J.R. Smith on the Trading Block

[Rashi]

Source: J.R. Smith on Trading Block
By Chris Tomasson

The news isn't surprising considering J.R. Smith has lost his biggest supporter with the Denver Nuggets.

A source close to the situation said the Nuggets are looking to trade the erratic Smith, who is entering the final year of a contract that will pay the shooting guard $6.03 million.

There have been trade rumors before about Smith since he joined the Nuggets in 2006, but they have lacked validity since Mark Warkentien, once Denver's vice president of basketball operations, was adamant about not trading Smith. But Warkentien's contract was not renewed earlier this month and Smith's biggest supporter was gone. It was Warkentien who acquired Smith in 2006 from Chicago for the low price of two second-round picks and the non-guaranteed contract of Howard Eisley, who was waived.

It might be a surprise if Smith is still with the Nuggets past the February trade deadline. The Nuggets might not want to risk losing him for nothing as a free agent next summer and he has yet to show enough in his time with Denver for team officials to believe he deserves a lucrative new contract.

Smith finished second in voting in 2008-09 for the Sixth Man Award but he regressed last season. While his scoring average went up slightly to 15.4 points per game, he shot just 41.4 percent, including 33.8 percent from three-point range.

Smith has butted heads regularly with Nuggets coach George Karl, but in Game 6 of last spring's 4-2 first-round playoff loss to Utah, Karl was not with the team due to a form of throat cancer. With assistant Adrian Dantley in charge, Smith sat at the end of the bench late in the season finale and sulked.

For now Denver's higher priorities are finding at least one front office replacement for Warkentien and vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman -- also let go earlier this month -- and figuring out the Carmelo Anthony situation. Anthony has yet to decide if he will sign a three-year, $64.7 million contract extension that ıs on the table, and the Nuggets are pondering what they might want to do if Anthony continues to stall or decides against the offer.

But Smith is on the trading block. And Warkentien is no longer around to push for him to stay.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/08/22/nuggets-looking-to-trade-j-r-smith/

[cdif911]

I do think he's a guy the vets on our squad could reel in, but is he a long term player, probably not...does he fill a role more needed than what Baby brings (which contract wise is really the only way to make it work) - maybe... interesting

[LilRip]

i haven't checked how old he is, his salary or his stats but i do know he's an amazing talent. headcase, no doubt. he chucks a bunch of 3's and isn't really known for playing defense. But very talented and athletic who can get his shot off the dribble. Hopefully DA is looking into this! If they think they can get him to play D, then this guy is starter talent coming off the bench.



- LilRip

[lon3lytoaster]

He's pretty much a 6-6 or 6-7 Nate Robinson. By that I mean he's an athletic spark plug that shoots pretty well. Shoot's a pretty low percentage, though. Not the model of efficiency, then again neither is Nate.

Probably worth kicking the tires on this one, though.

[WeMadeIt17]

Get him! Could be the future with Rondo! Great talent in two years he could be a very great scorer next to Rondo! Please get him!!!

[Change]

Richman's Von Wafer.

Denver Nuggets is going the same direction Cavaliers went to appease the Diva. We all know how that one ended. Don't commit the same mistake, and hang on to JR.

[xmuscularghandix]

Not interested. Don’t really want all that Young Money crap on my team. I’m a fan of all those guys, and him... but i really don’t want that.

[PutBackDunk]

We have no shot anyway. He's obviously only on the block because Denver is trying to get someone good enough to entice Melo to sign the extension.

[Atzar]

A month ago, I would have loved to have him.  Now, not so much - I think we already have enough chuckers on our bench.  As it is, Marquis is the only one who projects to be in the rotation who I wouldn't consider a shoot-first, pass-second player.  Adding JR to that mix would make it even more imbalanced.

[pearljammer10]

This would be the most amazing option for the 6th man of our bench. He is a 6th man of the year contender every year... Too bad we have no shot at him. What would we trade? Big Baby and Perk? Denver says no to that unfortunately.

[j804]

This would be the most amazing option for the 6th man of our bench. He is a 6th man of the year contender every year... Too bad we have no shot at him. What would we trade? Big Baby and Perk? Denver says no to that unfortunately.

hell we would probably say no to that too, hes not worth Perk and Baby

[anthony83]

JR would be a great fit for Boston, is a player who revolutionized the games, a great three-point shooter and an athletic player.
Boston should try to sign a JR, he would fit perfectly on this team.

[Who]

The Nuggets might still consider a package based around Glen Davis if they are worried enough about Kenyon Martin's injury situation.

It would be a very bad decision to trade JR Smith. They won't get comparable value for him. They are better off giving him more responsibility and minutes by moving him into the starting lineup and seeing how he and the rest of the team responds to that before trying to trade him.

[Michael Anthony]

J.R. would be best in a role like Manu Ginobili - third best player, highest scorer, protected on defense. Get the ball, score the ball.

Boston would not be a good fit.

He would be great on a team with Dwight Howard and Deron Williams. The Bucks could have used him prior to the Maggette deal.

He does not blend with Carmello because they do the same thing - get the ball, score the ball. They are redundant.

[Fafnir]

The Nuggets might still consider a package based around Glen Davis if they are worried enough about Kenyon Martin's injury situation.

It would be a very bad decision to trade JR Smith. They won't get comparable value for him. They are better off giving him more responsibility and minutes by moving him into the starting lineup and seeing how he and the rest of the team responds to that before trying to trade him.

I would like to make a trade like that, but with Ray Allen here can Smith be happy/effective?