Recent changes for the Cleveland Cavaliers have caused some issues and it will be interesting to see if the team will be able to go through those problems and perform well. The Cavaliers will look much different next season, and while they will be a better team than they were last year, there will be some problems among players. With so many new additions to the roster, the reigning Eastern Conference champions will need more time to build chemistry, and hopefully it won't negatively impact the team.
A big issue the Cavaliers will have to deal with is the starting shooting guard spot.
J.R. Smith, who was a starting shooting guard last season, lost his spot on the team to Dwyane Wade, one of the biggest additions to the roster this offseason. Wade is a proven veteran and a three-time NBA champion, and he is used to being a starter. However, Smith is frustrated by this, and he recently expressed it, while also throwing subtle shade at LeBron James.
Smith throws shade at his teammate
J.R. Smith definitely has no problem talking about whatever is on his mind. He is open and expressive, and he doesn't mind sharing his thoughts. Just recently, he made it known that he is very frustrated by Tyronn Lue's decision to start Dwyane Wade instead of him. However, despite his frustration, Smith said he will go through it, so hopefully it won't affect his performance.
While talking about his role off the bench, the shooting guard threw some shade at LeBron James. Obviously, James is another reason why Wade will be a starter as the two of them are very good friends. This could also be the reason why Smith decided to take a subtle shot at him.
"I actually like playing on the second unit better, I'm more of a playmaker and distributor and I handle the ball a little bit more instead of just running to the corner," Smith said, talking about his role in the starting lineup.
As a starter, J.R. Smith was mostly used as a catch-and-shoot scorer, and it seems he didn't like it. It's interesting that Kyrie Irving also threw shade at LeBron when it comes to ball movement. Even though Smith was a decent scorer and James shared the ball with him, it appears he wanted to have a bigger role on offense.
Sixth Man of the Year?
J.R. Smith won Sixth Man of the Year award for the New York Knicks in 2013. After averaging 18.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists off the bench, the shooting guard was named the best reserve in the NBA.
Will his role on the Cavaliers allow him to win another award? There is a chance that he plays more than 30 minutes per game if Wade gets hurts, and considering how good Smith is, he could definitely be one of the front-runners for the award.
