Once again, J.R. Smith has tested the boundaries of NBA players’ freedom of expression. Two months after the Cleveland Cavaliers guard debuted a tattoo that contravened Article XXXVII of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, Smith has made himself eligible for an NBA fine by publicly requesting a trade. The request occurred in response to a reporter’s question following Thursday’s practice. Smith, a starter for most of the ’17-’18 season but now a benchwarmer, was asked if he wanted to be traded. He answered, “Yeah. Honestly. They know. They don’t want me, so they obviously know.”
Smith will likely avoid a fine, the possibility of which was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.