JR Smith

[AllforOne]

One other point: if the Cavs do let JR go, instead of trading him, then they're going to cause some bad blood between the team and the players.

The Cavs could have just cut JR during the season. They could have paid him the rest of his salary (or negotiated a buyout), and then JR would have been free to resume his career with another team. (I'm not 100% sure he would have found one, but at least he would have had the chance.) That would have been the right thing to do by JR, and it would have allowed the team to move on as well.

Instead, they've kept JR in limbo for six-plus months. They wouldn't let him around the team, but they refused to cut him, with the justification that his contract would be a valuable trade chip. Which is fine -- they shouldn't have tossed away that asset for nothing.

But keeping him hanging on for over six months, only to end up cutting him anyways ... that would be shitty. They could have cut him in November, and he would have had a chance to latch on elsewhere.

While it would be shitty, the Cavs would be well within their rights. So I'm not sure they'd face any discipline. (I could see a grievance from the players' union; probably not one that JR would win, but it would still be a nuisance to the Cavs.) But players notice when a team does a player wrong. And they could very well think that JR has been done wrong here.

 

[Los216]

One other point: if the Cavs do let JR go, instead of trading him, then they're going to cause some bad blood between the team and the players.

The Cavs could have just cut JR during the season. They could have paid him the rest of his salary (or negotiated a buyout), and then JR would have been free to resume his career with another team. (I'm not 100% sure he would have found one, but at least he would have had the chance.) That would have been the right thing to do by JR, and it would have allowed the team to move on as well.

Instead, they've kept JR in limbo for six-plus months. They wouldn't let him around the team, but they refused to cut him, with the justification that his contract would be a valuable trade chip. Which is fine -- they shouldn't have tossed away that asset for nothing.

But keeping him hanging on for over six months, only to end up cutting him anyways ... that would be shitty. They could have cut him in November, and he would have had a chance to latch on elsewhere.

While it would be shitty, the Cavs would be well within their rights. So I'm not sure they'd face any discipline. (I could see a grievance from the players' union; probably not one that JR would win, but it would still be a nuisance to the Cavs.) But players notice when a team does a player wrong. And they could very well think that JR has been done wrong here.

Some of what happened has to fall on JR Smith to. He wasn't a model citizen after LeBron left.

 

[inliner311]

The clippers might be the appropriate place to send JR. If they can get a commitment from 2 stars. They could trade Gallo to us for JR and Henson. That also allows them to bring back Patrick Beverley since he has a small cap hold. The Cavs would only be 4 million above the luxury tax to start the season. Gallo is an expiring and should have value at the deadline.

Not sure what the compensation on that would be. I would like the Miami 2021 1st round pick and one of the Detroit 2nd rounders.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I think you could possibly get a single heavily protected 1st for Wiggins but (2) lightly protected 1sts would absolutely floor me.

Wiggins is overpaid but he's young and can soak up minutes. He's only under contract through 27 years old.....so assuming he is healthy, he's still a competent but overpaid player. You usually do not get a ton back for guys like that, even if they are overpaid. If he were 29, sure but not for someone who is 23, who isn't a total disaster off the court.

I agree two lightly protected firsts is more than they would ever give, but one heavily protected is far too little to take him.

I think you may be rating Wiggins and his potential too highly. He's flat-out bad, and the only thing even marginally concealing that is his raw scoring average. But he's a below average shooter, rebounder, passer and defender for his position. The scariest part is that he really hasn't improved at anything. So his contract is truly horrific.

The problem is that they can't afford to give up future lightly protect firsts. In essence, they've screwed their rebuild so badly that if Wiggins was playing for someone else, they are the exact type of team that should take high draft picks in exchange for eating Wiggins contract.

I think the only way they will get rid of him at an acceptable cost is if they take back someome else's shitty contracts. So basically, trading with someone like Houston for Paul's contract.

Not sure it's going to happen, though. They may just be stuck with Wiggins and that contract for the next few years.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

One other point: if the Cavs do let JR go, instead of trading him, then they're going to cause some bad blood between the team and the players.

Which players left on the team have any kind of real attachment to JR? Seems like he was a cancer last year in the locker room, and nobody seemed unhappy when he spent the rest of the season at home. And there will be even more roster turnover this summer.

I think it is some fans who are more likely to be upset than are any players who really matter.

 

[NMCav]

People comparing JR Smith to Hawks just absorbing the contract don't realize the difference. If Nets had given 17 and Crabbe to us for JR Smith they still would have had to pay 3.8 against the cap for JR Smith. Instead they added a future to secure a young player who will likely be their long term SF in Tauren Prince.

Trading JR Smith Will help clear some cap space but if they can just dump into someones cap space they will likely go that route. At this point resetting the luxury tax could be better then adding another young player. We still have a handful of expiring contracts to flip by the deadline and secure a pick or two. But resetting the tax can create future flexibility.

 

[I'mWithDan]

I agree two lightly protected firsts is more than they would ever give, but one heavily protected is far too little to take him.

I think you may be rating Wiggins and his potential too highly. He's flat-out bad, and the only thing even marginally concealing that is his raw scoring average. But he's a below average shooter, rebounder, passer and defender for his position. The scariest part is that he really hasn't improved at anything. So his contract is truly horrific.

The problem is that they can't afford to give up future lightly protect firsts. In essence, they've screwed their rebuild so badly that if Wiggins was playing for someone else, they are the exact type of team that should take high draft picks in exchange for eating Wiggins contract.

I think the only way they will get rid of him at an acceptable cost is if they take back someome else's shitty contracts. So basically, trading with someone like Houston for Paul's contract.

Not sure it's going to happen, though. They may just be stuck with Wiggins and that contract for the next few years.

To be clear I hate Wiggins.

He’s not a good player....I was more commenting that he’s almost too young to get a really meaningful return for taking him. So he’s just in that gray area as an asset.

I’d rather find a 3rd team who wants him and take picks from both.

 

[sailfish]

The Cavaliers could save Minnesota $20 million with this trade and help get them into position to bid for KAT’s buddy, D’Angelo Russell:

To CAVS: Andrew Wiggins, Jeff Teague, Gorgui Dieng, & 2 1st round picks

To WOLVES: Kevin Love, JR Smith, & either Dellavedova or Henson

For the Cavaliers it means taking on an additional $8 million in salary.

 

[cliffdawg]

One other point: if the Cavs do let JR go, instead of trading him, then they're going to cause some bad blood between the team and the players.

The Cavs could have just cut JR during the season. They could have paid him the rest of his salary (or negotiated a buyout), and then JR would have been free to resume his career with another team. (I'm not 100% sure he would have found one, but at least he would have had the chance.) That would have been the right thing to do by JR, and it would have allowed the team to move on as well.

Instead, they've kept JR in limbo for six-plus months. They wouldn't let him around the team, but they refused to cut him, with the justification that his contract would be a valuable trade chip. Which is fine -- they shouldn't have tossed away that asset for nothing.

But keeping him hanging on for over six months, only to end up cutting him anyways ... that would be shitty. They could have cut him in November, and he would have had a chance to latch on elsewhere.

While it would be shitty, the Cavs would be well within their rights. So I'm not sure they'd face any discipline. (I could see a grievance from the players' union; probably not one that JR would win, but it would still be a nuisance to the Cavs.) But players notice when a team does a player wrong. And they could very well think that JR has been done wrong here.

Are you serious, we gave him a fat contract that he never deserved from the beginning, nobody in the league was paying him nothing close to that ( Lebron Affect)....Then he pouted about the Organization/players on this team last year, Hell I think we did him a favor by telling him to go home, he was 18mill dollar happy to do that, at this point in his career he’s at best a end of the bench sniper if that,and that will get him a veteran minimum contract.......

 

[Los216]

Sounds like we're gonna end up waving him lol

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/1143553364120285186

 

[LeeBuckeye]

The Cavaliers could save Minnesota $20 million with this trade and help get them into position to bid for KAT’s buddy, D’Angelo Russell:

To CAVS: Andrew Wiggins, Jeff Teague, Gorgui Dieng, & 2 1st round picks

To WOLVES: Kevin Love, JR Smith, & either Dellavedova or Henson

For the Cavaliers it means taking on an additional $8 million in salary.

Why are we helping Minnesota here because I don't see the upside for Cleveland. If we hit on some picks and attract a FA, you're trading those late lottery picks + more to get rid of Wiggins alone (Gilbert Cavs tax...Suddenly Griffin is a good GM). Wiggins is an awful basketball player who's getting 33.6m in 2022-2023 and isn't worth it unless he's playing Cleveland 82 times a season.

 

[PITCavsFan]

The Cavaliers could save Minnesota $20 million with this trade and help get them into position to bid for KAT’s buddy, D’Angelo Russell:

To CAVS: Andrew Wiggins, Jeff Teague, Gorgui Dieng, & 2 1st round picks

To WOLVES: Kevin Love, JR Smith, & either Dellavedova or Henson

For the Cavaliers it means taking on an additional $8 million in salary.

I'm sorry, but I have an issue with this for so many reasons.

Kevin Love is worth (IMO) a first rounder.
JR Smith's contract is worth a first rounder.
Taking Dieng's contract is worth a first rounder (perhaps more).
Taking Teague's contract is worth a first rounder... (ok, maybe you could flip him later in the year, so lets call it neutral for your sake).
Taking Wiggins contract is worth about 100 first rounders.

This trade plugs us so far up the ass, I'd start rooting for the Lakers.

 

[Los216]

Maybe the key to unlocking Wiggins potential he shows playing against The Cavs is to have him play for The Cavs

 

[inliner311]

Sounds like we're gonna end up waving him lol

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/1143553364120285186

I just read this and it got me thinking. I assumed we changed out pick to Dylan Windler at #26 because we got the offer to trade for #30. Now I wonder if there was a trade on the table to get someone who was already taken and Keldon Johnson at #26 was never a pick for the Cavs but for another team.

Maybe Koby opted not to use the JR contract because he rather bring in 3 1st round pick instead of 2.

This talk about the luxury tax and how it can be painful might be Koby resetting the market for JRs contract. Koby must be telling teams we aren't going to trade the JR contract to to just to trade it. A good asset has to be involved.

 

[LeeBuckeye]

Sounds like we're gonna end up waving him lol

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/1143553364120285186

Cleveland Cavaliers turned down JR Smith offers on draft night, could end up releasing him before Sunday

While the odds of a trade have reduced, there’s still time. The Cavs have until June 30, to be exact.

www.cleveland.com

“We’re definitely going to investigate what we can do there,” Altman said. “There’s a pain threshold of doing it, going into the tax, which we would have to do in terms of taking back money and the rest of the NBA knowing that we’re in the tax and my job would be getting us out of the tax.

"Is there enough value there to do that, to put ourselves out there like that? I think that’s something we are weighing these last few days. There’s opportunity to do it. It’s just how deep do we want to go into the tax to bring back an asset? Also, what does it take us out of into the year? We’re still looking to add assets throughout the year, so using JR now might take us out of that.”


Seems like Koby wants to keep his options open for deadline deals and didn't want to compromise potentially attractive TT/Clarkson deals provided they were not in the luxury tax. They're also still looking for something of "value" so it's not over yet but not looking likely like you mentioned. I certainly hope they highlight Clarkson early and trade him ASAP.