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.
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.