J.R. Smith’s tenure in Cleveland seems to be nearing an end, as the Cavs shooting guard has asked for a trade. In lieu of Smith’s request, Kevin Love is wishing his friend the best.
“It’s tough to lose a guy like that, especially when you’ve been in the trenches with him, been to war with him.” Kevin Love said of J.R. Smith. “He was a fan favorite, and he was a guy who played both sides of the ball. We all wish him the best and we all love him.”
Love and Smith are two of the last remaining vestiges of Cleveland’s 2016 championship squad (Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye are the other two).
As Love stated, “Swish,” as Smith is known, did become a fan favorite in Cleveland. Though he had a few blunders here and there, J.R. had several shining moments in a Cavs uniform. And who could forget his shirtless parade walk?
The Cavs managed to defeat the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, coming back from a 3-1 deficit. There were several notable plays throughout the series, maybe none more important than Smith’s eight-point solo run after halftime of Game 7.
Where Smith will be playing next is still uncertain, but his service in Cleveland will live on forever.
Wednesday night’s Cavs-Lakers game is scheduled to tip inside Quicken Loans Arena at 8:00 p.m. with ESPN having live broadcast coverage.
