Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith is reportedly under NYPD investigation for allegedly stealing a cell phone from a fan and throwing it into a construction site. The last time Smith was accused of throwing something was when he chucked a bowl of soup at a Cavs assistant during the regular season.
According to reports, Smith had been partying at The Park in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood when a fan approached him on the street and asked to take a photo. Smith reportedly informed the fan that he wasn't interested in taking any photos, but that didn't stop the man from snapping a pic anyway. As a result, that phone ended up in a nearby construction zone.
Per TMZ Sports:
"Law enforcement sources tell us ... they got a call around 2:30 AM on Sunday morning from a guy who says he tried to take a picture with the Cleveland Cavs star outside of The Park, a hotspot in Chelsea."
"We're told ... Smith allegedly approached the fan and snatched the phone out of his hand and then launched it into a nearby construction zone. The fan claims his $800 phone was damaged and he has filed a report with police."
Smith, 33, has not been charged with a crime, but the NYPD is still looking to have a word with him as part of the investigation.
https://twitter.com/_/status/1024727123938959360
In other J.R. Smith news, there are reports that he could be on the move. ESPN's Zach Lowe recently reported that the Houston Rockets have "kicked the tires" on a potential Smith trade.
Last season with the Cavs, Smith appeared in 80 regular-season games (including 61 starts), averaging just 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. According to Spotrac, Smith is slated to make $14.72 million next season, and his $15.68 million salary for 2019-20 is only partially guaranteed.
