The Cleveland Cavaliers are not going to win many games, and veteran J.R. Smith is reportedly not interested in their “tanking” agenda this season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be shifting toward player development at this point, as they have just a 2-13 record after last night’s loss 113-102 loss to the Detroit Pistons, a game in which they were at one instance down 30 points. With that narrative likely surrounding the Cavs at this point, however you want to spin it, J.R. Smith again expressed his displeasure, per The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd (subscription required).
JR Smith tells The Athletic the Cavs are tanking and reiterates he wants out. With LeBron's return game up next, those left behind are still processing their new reality in their own ways. https://t.co/Cu1qYPljGb
— Jason Lloyd (@ByJasonLloyd) November 20, 2018
Smith has been around the block with the Cavaliers, and we know what he’s done for the team since being traded mid-season to Cleveland from the New York Knicks in January of 2015, as KJG contributor Robbie DiPaola demonstrated recently.
As a member of the Cavaliers, on mostly a contender with LeBron James in which he was a good three-and-D contributor for much of the time when healthy, Smith has averaged 10.3 points on 53.3 percent true shooting, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 29.3 minutes per game.
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Now, Smith is obviously less than pleased with the direction the Cavs are headed this year and likely the near future as a stuck veteran on a losing team that’s focused on getting its young players valuable experience.
Cleveland looks like they’ll be in the running for not only keeping their protected 1-10 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but maybe getting the first overall pick.
George Hill also agreed with Smith’s theory about player development being the key to this season (not winning), and stated that “I think it [the direction of the team that is] recalibrated before Game 1 was even played,” per Lloyd.
Overall, Smith’s had little impact on the game in an awkward situation, as he’s only posting 6.7 points on 34.2 percent shooting and 1.9 assists in 20.2 minutes per game, and has been routinely out-played by reserve David Nwaba.
Part of the reason could be that Smith is generally out of position playing the 3 (where he’s been playing 46 percent of the time this year, per Basketball Reference), but the Cavs have to exhaust all options in regards to trading Smith, and doing soon is a best-case scenario.
Earlier this month, Smith said he wanted to be traded to the media in a candid manner, per Sporting News’ Jordan Heck, and though it wasn’t the most PR-friendly way of airing how he truly felt, Smith was just being honest (as Smith always is).
I respect that about him, and the Cavs have to address this situation soon. Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Smith is not willing to accept a buyout, as Lloyd noted in his piece.
That being said, moving Smith’s over $14.7 million 2018-19 contract (though he is only guaranteed to make $3.87 million for 2019-20, per Spotrac) is not the simplest ordeal for Cleveland general manager Koby Altman.
He can still help projected postseason teams from a perimeter shooting and off-ball defensive perspective, though, as he often has played better when playing in a contending situation.