J.R. Smith won't 'get into blank-measuring contest' with Wade

The addition of Dwyane Wade to the Cleveland Cavaliers creates a conundrum for head coach Tyronn Lue at shooting guard.

Does he elect to insert Wade - who's only come off the bench nine times during the regular season in 915 career outings - into the starting lineup, or does he stick with current starter J.R. Smith, who's been in that role 157 out of a possible 164 times?

Smith says he's all for a little competition, and will bite the bullet if he's asked to come off the bench.

"I'll come off the bench. I'm not going to sit here and get into a blank-measuring contest with Dwyane Wade. I'm not going to win that," Smith said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I'm not going to do that. I'm going to continue to work hard for our team and however they choose to do it, that's who it's going to be."

Smith is under the impression that such a change won't occur, though. "As far as I know, I'm still in the starting lineup," he said, according to Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon.

"If anything it (adding Wade) makes us stronger, whether if I come off the bench or if he comes off the bench, however it works."

The 32-year-old vet promises a positional battle with Wade won't provide a distraction for his team, at least on Smith's end. He understands there's more at stake than who is on the floor at tipoff.

"I don't really focus on it," he said. "This is my 14th year, and I've had a lot of BS in my past, and I don't plan to bring that onto the Cavs."

Smith is a much stronger outside shooter, having connected on 35.1 percent of his attempts from deep last season, and 37.4 percent for his career. Next to a point guard like Derrick Rose who struggles to stretch the floor, his presence could be invaluable.

Wade, on the other hand, is a career 28.7 percent 3-point shooter. The Chicago Bulls were also better last season, both offensively and defensively, when he was off the court.