J.R. Smith: Knicks 'absolutely' made me feel like trash
J.R. Smith is playing in the biggest games of his life right now. He's participating in an NBA Finals for the first time, and is playing a substantial role, at that. How could he have even dreamt of this when he was playing for the New York Knicks just a few months ago?
You know the saying, one man's trash is another man's treasure? Well, that couldn't have become more true in the deal which brought Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland without the Cavs giving up much of anything. But now, Smith says he actually did feel kind of like garbage at the time of the trade. From Marc Berman of the New York Post:
J.R. Smith finally explained his Instagram post that appeared to be a dig at the Knicks after the Cavaliers knocked out the Bulls in the second round was no joke.
Smith posted split photos of himself and Iman Shumpert in Knicks and Cavs jerseys with the heading: “One Man’s Trash. Another Man’s Treasure.’’
Asked if the post indicated he felt discarded, Smith said, “Absolutely, to hear I was a throw-in to the trade just to get you off the books and for us to go over there and thrive, I think that’s absolutely how I feel.’’
The Knicks pawned off Smith to create $6 million more in cap space this summer and now he’s playing like the Sixth Man of the Year — an award he won in 2013. There was a report the Cavs were forced to take Smith, otherwise the Knicks wouldn’t give up Shumpert, which sources have indicated is exaggerated.
Here is the Instagram in reference:
Smith totally turned around his season in Cleveland and is generally thought of as one of the Cavs' four or five best players. No longer is he anyone's trash.
(H/t to Marc Berman of the New York Post.)
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
