The Boston Celtics is reportedly keen about signing free agent JR Smith as the NBA champion shooting guard's contract negotiation with the Cleveland Cavaliers is still at a standstill at the moment.

Smith, who turned 31 last month, had been a regular starter for the Cavaliers in the past two seasons. He was also a key player in last June's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors when the team won its first-ever NBA title.

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However, the 12-year veteran opted out of the final year of his two-year, $10.3 million deal with the Cavs during summer to become an unrestricted free agent and, presumably, to make himself available for a huge salary increase.

Earlier, offseason reports alleged that he was asking $15 million a year from the Cavs, which would be a big jump from the $5 million a year wage he earned last season. Despite this rumored demand, the club is reportedly willing to only give him a four-year, $42 million contract.

With the two sides still $4 million apart in their talks, Smith remains to be a free agent while the league is already deep into preseason competitions.

It is already less than a month before the regular season begins, yet no official offers from other teams for the former St. Benedict's Prep standout have ever been reported, except fro the one from Celtics.

ESPN reported that Boston is "among a group of teams interested in Smith as they hope to bolster their bench before the season."

In case the Celtics successfully acquires Smith, it is expected that he would be demoted to a bench role behind Boston's starting shooting guard Avery Bradley. It is also more likely that the Celtics will not pay $15 million a year for a backup guard as the team only has $9 million of cap space right now.

NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk indicated that the Celtics will not be able to sign Smith as Boston can only offer a veteran's minimum deal at the moment.

Furthermore, the Celtics will have to absorb two fully-guaranteed contracts just to accommodate Smith. Therefore, the rumors could be a long shot to actually push through.

TagsNBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2016, JR Smith, cleveland cavaliers, Boston Celtics