and despite his best efforts to rehab his image, Smith said last year he doesn’t believe the NBA wants him anywhere near All-Star weekend because of his reputation.