Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith plans to opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent, reports Cleveland.com’s Chris Haynes:
Cleveland Cavaliers sharpshooter J.R. Smith will allow his player option deadline of June 16 to pass in order to become a unrestricted free agent this summer, league sources informed cleveland.com.
Sources with knowledge of the situation spoke on the condition of anonymity due to sensitive nature of the timing. The Cavaliers are down 3-2 to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Despite opting out, Smith wants to stay in Cleveland.
“This is where I want to be,” Smith told cleveland.com. The fans love me; I love them and my teammates.
Smith re-upped with the Cavs last summer for two years, $10.3 million. He would have been due $5.4 million next season, but instead will look to sign a larger deal with the Cavs, given the NBA’s rising cap.
Smith, 30, averaged 12.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 2015-16, while shooting 41.5% from the field, and a scorching 40% from beyond the arc.
In the playoffs so far, Smith’s shooting numbers have upped to 43.9% from the field and an impressive 44.4% from downtown.
The Cavs are down 3-2 in the series to the Golden State Warriors after taking game five with Draymond Green suspended. The Cavs will play game six in Cleveland Thursday at 9 PM ET.
