{"id":23692,"date":"2019-07-16T09:11:17","date_gmt":"2019-07-16T13:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=23692"},"modified":"2019-07-16T09:11:17","modified_gmt":"2019-07-16T13:11:17","slug":"jr-smith-waived-cavaliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2019\/07\/16\/jr-smith-waived-cavaliers\/","title":{"rendered":"J.R. Smith Waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Former NBA champion <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithjr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">J.R. Smith<\/a> <\/strong>has been waived by the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/cleveland-cavaliers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> on Monday night sources tell ESPN. Smith was waived before his salary of $15.6 million becomes guaranteed at 5 pm EST. The Cavaliers were looking to trade Smith but will have to instead pay him $4.4 million-plus of his contract according to Shams Charania.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived JR Smith, making him a free agent. Cavs had been attempting to move Smith all the way up until the 5 p.m. ET waiver deadline today.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/1150872811679952901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 15, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>J.R. Smith averaged 10 points per game, 2.3 three-point makes per game, on 40 percent shooting with the Cavs. He was an integral piece of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team which came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA title. He now hits the open market wherein multiple teams will look for his services.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Philadelphia 76ers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/philadelphia-76ers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> are a top-heavy team and easily have one of the tallest lineups in the league. However, they are in need of three-point shooting and scoring off the bench with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/butleji01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jimmy Butler<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/redicjj01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">J.J. Redick<\/a><\/strong> leaving. Smith offers the team a perimeter option and a three-point threat off the bench. His shot-creating may be essential to the Sixers as well once the Playoffs kick in.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Houston Rockets<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You can never have enough ballhandlers on a team. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/2019\/07\/11\/russell-westbrook-chris-paul-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rockets trading<\/a> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paulch01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Paul<\/a><\/strong> for <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/westbru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Russell Westbrook<\/a><\/strong> is an upgrade talent-wise but they will need to space the floor. Smith gives them the option to have an extra spot-up shooter alongside <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tuckepj01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">P.J. Tucker<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/greenge01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gerald Green<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/houseda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Danuel House<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Their chemistry might become an issue, but if Smith is willing to take on a bench role in Houston, he may carve out valuable minutes for a contender in the West.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Brooklyn Nets<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>J.R. Smith will get to return to New York\u2014but this time for the other team. He gets to reunite with former teammate, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a><\/strong> and will be able to play key minutes this season with\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Durant<\/a><\/strong> out. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/brooklyn-nets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brooklyn Nets<\/a> currently have<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/templga01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Garrett Temple<\/a><\/strong> as their backup shooting guard, but that is mainly for salary cap purposes only.<\/p>\n<p>Smith can be a great veteran off the bench, providing shooting and mentoring for the likes of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kurucro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rodions Kurucs<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/allenja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jarrett Allen<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dinwisp01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spencer Dinwiddie<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Honorable Mention: Los Angeles Lakers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn\/status\/1150877135550238722\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adrian Wojnarowski<\/a> has stated that the Lakers won&#8217;t pursue Smith with their last roster spot. It was expected that the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/los-angeles-lakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>&#8216; front office would pursue <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a><\/strong>&#8216; former teammate but that won&#8217;t be the case. The Lakers have one remaining roster spot to sign a free agent.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<br \/>\n<a id=\"9kwzSkqFR8ZIrfoVgNzI3A\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/970038842\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'9kwzSkqFR8ZIrfoVgNzI3A',sig:'SP5WcRoAfh5nxBOPST9dOSMHtLnC0ZZqos0Lnzx9DEo=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'970038842',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former NBA champion J.R. Smith has been waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night sources tell ESPN. Smith was waived before his salary of $15.6 million becomes guaranteed at 5 pm EST. The Cavaliers were looking to trade Smith but will have to instead pay him $4.4 million-plus of his contract according to Shams [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3144,"featured_media":23705,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,6,9,31,3,13],"tags":[1970,65,231,39,333,38,152,96,297,202],"class_list":["post-23692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-nets","category-cavaliers","category-rockets","category-news","category-76ers","tag-2019-nba-free-agency","tag-basketball","tag-brooklyn-nets","tag-cleveland-cavaliers","tag-houston-rockets","tag-lebron-james","tag-los-angeles-lakers","tag-nba","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-nba-news"],"modified_by":"Tyler Marling","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23692"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23692\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}