Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith has made it known he wants out of Cleveland, but is he worth trading for?

Stadium NBA Insider Shams Charania said he expects for teams to pursue a trade for Smith, who is no longer participating in team activities for the Cavaliers. He will remain away from the team until a trade happens or Cleveland cuts him. Smith told The Athletic that he felt like the team’s goal was always to lose games and develop young players as opposed to competing, which was the message Cleveland’s front office delivered at the beginning of the season.

There’s no question a motivated Smith is good for any team. Just look at his numbers with Cleveland after the Knicks traded him in 2014-15.

Team	Points	FG %	3-Point %	Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating
Knicks	10.9	40.2	35.6	94	112
Cavaliers	12.4	42.5	39.0	113	97

 

Smith improved across the board once he left New York. He not only became a lights-out 3-point shooter, but a strong defender as well. Smith’s two-way ability allowed the Cavaliers to space the floor and guard the perimeter during their first two NBA Finals runs, which is why he was rewarded with a four-year, $57 million contract in 2016.

Smith’s decline began slowly during the 2016-17 season, but he was still a serviceable player. Cleveland then made the Finals two more times, but Smith became less productive offensively. His defensive marks remained near the league average, although they never reached his 2014-15 levels.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, most teams will likely wait out the Cavaliers until they move on from Smith, but it only takes one to get a trade done. As Charania said, the Cavs have a more desirable asset in Kyle Korver, who could be the best sweetener for taking on Smith’s contract.

As for who’d be interested in the 33-year-old Smith, Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City are all contending teams who are lacking outside shooting that could make a move. The Thunder already face a high luxury tax bill, so the additional contract money isn’t going to change much, while the Rockets need depth behind Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker. As for Denver, the Nuggets are currently in a shooting slump and could use a veteran to help them out.

Ultimately, the question will be whether any of these teams feel the need to make a trade this early in the season.

And if contenders don’t circle the wagons for either player, the Cavaliers are in a tough spot. Korver hasn’t requested a trade or left the team, but he’s the best asset to attach in any deal, while Smith’s value diminishes as he continues to sit.

We know Smith can still be a reliable rotation player, but will any team trade the Cavaliers the assets they want in order to find out?