According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers have traded Dion Waiters to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team deal that also sends J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland from the New York Knicks.
The framework of the deal is reportedly as follows:
Cavaliers get: J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and future first-round pick (via Oklahoma City).
Knicks Get: Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson, Lance Thomas and a future second-round pick (via Cleveland).
Thunder Get: Dion Waiters
Courtesy of USA Today: The team who ended up with J.R. Smith cannot be classified as a winner.
In looking at this deal, it’s clear that two teams might very well have come out on top, while the third failed in an effort to overcome a sluggish start. Let’s check in on the winners and losers from this relatively big deal.
Winner: New York Knicks
The Knicks are going nowhere fast, so it would make sense for them to look to trade some high-priced veterans for future salary cap flexibility. But Phil Jackson and company were able to shed themselves of the $6.4 million Smith was set to make next season. The one-dimensional veteran has been horrendous this season, averaging just over 10 points and 3.4 assists per game. He was shooting 40 percent from the field prior to the deal. With no real future in New York, moving Smith for what amounts to scraps was a win for the Knicks.
However, New York did part ways with a solid contributor in Shumpert, who is highly regarded around the Association. That’s the price you pay for finding a way to get rid of Smith.
In terms of what’s coming to New York in the deal, it’s nothing more than salary fillers. The Knicks have an option to waive all three without taking a future hit against the salary cap. In addition to waiving Samuel Dalembert, New York will save $20 million in salary from this trade. That’s the win right there.
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
In reality, the Thunder only yielded a protected first-round pick in order to acquire a talented player in Waiters, who needed a change of scenery. After initial reports indicated the team had parted ways with Reggie Jackson in this deal, the final framework looks so much better for Oklahoma City.
Waiters is averaging just 10.5 points and 2.2 assists per game in what has been a down season for the former Syracuse standout. He has struggled big time meshing with LeBron James, which is one of the reasons that the third-year pro is on his way out of Cleveland.
With Waiters, the Thunder now have a dynamic back-court combination. While some will question how the former top-five pick will mesh with Russell Westbrook, it now becomes one of the most-talented one-two tandems in the entire Association. Again, yielding only Lance Thomas and a future first is a win for the NBA Championship contender.
Loser: Cleveland Cavaliers
Unfortunately for Cavaliers fans, Smith doesn’t seem to fit the mold that James is attempting to build in Cleveland. He’s a one-dimensional, shoot-first player that is actually shooting 40 percent from the field this season. And while Shumpert is a nice addition, I just don’t see where Smith fits into the equation.
Cleveland’s brass did consult James before making the deal, but this seems to more the case of the Cavaliers making a move just to make a move. Smith provides absolutely no value outside of scoring. And even then, he’s a volume scorer more than anything else.
Shumpert is a solid wing defender, something that the Cavaliers desperately needed. And in reality, he could very well the key to the deal for Cleveland. It just seems that the Cavs could have received more for Waiters.
Photo: USA Today