NBA: J.R. Smith wants to be traded – fine threatens

J.R. Smith of the Cleveland Cavaliers wants to be traded, as the 33-year-old confirmed to a reporter on Tuesday. Now the Shooting Guard is threatened with a fine by the NBA.

When asked if he wanted to be traded by the Cavaliers, Smith replied, “Yes. They (the Cavs) know that. They don’t want me here, so they obviously know.”

However, NBA players are not allowed to demand trades in public. Eric Bledsoe, the former Point Guard of the Phoenix Suns, for example, twittered last year: “I don’t want to be here.” As a result, he was fined $10,000 because the NBA considered this a public request.

Smith is unhappy with his situation in Cleveland after being kicked out of the team’s rotation and firing last week’s franchise coach Ty Lue, who was considered the Swingman’s advocate. Therefore, he is said to have obtained permission from the Front Office of the Cavs to leave the team until a trade has been found for him.

This season Smith earned 14.7 million dollars, 2015 he came from the New York Knicks and the following year he won the championship together with LeBron James. Currently J.R. plays an average of 2.5 points and 1 rebound in just 12 minutes. His current contract runs until after the next season, but then only 3.9 million of his salary is guaranteed.