J.R. Smith Being Shopped?

Carmelo Anthony has dominated the rumor mill out of Denver this summer, but it may be another potent wing scorer on the Nuggets who ends up making actual news.

According to FanHouse, the new folks in charge of managing the team in the Mile High City are seriously considering trading J.R. Smith, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer:

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.

Despite his obvious talents, Smith’s career in Denver to date has been volatile, to say the least.

Assuming things don’t change on his end a whole lot by next season’s trade deadline, it might make plenty of sense for both he and the Nuggets to part ways.

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Tags: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets, George Karl, JR Smith, Mark Warkentien

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http://google c_cantrell

^Klav..
yes and no.. yeah smith would be good along side durant but then again look at the chemisty okc has.. it wouldnt take long for smith to start screwin it up.. if he fixed his attitude he would be a great fit to this team tho
Coney Islander

As a Knick man lord knows I hope Roger Mason becomes the second coming of MJ (may be a bit of a stretch, sue me! lol) but him and JR are different breeds of animal. JR is in the “BREAK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY” category. Those are players you have on your team like a Manu or Jamal Crawford who can come off the bench get hot and provide instant offense or on some nights win you a game!
http://google c_cantrell

why are u guys talking about mason and smith as if they are in the same category? insane
http://eatmydick Triple Double

Hey why don’t you all see how many times you can write the exact same thing as the person above you…
IAMORANGE4EVER

@unrel: Just saw your post for some reason. Good comparison. J.R. Rider and J.R. Smith are brothers from another mother. lol
Deezy

I just feel bad for Chauncey.
total scrotal implosion

I know this, wherever jr smith goes, the birdman has to go with him, its in their contracts.
JTaylor21

I serioulsly think that JR Smiths is right up there with the SGs in the league when it comes to PURE talent. Dude is a straight up beast when he’ shot, very athletic (Allenp what the hell are you talking bout him losing his athletic ability; dude is still 25 or 26 and has many miles left on his tires due to him not being a full-fledged starter), underrated passer and is a TOP-5 shooter in the NBA. If a team like the knicks were smart they would trade for him in a heartbeat and make him a starter. Dude will put up 25 ppg without breaking a sweat in D’Antoni’s offense. He just needs to be given freedom on offense and he’s not gonna get that in DEN with some guy named Melo there.
Lz – Cphfinest3

JR has a great basketball body, JR has abundance of talent nobody is denying that. But people face it he is a infant, a dumb infant actually. He will never get better, he is simply to mentally challenged to ever get ‘it’. I use to be a fan and had high hopes, but people don’t go fooling yourselves; he’ll never change. What you see is what you get. ESPN highlights yes. Being a important cog at a championship-caliber team no. If I was a coach/director I would want him to stay far far away from my team.
Lz – Cphfinest3

He is however fun yet frustrating to watch when hot.
JTaylor21

Also who ever said that Roger Mason was better than JR Smith needs to be locked in a room with Bill Walton and be FORCED to listen to him talk basketball for hours. Seems like a reasonable punishment
http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

The Raptors should trade for him, he could probably average 25 on the Raps and maybe lead them to an 8th seed.
Lz – Cphfinest3

@ Jtaylor21. JR is a good shooter, but top 5. Get real he is way to streaky to be even close to top 5. Of the top of my head; better shooters than JR: Durant, Ray Allen, Korver, Dirk, S. Curry, Kobe, Nash, Redick, J. Terry, Melo, Billups, Mike Miller, E. House, Morrow, Mo Williams, P. Pierce, A. Brooks, D.Williams, J. Crawford, Gallo, R. Lewis, Mayo, W. Matthews, Dragic, Boobie Gibson, George Hill, Manu, Steve Blake, heck even Matt Bonner is at the same level – don’t let his hot-streak crazy 30 foot pull-ups fool you. To be a great shooter you have to be able to hit 3′s, midrange and freebies.
JTaylor21

Damn LZ that’s like damn near the whole league. Let me philter down that crap for you; Kobe, Terry, Melo, Billups, Miller, Mo “disappearing act” Williams, Pierce, Brooks, DWill, JCraw, Gallo, Lewis, Mayo, Dragic, GHill, Manu, SBlake and Welsely F*cking Matthews are not better pure shooters than JR not one bit. You act like he’s the only shooter in the league that runs hot and cold. Also JR also hits midranges and has improved his free throws the past few years. Dude is one of the best shooters hands down and people forget that he came from highschool also (so much for american high school players not being able to shoot). NO straight out of high school player can touch him when it comes to shooting
http://Slamonline.com Negativekreep

The only guy that SHOULD be mentioned as the guy that “should be the #3 sg” is Gilbert. But in REALITY it’s B Roy, and Its not really even close after that. I like JR, he’s raw, but thats also kinda why I don’t ever see him getting close to being in that #3 spot. More like a raw beefed up Jason Terry 2.0.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7xlzLOZH5c Th3_R3al_Chris

Poor Man’s Ricky Davis is more like it.
Lz – Cphfinest3

Not the whole league, but he is not nowhere near Top 5 like you claimed. Improved his free throws you said? JR shot 70% last season, pure shooters don’t shoot 70% from the line. You are just plain wrong, blinded by the fancy looking 30 foot pull-ups. JR’s career field goal %: Freebies: 74%, 3′s: 37% and 2′s: 42% – not exactly impressive Top 5 shooter numbers. Mike Miller for instance (just to name one of the guys you rate as a worse shooter) careers stats: FT’s: 77% 3′s: 40% 2′s 46%. Like coney island said earlier numbers don’t lie, oh and Mike shot 48% from 3 last season compared to JR’s career best season of 40%. Concerning straight out of HS, as much as I dislike Kobe he is a way better shooter than JR, and T-Mac was on another planet until the injuries set in. And to everybody saying JR could be Top 3 SG in the league, don’t forget B.Roy, Manu and even a guy like Mayo who have all had better careers/seasons than JR has ever been close to. He is a ‘could-have’ player, he’ll never get there. If he comes back next year and averages 25 like somebody claimed, please come laugh in my face and I’ll happily eat my words. But it won’t happen.
Dyce

Smith is just one of those players when he’s good he’s great and when he isnt its bad. Hard to start him because if his shot is off he still shoots without a conscience and doesnt try to impact the game in other ways while waiting for his shot to come back to him. I think a coach that believed in his ability to be more than just a microwave scorer, would do him some good like Larry Brown.
JTaylor21

LZ is said that if he goes to a team like the Knicks he could put up 25 without breaking a sweat. Also I may have reached in saying that he was TOP-5 shooter but dude is DEFINITELY TOP-10. Also if you look at KBs shooting numbers for his career you see that his FG% is not that much higher than JR, he beats him handily in FT% but JR has him in 3PT%, so it’s not that big of a gap. Also if Kobe’s the great shooter that you and everyone else claims why does his shooting numbers pail in comparison to other great shooters ala MJs. I assume that we both agree that MJs a great shooter because his numbers back that up with the 49FG% for his career while a guy like Kobe only shoots 45FG%. Riddle me that.
The Philosopher

@JTaylor21:
You’d be intrigued about some of the things some people think about Kobe Bryant and his shooting abilities.
Really intrigued.
http://Slamonline.com Negativekreep

Jtaylor: So JR Smith is a top 5 shooter in the NBA….and he’s a better shooter than Kobe Bryant. Because he shoots a higher % 3? really, that’s your line of reasoning….ugh, OK. I love it when guys come out on threads boasting some great secret insight they have only to backpeddle on thier main point, but still try to save face with some more BS.
JTaylor21

@Philosopher, I’m really intrigued. Break it down for me.
PSD605

wow, just a year ago i thought the nuggets had everything together to go for the ‘chip. just one summer could possible ruin everything they built up
http://Slamonline.com Negativekreep

“See to it that no one Takes you captive thru hollow and deceptive philosophy. “
The Philosopher

@JTaylor21:
I’m not going to name names, because I don’t want to flame.
There is at least one commenter up here who contends that Kobe Bean Bryant is a better shooter than Larry Joe Bird.
Now, do you believe that?
JTaylor21

@Philosopher, OHH, what BLASPHEMOUS WORDS, that person was lucky that he or she wasn’t hit by a lighting bolt after that comment. You already know my answer to that LUDACRIS comment, NO. Give me a hint as to who said that crap.
The Philosopher

I can’t tell you who said that.
I love and respect SLAM to the fullest extent.
But, the commenter did in fact, utter those words.
Now, I still respect the commenter, for they generally bring reliable contributions and facts to most every basketball related discussion that I’ve seen them be apart of.
They will probably come up here and offer reasons for their line of thinking concerning that subject.
But…
very intriguing, no?
JTaylor21

I’m guessing it’s either Jukai or Bryan Crawford, maybe I’m wrong. @Philosopher it is very interesting. Kobe’s a very good shooter but people have somehow come up with the idea that he’s an all-time great shooter which is NOT the case. I’ve watched dude too many times to know that, seen him have too many 7-27, 11-31 type games. You see I’m a guy that looks at the game through numbers and on-court production instead of being blinded by love for a certain player to not state obvious facts when needed. What’s your thoughts about what that commenter said?
http://Www.dimemag.com Royal

One of the reasons MJ had a higher field goal % then Kobe is because Mike did a large amount of his scoring with post ups and dribble penetration whereas Kobe likes to settle for mid/ long rang jumpshots. In my opinion Kobe is a much better shooter than JR. Kobe has an effective mid-range, long range shot to go along with better freethrow shooting and overall consitancy. I really
can’t recall JR. Smith being effective from mid-range. But JR. might have more range than Kobe.
http://Www.dimemag.com Royal

Oh and Kobe’s 11-2333333 games are usually due to his shitty shot
selection, not his shooting mechanics/abilities
The Philosopher

Well JTaylor21,
I think what the commenter said concerning that subject was the most craziest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.
And, I told them that.
We debated for a while about that.
I’ll be honest, I was so intrigued by the notion, that I even found myself asking questions to them… like a student to a teacher.
It was amazing.
I couldn’t believe it.
It was like… a U.F.O., or something.
JTaylor21

@Royal, you may be right bra. That’s why MJ is head, torso, and legs above Kobe in my opinion. Dude never took a bad shot and was one of the best moving without the ball. @Philosopher WISH I was around then to see that ish with my own eyes, so what kind of counter arguments was he saying in trying to futilely convince you.
Lz – Cphfinest3

@JTaylor21; Just to clear it up, I never said Kobe was a great shooter (I h8 Kobe actually) nor a all-time great shooter. The only comment I made was that Kobe and T-Mac are better shooters than JR Smith. To down your claim that JR was the best shooter out of HS. JTatylor21 learn how to read what is actually typed by other commentators instead of what you think they are saying. Your act is getting boring. Throwing out a bunch of claims, afterwards backtracking on them. The guy who had the Kobe better shooter than Bird claim, must have been Jamestheballer. At least that is my best guess, dude has the biggest ’24′ shaped purple/gold glasses ever.
The Philosopher

@JTaylor21:
I really don’t want to throw them under the bus.
I am wholly confident that if their ego is as big as mine, they will present their argument to you, and to other newer SLAM alumni, for both of our egos (well mine, anyway) are considerable.
I’ll tell you the truth:
I respect everyone’s opinion up here at the end of the day. Some opinions to one or another may or may not be viewed as accurate, or satisfactory.
Their particular argument pertaining to the subject I thought, was entirely…
They’ll come up here and explain it.
It may be a little too scientific for me.
http://sfdjklf.com Jukai

Kobe is a better shooter than Bird… but yeah, if you dun wanna hear the logic, you can just go ahead and bash me
The Philosopher

Jukai, you are my dude, man.
Seriously.
JTaylor21

Forgive my transgressions LZ, I actually meant to state that JR has better range and is a better 3 point shooter than both guys. Doesn’t that give him a case of being the best PURE shooter outta highschool. Also this is the first time I’ve stated a wrong claim, so don’t act like it’s a pattern. Also was the SEED around back when that statement was made because he seems like a safe bet to say something that FOOLISH. Talk about being the lakers favorite escort.
serevei

just a taller earl boykins…. CLAIM
JTaylor21

JUKAI go ahead and bless us with your “KNOWLEDGE” on the matter and later the bashing will began.
JTaylor21

I did guess right when I thought that it was Jukai. Dude says some very resonable things but that has to be in the SLAM Hall of Shame next to every SEED comment.
21

trade jr to NY for Bill Walker
Ronald

@JR’s Athleticism: Wasn’t there a clip of JR dunking in a charity game recently where he got his whole head above the rim.
http://www.springbored.net letsmotor

@Ronald: I don’t remember that, but I know towards the end of this past season, he had a 360 alley-oop (IN GAME!!). If I can way in on the rest of this J.R. Smith debate, I think he’s a great spark plug type player. I think he’s very, very good athlete, and he’s a very streaky shooter (fine for a spark plug guy), but I just don’t think you can put him in the same category as the pure shooters of the league. Just look at his FT%. It’s not bad, but all the truly great shooters–Ray, Nash, Dirk–are automatic from the FT line. JR is 74% for his career. Is he in the top 10 shooting guards in the league talent-wise? Yes, but his mental game–I’m thinking about bad shot selection, selfish play–will always keep him out of that upper echelon for me.
Shem

Some comments are so stupid, I pitty some people’s basketball knowledge. I won’t call anyone out but JR Smith is NOT a great defender. He can get by against decent guards in the L but when he goes up against Kobe, Wade, Joe Johnson, etc. athleticism won’t cut it. Every guard in the NBA is athletic. JR more then others, but he doesn’t have the fundamentals. That being said, comparing JR and Roger Mason is ridiculous. I love JR’s game, he’s a talent and definetly more of a talented player than Roger Mason. I think it’s too soon for the Nuggets to unload. They’ve made the playoffs 7 times in a row, 2 western conference finals appearances (correct me if I’m wrong) and they’re not that old yet. K-Mart, Nene, Billups, Afflalo are definetly near the end of their career but they can still make a run at the title. If JR can keep his head straight and Denver big men can keep healthy, the Nuggets a top 3 team in the West. Spurs are still good, but old so I think their past their prime. Jazz just lost a bunch of key players. Mavericks are really my toss up with the Nuggets. Phoenix just lost Amar’e and Barbosa, being a Raps fan I don’t think Turk will make them any better (He wants to bring the ball up the court and couldn’t do it when Jack was running point, does he really think he’ll be running pick and roles over Nash?)
total scrotal implosion

That was a funny thing for jukai to say originally, even funnier now with the buildup. Im sad he didnt try to explain it tho
http://sfjdkldsfl.com Jukai

Alright, I’m not even sure who will see this, so I’ll do it in sh%tty bullet form:
-Larry Bird shot an awesome percentage because the man could move without the ball awesomely and took far more reasonable shots he knew he could make, ie offensive efficiency. Neither of these do I consider part of shooting
-Larry Bird had his spots on the floor. He knew where he wanted to shoot and he got there because he was so amazingly intelligent and moved so well around screens and had such great change of speed. Kobe doesnt have spots on the floor. He shoots everywhere.
-If you take away those screens that Bird runs, and put two defenders on him, who are you more comfortable taking a contested shot? I’d say Kobe.
-Kobe takes many unreasonable and awful shots. People also double team Kobe far more often than Bird becuase they’re less afraid of Kobe finding an open teammate. That’s why his percentages are lower. I do not COUNT these factors when talking about pure shooting.
-I don’t think Kobe has as well rounded of a game as most legendary superstars. While he has ludicrous fundamentals, I question his bball IQ at times. I only think Kobe’s a fair passer so players are less afraid of double teaming me.
Kobe survives purely on the fact that his jumper is ludicrous. Insane.
-People act like Bird never had cold shooting nights. In reality, Bird scored a massive amount of points on smart drives, putbacks, and a highly skilled post game. Bird shot a GREAT percentage from three, and hes a much better three point shooter than Kobe, but he took far less threes than Kobe does in an average game. That’s because he takes smarter shots.
Okay, feel free to bash me now.
rikson

Kobes numbers dont tell the whole story, as he takes probably more difficult shots against double-teams than any other player in the L right now! So comparing kobes numbers to JRs says more about your IQ than about those players… geniuses!
JTaylor21

@Jukai so bird is a worse shooter than kobe because he takes good shots and moved well without the ball? WHAT. So now we are rewarding players for taking bad shots and not moving without the ball and punishing does who do. That makes NO sense at all. Just come outright and say that kobe’s a ball hog who’s never met a shot he didn’t like and stop TRYING so hard to convince yourself otherwise. Kobe has nothing on Bird shooting wise just due to the fact that bird’s taller, smarter without the ball, doesn’t take bad shots, and is outright the BETTER shooter, if you disagree your just somebody who doesn’t REALLY understand the game of basketball.
IAMORANGE4EVER

JR Smith is what coaches call a TEAM DE-ENERGIZER. He pouts, he sulks, and puts himself before the team. JR can be selfish, divisive, and he’ll from time to time make really dimwitted comments through the media/twitter. JR Smith is the guy I want shooting free throws with the game on the line, if I’m the opposing coach…he’ll brick them, BOOK IT! Nuggets fans know that’s true more times than not. Honestly, the last word that comes to mind when I think of JR Smith, is champion. He’s not even in Kobe or Wade’s galaxy. Comparing JR Smith to Kobe (GTFOHWTS), is like comparing Snooki to Salma Hayek.
kundai

I think people forget that JR has just turned 25 so he still young. To me in term of immaturity JR is right there following kobes path.(for all the kobe fans im just saying immaturity). Ok Kobe bryant we can all admit only truly started getting into team play with out any backdoor mental selfishness in 2008 wen he was 29-30 years old. We al know he may have played liek a teammate to shaq but couldnt truly except shaq thus shaq leaving. Kobe would have been like an iveverson if he hadnt changed his ways with teh i am the league attitude. What differs him from JR though is he straight of competitivness hands down. JR mentaly is in teh same boat. All the intangibles to be great but his mental ability is sub-par. I think if he played on a team with a guy liek rick admine, or even popovic they could help him mature quicker before he loses some of that athletism. JR needs to mature quick or hands down one of the greatest underacheivers of all time.

J.R. Smith Being Shopped?

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