According to Chris Broussard and CBS Cleveland’s Daryl Ruiter, J.R. Smith is expected to opt out of his $6.4 million player option for the 2015-16 season. Smith is on the final year of his contract and would become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
JR Smith told me he’ll probably opt out of the final year, $6.4 million of his contract
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) June 17, 2015
JR Smith asked will he be back next year with #Cavs “Absolutely”
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) June 17, 2015
This is probably not the wisest move from J.R. since he was only 2 wins away from winning an NBA Championship and if he leaves Cleveland that may be the closest he`ll get to winning one. Smith sank three late three-pointers in the Cavs’ 105-97 loss on Tuesday to the Golden State Warriors to score 19 points in the sixth and last game of the 2015 NBA Finals. But this is J.R. we are talking about, the same guy who rides a “Phunkee Duck” segway into the NBA Finals twice.
This is how @TheRealJRSmith arrives to Game 4. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/gC16hOCMyk
— Leigh Ellis (@LeighEllis) June 11, 2015
Based on the playoffs alone, it seems evident Tristan Thompson will be receiving an extension, but with J.R. Smith’s up and down play during the Finals it’s clear that even he himself knows his services may no longer be needed in Cleveland. Earlier in the year, pundits were mocking the Cavs for trading for J.R. Smith and his awful contract, well now I think that some of that criticism was justified. The player option in Smith’s contract would net him approximately $6.4 million in salary in 2015-16, per Spotrac.
Until the Love situation is clearer, it would make some sense for Smith to explore his options. Although the chance to be a bigger contributor and net a greater payday elsewhere looms, on the other hand Smith could stay on for just one more year in Cleveland with a legitimate chance at an NBA title. In 70 games this season, Smith averaged 12.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.
