The Cleveland Cavaliers have placed shooting guard J.R. Smith on the trading block, offering him to several teams days before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline. According to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Smith was offered several times by the Cavaliers to several front offices. However, it was unknown if the Cavaliers’ offer has led to more substantive talks. The 32-year-old Smith is currently averaging 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 37.7 percent from the field in 49 games. In his third season with the Cavaliers, Smith ranks 77th out of 82 qualified shooting guard in terms of player efficiency rating, according to ESPN.com,

In 2016, Smith signed a four-year deal worth $57 million with the Cavaliers.

Smith is slated to earn $13.76 million this season, $14.7 million next season, and has a team option for the 2019-20 season worth $15.7 million. In November, Smith blamed his poor performance on his postgame approach, according to a report by Marla Ridenour of the Akron-Beacon Journal. The Cavaliers need to offer more than just Smith to entice other teams to agree to a trade. The Cavaliers have two first-round picks in next year’s draft, including the Brooklyn Nets’ unprotected first-round pick that they acquired from the Boston Celtics in the Kyrie Irving trade.

Cavs willing to trade Nets pick

Pluto also reported that the Cavaliers are willing to include the Nets’ pick in a package that can help the organization in the long term.

However, Pluto said the Cavaliers front office won't include the pick for a short-term rental upgrade such as Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. Pluto said the Cavaliers are willing to deal the Nets' pick for a younger player who is under team control for a few years. For Jordan, the Cavaliers would rather give up their own first-round pick rather than the Nets’ pick.

The Nets’ pick is valuable since Brooklyn owns the eighth-worst record in the league right now. The value of the pick could increase if the Nets continue to struggle.

James downplays Warriors report

Earlier, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com reported that Cavs superstar LeBron James is willing to listen to the pitch by the Golden State Warriors in the offseason if they could offer him a maximum deal.

However, James shrugged off the report, calling it nonsense and a non-story, when asked by reporters about it. “The first thing I did I started laughing, actually,” James said, adding that the media should only believe statements that are coming out of his mouth.