Cavaliers Trade Rumors: Cleveland Shopping JR Smith to Save Cap Space
June 21, 2019
With the 2019 NBA draft underway, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Cleveland Cavaliers were pursuing trades involving their No. 5 overall pick and a separate deal to unload JR Smith's contract—though, the Cavaliers ended up selecting point guard Darius Garland out of Vanderbilt fifth overall.
Smith requested a trade from Cleveland at the beginning of the 2018-19 season and has not played since Nov. 19, 2018.
The desire to move Smith likely won't change:
Several rumors have been circulating about where Smith could land. On Wednesday, Basketball Insiders Steve Kyler suggested the Miami Heat could deal their No. 13 pick for Smith and Cleveland's No. 26.
Kyler also reported earlier Thursday the Atlanta Hawks have engaged in discussions with Cleveland about trading Kent Bazemore for Smith.
Smith has been in Cleveland since the Knicks traded him in 2015. Since, the 33-year-old has averaged 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 255 games (222 starts) as a Cavalier.
The upcoming season will be the last on his four-year, $57 million contract, and he's set to make $15.7 million.
