Most figured that Cleveland Cavaliers veteran J.R. Smith wouldn’t be a tradable asset.
Smith, 33, played in a grand total of 11 games this past season and was away from the team for a vast majority of the campaign. The NBA champ is also set to count $15.7 million against the 2019-20 cap.
Despite this, the Miami Heat appear to be interested in the guard.
“A team that has expressed an interest in a salary-designed trade of J.R. Smith: the Miami Heat, sources said. The Heat also have contracts they could look to move in the offseason in a deal such as this, and would have to absorb Smith’s deal,” Shams Charania of The Athletic reported.
As noted, this would seemingly be more of a salary cap move. Less than $4 million of Smith’s 2019-20 salary is guaranteed.
If the Heat could entice Cleveland to take on another guaranteed deal, it would help them become viable players in free agency. Among the possibilities are Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside.
Though, Miami would then have to add to the pot by sending draft pick assets to the Cavaliers.
A former first-round pick of the Hornets back in 2004, Smith is averaging 12.5 points throughout his career.