INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- JR Smith threw soup at assistant coach Damon Jones. He had a major gaffe at the end of NBA Finals Game 1 that turned him into an Internet meme. He allegedly tossed a fan's cell phone into a construction site in July.

And that was just in the last year.

Truth is, Smith could fill a novel with his career mistakes. Who can forget Milwaukee a few years ago when Smith went over to greet Jason Terry on the Bucks' bench while play was going on? What about the time he untied an opponent's shoe while at the free-throw line? Smith's suspension in the 2015 playoffs, stemming from a violent and uncalled-for swing that connected with Boston's Jae Crowder, nearly cost the Cavs in the conference semifinals.

The list goes on. But you get the point. His antics over the years were too much for New Orleans, Denver and New York. Will they become too much for Cleveland?

In a season of "wins and lessons," Smith's new teammates, at the very least, have the ideal example of what not to do.

"If I ain't a lesson teacher I don't know who is," Smith said recently. "Obviously I've made tons of mistakes throughout my life on and off the court. If you can't learn from my mistakes and listen to what I have to say, then more power to you and God bless you."

With LeBron James in Los Angeles and youngsters added to the roster this off-season, the Cavaliers are looking for more on-court leadership.

Smith is 33, one of the veterans on this team. Kevin Love, Channing Frye, Tristan Thompson and Smith are all that remains from the 2016 title Cavaliers.

"Obviously we had somebody who everybody looked up to and idolized," Smith said of James. "At the same time, I get a lot of these guys in here that were in fourth or fifth grade when I came into the league. Like, 'I remember you doing this, that and the third.' As weird as it sounds I still am appreciative for the younger group and the youth and it makes me want to work that much harder so they can see how I've been able to stick since they were that age to where they are at now."

Smith admits it's a "whirlwind" to think he's one of the elders on this roster. But he doesn't take it for granted. He's saying all the right things heading into the season. And to his credit, Smith has always owned up to his faults.

Only words have never been the problem. It's living up to them. This season, with the growth of Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr. and others being placed at the forefront, there won't be room for nonsense. The vets need to set the tone and show the way.

With a handful of players eyeing Smith's shooting guard spot, there will be even less margin for error.

"For me every day is a lesson," Smith said. "Coming here and learning my teammates, learning my trainers and still can learn from everybody. Can learn loyalty, can learn respect, can learn trust and all those things that factor on the basketball court. If you can't trust the next guy, then it's not going to work. If I can't trust Kev to be there, send it down and my man scores I can't look at him and say, 'Kev what the hell are you doing?' And he can't do vice versa to me then it's not going to work. Been like that since Day One. That's basketball 101.

"No one thing you can sit there and point out because so many things you learn throughout the course of a season."

For Smith, it's been more than most.