Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith joined former teammate Carmelo Anthony in NBA purgatory this week — technically still with a team, but not playing again until his next move can be worked out.
The Cavs confirmed yesterday that Smith will no longer have an active role with the organization as they work with his representatives to find a mutually acceptable outcome. However, the 33-year-old and his $14.72MM salary remain on the roster. Smith has asked twice for a trade, but has resisted a buyout that would require him to give back any of this year’s money.
Smith has been an important part of Cleveland’s success over the past four years, but he became obsolete when LeBron James announced that he was leaving for the Lakers. The Cavaliers are transitioning into a youth movement, leaving Smith with a much smaller role.
Management decided fewer minutes would be allotted to Smith and other veterans, although coaches Tyronn Lue and Larry Drew both ignored that edict for a while in pursuit of more wins. Smith wound up averaging 20.2 minutes in 11 games while contributing just 6.7 PPG and shooting .342 from the field.
Smith may have also contributed to his own departure with a pattern of controversial behavior over the years. Two that stood out from last season were a soup-throwing incident that resulted in a one-game suspension and his infamous decision to run out the clock at the end of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, believing the Cavaliers were leading when the score was actually tied.
Although Smith’s salary may scare some teams away from making a deal, he is owed very little money beyond this season. His $15.68MM figure for 2019/20 carries just a $3.87MM guarantee until the end of June, so any team that acquires him wouldn’t be making a long-term commitment.
We want to get your opinion on Smith’s future. He admits that he has a checkered past, but he also hit a lot of clutch shots for the Cavs on their way to four straight Eastern Conference titles and one NBA championship. Do you believe anyone will trade for him or will he have to accept a buyout to get out of Cleveland? Please leave your responses in the space below.
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LBJ is gonna swing a deal for his Beach Boy , Love , he’ll come in and spread the floor for the King while Thug Life shoots 3’s from one corner while Pope pop’s them …
I bet it’s the opposite. That’s why he’s been so non comital in the media. When Lebron wants something he comes out says we need a damn playmaker like last year in Cleveland. I think Lebron not committing to saying something like shows he behind the seems has told Magic I don’t want him on the team.
Behind the seems huh?
China..
Have him team up w Starbury and Jimmer ..
Melo, JR and Joakim are gonna become an expansion team in the 3 on 3 league, called simply “Team Lost” and they wont have a city affiliation , just a really nice tour bus bought solely woth the money they got paid to go home.
Larry Sanders might join them sometimes , but maybe not.
This is my favorite idea.
LOL
A “checkered past”, and a game of checkers in the near future.
They should just trade them for each other with OKC throwing in a 2nd rounder. Smith could help a lot in OKC and the Cavs could give Anthony enough playing time to make him look helpful to a desperate contender at the deadline.
I meant Houston not OKC.
Melo is making $2.4M, while JR is making $14.7M. Both Houston and Cleveland are way over the cap. How the hell did you think this would work?
No contender is going to want Smith after the bonehead play in last year’s Finals, which, like it or not, killed any potential upset.
He has always been a me-first player with a temperamental game head. If he’s lucky somebody will get injured and he will get some chance to play in the NBA again, otherwise he will be waived.