Is J.R. Smith Playing Himself out of Cleveland?
When the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert the assumption was that Smith was the price the team paid to get Shumpert. The Cavs moved Smith into the starting lineup quickly as Shumpert recovered from his shoulder injury. The belief was that Shumpert would start for the Cavs, giving them a defensive presence in between Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. Smith then would take over for Dion Waiters as the team’s 6th man, bench scoring punch.
That switch never happened. By the time that Shumpert returned from his injury, Smith had established himself firmly as the Cavs starting shooting guard. Shumpert, although he doesn’t have the type of high end offense of Smith, has taken on the 6th man role well but nothing compares to what the Cavs have gotten from Smith.
In 28 games with the Cavs, Smith has averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He has done so while shooting 42% from the field and 36% from 3 point range, on only 11 shots a game. He has fit well though as 7 of his 11 shots are from deep.
He has been engaged on defense, not just with his 1.8 steals, double what he averaged last year with the New York Knicks. He has been aggressive in man to man, has been strong in his rotations and has stuck his nose in the post when needed as well.
Most expected that Smith would struggled alongside LeBron, Irving and Kevin Love. His history as a gunslinger with no conscious, a ball hog if you will, created concerns that he would keep the team from finding offensive continuity. Instead Smith is sharing the ball, looking to make plays for others and taking catch and shoot 3 pointers instead of dancing with the ball.
All and all, J.R. Smith has been the perfect teammate and compliment for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is because of that we have concerns that he has played his way out of Cleveland. You may wonder, Why One of the reasons that the Knicks traded Smith was their belief that he would pick up his player option next year.
Next year, Smith has a player option for just under $6.5 million. For the Knicks, trying to open up cap space that was a big number. For Smith, a player’s whose reputation had tanked over the last couple seasons, that option seemed almost guaranteed to be picked up. He was unlikely to receive anything more in free agency.
Now, however, Smith has proven that he can be a key component of a team that is competing for an NBA Championship. He isn’t a #2 type player but some team may see him as a good to great #3. There a plenty of teams that will have cap space and could come calling Smith’s way. Could he be attracted to moving up a peg, from the Cavs 4th or 5th option to a contenders #3? Could the money be too good for him to pass up?
If Smith opts out of his contract, the Cavs will still have his Bird Rights. They can go over the salary cap to sign him but they will have a few other issues to contend with. Love and James can opt out of their deals while Shumpert and Tristan Thompson will both be restricted free agents. If Smith opts out, the Cavs could have 4 of their top 7 who need new contracts. Not an enviable place for the team to be in with the NBA’s salary cap. Thankfully the cap is going up but even still the Cavs will be in the Luxury Tax. They will have to decide how much a 4th/5th option is worth when including tax costs.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
Maybe Smith will opt in and not want to leave a good thing. Maybe he will take a discount to stay with a winning team, a place where he is embraced and loved. Maybe the Cavs will pay whatever it takes to keep the core of the team together.
Or maybe Smith looks to go where the grass is greener and the Cavs move Shumpert into the starting lineup, as we expected when the trade was made, and replace Smith with a cheaper guard. Maybe Joe Harris steps up as the bench shooter in his second year.
A great problem to have. J.R. Smith has played so well that he may have played himself right out of Cleveland. An unexpected outcome to the Cavs trade with the Knicks.
Do you think J.R. Smith is a Cavalier next year?