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JR Smith requests trade from Cavaliers, won't be fined by NBA

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

JR Smith hopes the Cleveland Cavaliers trade him after being forced into a reduced role.

"Yeah," Smith said when asked if he wants to be traded, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "They know. They don't want me here, so they obviously know."

While Smith's comments could have led to a fine by the NBA, commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday he does not expect that to happen, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The disgruntled guard was contemplating taking time away from the team, sources told Brian Windhorst and Wojnarowski of ESPN. Smith later said on Twitter that report is false, and he was given the option to leave but chose to remain with the Cavaliers.

Smith has appeared in just four of the Cavaliers' six contests in 2018, averaging 12 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-6 veteran has started 218 of 248 games since the Cavs acquired him in 2015. He's also been in the starting lineup for every playoff game in each of his last three seasons with Cleveland.

Smith is averaging a career-low 2.5 points per game on 23.1 percent shooting this season.

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