After failing to find a suitable trade partner for veteran shooting guard J.R. Smith, the Cleveland Cavaliers officially waived the mercurial wing on Monday. The team is expected to stretch his $4.3 million salary over the next three seasons, paying $1.7 million in each of those seasons, to stay below the luxury tax line.
Though effectively exiled from the team last season after a lack of professionalism and a me-first attitude led to him fuming on the bench when players he felt he was better than earned the nod for minutes over him, Smith will he remembered fondly for his role in the team’s 2016 championship.