From a shirtless title celebration to throwing soup at an assistant coach, J.R. Smith's wild run with the Cavaliers ended Tuesday, with the team issuing a statement he was stepping away while it seeks a trade partner for the 33-year-old guard.
"J.R. Smith will no longer be with the team as the organization works with J.R. and his representation regarding his future," the statement said. "The organization wishes J.R. and his family well and appreciates and thanks him for his contributions in the community, to the team and his role in the 2016 NBA Championship."
That came minutes after a report by Joe Vardon of The Athletic that said the split was "amicable" and a buyout is not in the works at this time.
Following Monday's loss in Detroit that dropped the Cavs to 2-13, Smith told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic that he did not want to play for a team that has no interest in winning. But he resisted a buyout, even though his contract makes it difficult for the Cavs to trade him. Smith's salary this season is $14.7 million and $3.87 million more is guaranteed for 2018-19 if he's let go by June 30.
"I don't want my legacy to be remembered like that in Cleveland," Smith told Lloyd in regards to a buyout. "I don't think that's fair to the people I see every single day walking around the arena. I don't think that's fair to the trainers or equipment guys. ... I just look at it differently than being traded. I don't like the statement of getting bought out."
Smith also questioned the Cavs' motives this season, which has already seen coach Tyronn Lue fired after an 0-6 start.
"I don't think the goal is to win. The goal isn't to go out there and try to get as many wins as you can," Smith told Lloyd. "I think the goal is to develop and lose to get lottery picks. I think that was always the plan."
On Nov. 1, Smith agreed with the suggestion he hoped to be traded, an admission that could have drawn a fine from the league. But he declined the front office's suggestion that he leave the team because he said he felt he owed it to the fans who embraced him.
At that point Smith had been dropped from the rotation, but coach Larry Drew reinstated him on Nov. 3. In 11 games this season, Smith has averaged 6.7 points, shooting .342 from the field and .308 from 3-point range. That's well below his career percentages of .419 and .373, respectively, along with his average of 12.5 points.
Lue stuck with Smith last season because he felt Smith's key 3-pointers, as he scored eight of his 12 points in the third quarter of Game 7 of the 2016 Finals against the Warriors, helped the Cavs end Cleveland's 52-year championship drought. That was also an indelible memory for Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.
"We were down I think nine in the second half and it was his eight points that really got us back into Game 7 and then we won the championship," Gilbert said Nov. 1 after the announcement the 2022 NBA All-Star Game would be held in Cleveland. "Will be forever grateful. That's what I think of when I think of J.R."
Acquired in trade from the Knicks in January, 2015, Smith was part of LeBron James-led teams that went to four consecutive NBA Finals. Now only Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye remain and with Love rehabbing following foot surgery, Thompson is the lone one playing as James returns Wednesday night with the Lakers.
There were rocky times with Smith as well, perhaps none more so than his costly gaffe in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals at Golden State.
Smith believed the Cavs were leading instead of tied when he rebounded George Hill's missed free throw with 4.7 seconds remaining. Instead of looking for a shot, Smith drifted toward James, who pointed in the direction of the basket. Smith passed to Hill in the corner, but Hill's jumper was blocked and did not beat the buzzer. The Cavs lost 124-114 in overtime, virtually ending the Cavs' chances in the series as the Warriors went on to sweep.
Smith spoofed that moment in a commercial for the recently released movie, "The Grinch."
Also last season, Smith threw a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones, then later laughed off the social media reaction.
"Some of them were actually pretty funny. I understand that everything I do is going to have a meme or whatever behind it," Smith said on March 3.
None of the bad moments will matter to Smith's fans in Cleveland, who bought "Shirtless J.R." T-shirts and enjoyed him rooting for the Indians and Browns, along with his unadulterated joy during the Cavs' championship parade.
As Chris McNeil, the organizer of the Browns' 0-16 parade, tweeted Tuesday, "Thanks for the memories, JR Smith."
