The Houston Rockets have reportedly kicked the tires on Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith.
Zach Lowe on the Houston #Rockets (3/3) - "I've heard they kicked the tires on J.R. Smith." #Cavs
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 1, 2018
ESPN’s Zach Lowe said this on his podcast yesterday, which is below. The Cleveland Cavaliers isn’t even reportedly up for grabs, but with the right offer, he’d almost unquestionably be available.
Lowe Post podcast: @royceyoung on the Thunder' s offseason, @Herring_NBA in studio on Melo's fit in Houston, the Rockets off-season, much more: https://t.co/cLJajdymJ5
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 31, 2018
Lowe also said he thinks the Rockets will get a wing, and they also are interested in Atlanta Hawks Kent Bazemore.
Zach Lowe on the Houston #Rockets (1/3) - "I do think they'll get a wing. Kent Bazemore was rumored today. I think the package would be Ryan Anderson and their first round pick. He has 2 years at about 21 a pop left and Bazemore has 2 years at like 18 or 19..." #Hawks
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 1, 2018
Let’s get back to Houston’s possible interest in Smith. The Cavs have reportedly told their veteran players after LeBron James departure to expect to come back.
It seems like the only possible way for the Cavs to do a trade with Houston, like the Hawks is to take the Ryan Anderson, plus a first round pick from Houston.
As Lowe stated, Anderson has $21 million for two years left still on his deal. Smith has $14 million guaranteed this upcoming season. However, his contract is very favorable next season, as only $3.8 million is guaranteed if he is not waived by June 29, 2019.
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The Cavs have a lot of incentives on not doing a deal with the Rockets. It hurts them in free agency next season summer where the Cavs will have over possibly $20 million plus cap space for the first time since the summer of 2014.
The only way the Cavs ever do a deal to take on Anderson from the Rockets is to get a first rounder in return.
The Cavs sent their first-round pick to Atlanta in the Kyle Korver deal. The pick is top-10 protected in 2019, however.
If I am the Cavaliers, I would hold off on doing a trade with the Rockets, even if it means you are getting a first round pick from them. The Cavs are aiming for the playoffs in the 2018-2019 season.
The Cavs need Smith’s three-point shooting. He has also played some of the best defense of his career with the Cavs, even though he had a down year last season.
This trade would also save the Rockets a ton of money, while the Cavaliers are trying to do the same for next summer. The Rockets do have a couple of young and intriguing players the Cavs could ask in a trade.
However, the Cavs should look elsewhere for a deal that does not have them adding on extra money.
Contract details courtesy of Sportsrac.