Report: Push from 76ers led to Smith's new agreement with Cavs

Cleveland Cavaliers fans happy to have J.R. Smith back in the fold may have a rival executive to thank.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, it was a "hard push" from Philadelphia 76ers general manager Bryan Colangelo that sparked the talks with the Cavs that led to Smith agreeing to a new four-year contract to remain in Ohio.

Smith - who trails only Kyle Korver and Ray Allen in made 3-pointers since he entered the NBA in 2004 - has spent the last year-and-a-half with the Cavaliers, helping the team to a 2016 championship.

The 2013 Sixth Man of the Year agreed to a new deal with the Cavs on Friday worth a reported $57 million.

The Sixers have accumulated 199 losses over the last three seasons and enter 2016-17 once again with one of the NBA's youngest teams. Under Colangelo, the franchise has begun to shift from its full-blown rebuild into more of a win-now mode, though Smith isn't usually the type of personality referenced when young teams seek veteran leadership.