JR Smith’s nightmare with Cleveland Cavaliers is finally ending. Cavs decided to waive Smith on Monday, allowing him to become a free agent and sign with a contender before the new NBA season kicks off.
Cavaliers were actively looking to trade Smith since late November, but failed to find a suitable partner. Those efforts continued this offseason, but as other teams weren’t willing to give up assets for the 33-year-old, Cleveland decided to do both sides a favor and waive the player.
Even before JR Smith got to free agency, it was rumored that he might join the Los Angeles Lakers where he would play with his former teammate LeBron James. This, however, won’t be the case. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Smith wants to sign with a team that will compete for a title but Lakers are “an unlikely destination” for him.
There will be lots of teams willing to take on Smith if he agrees to a minimum deal. He averaged 12.5 points per game during his 16 years in the NBA, but most importantly, he is a 37.3 percent shooter on 3 points. His sharpshooting abilities are extremely valuable in today’s NBA, so expect teams like Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, or even Golden State Warriors to try and get him on the cheap.
