Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 2:52 pm  |  74 responses

Report: Knicks Close to Signing JR Smith

With JR Smith finally back in the United States from China, the word is that he is likely to join the Linsanity. From the NY Daily News: “Jeremy Lin will soon have to learn to play with Carmelo Anthony, as well as one of Anthony’s former Denver Nuggets teammate. The Knicks are closing in on a deal to sign free agent shooting guard J.R. Smith, the Daily News has learned. Smith began the season in China, but has been eyeing a return to the NBA once the lockout ended. Smith’s agent, Leon Rose, met with Garden Chairman James Dolan following Wednesday’s Knicks’ win over Sacramento to finalize a contract. It is believed that Smith, who has also attracted the interest of the Clippers, will receive the Knicks’ $2.5 million exception. Rose also represents Anthony, who has lobbied the club to add Smith, an explosive scorer who can also be erratic at times. He has averaged 12.5 points per game over seven NBA seasons.”

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  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Knicks really need to stay away from JR Smith and not ruin what they have right now. Shump is the 2 guard of the future. JR is a chucker with a neck tattoo that says “Young Money” even though that’s not his nickname. Abort mission, Dolan.

  • http://www.nba.com Red

    Yeah JR will be the scapegoat for the Knicks losing again when Melo returns.

  • http://www.nba.com Red

    Did anyone see the Shaq-Chuck thing, apparently Shaq got into a fight? Idk I didn’t see much

  • Ill Smith

    @Heals Aye fam, I’m a fan of the game first & foremost & would prefer my favorite baller (Melo) be in a great situation. Now only if my Celtics could make a move for a Center….

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    ^ Is that recently or an old clip? ’cause shaq and Barkley got into it pretty badly back in their playing days.

  • TonyStarks

    I don’t think JR is a bad option to have coming off the bench for the Knicks. Dude can shoot the lights out. Chemistry might be an issue but with Melo, Stat and Lin, and the Knicks doing so well of late, I would expect JR to fix up and “take one for the team”. This signing could make the Knicks a real contender in the East.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCJwoEHRU_A&feature=related TheKid

    Na just recently on NBA TV Shaq had his suit & dress shirt off and only in a tee and security was taking him out while they were talking about how Shaq went loose or something. I switched over at the end of it I guess but it seemed that he got angry idk though

  • MikeC.

    As long as D’Antoni keeps a short leash on JR and parks him when his shot isn’t falling, then I’m in. Just not a limg term guarantee. Please.

  • MikeC.

    *long*

  • Matt Valenti

    Linsanity woke up………to James Dolan. Game Over.

  • jpm34

    No way can they cobble this together and get a 4 seed. Philly n Celts will still top them in the Atlantic div.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCJwoEHRU_A&feature=related TheKid

    I feel like Cs won’t even make playoffs, they’ll lose their seeding to Knicks

  • ripslam

    Orange is delusional.

  • Justin G.

    cosign ripslam…I just don’t understand how he can’t see the same things that everyone else does, just because someone happens to play for the Knicks. You watch, when Smith is on another team he’ll be talking all about how he ruined their chances at a title. Wait, no he won’t because apparently they are going to make a deep run now and win it all. lol

  • ChipS

    Knicks are Top 10 in defense now, around fifth. Defense has been great, thanks to Mike Woodson. Also, as eractic as Smith is, he’s still not as inconcistent as Bill Walker, whose minutes he’s going to take. The Knicks needed another guy who can stretch the floor so they bring in a career 40% shooter from deep who is the Nuggets all time three point leader in makes, who can also slash and penetrate. JR’s last year in Denver he was really tamed, attempted only 9.9 shots a game down from the year before. He’s also playing for a contract and doesn’t want to be looking for overseas options after a horrible humbling experience in China. I’m sure he knows his role on the team. The Knicks second unit has the best of both worlds with Shump and Jeffries defensive guys along with Harrellson when he gets back. A scorer from anywhere with JR Smith and a shooter with Novak. I don’t think defense will be a problem because Melo and JR are guys who get focused when they see the effort from teammates. And they will see plenty of effort with Tyson,Jeffries,Shump,Fields and Harrellson.

  • ChipS

    Man, I wonder do Jalen Rose and Shaq got real beef. On the TNT halftime or pregame show(can’t remember which one), TNT showed a tweet by Jalen asking if Shaq will be able to close his suit jacket. Shaq seemed upset and mad and got defensive saying he didn’t know who Jalen Rose was, and said “If you shout my name at least be somebody” and the only guys he listen to on ESPN are Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. Later, Jalen tweeted, “Shaq has Superman emblems in his home like a clown plus TNT has sideshow silly segments to hide the fact that he can’t talk.” Ouch. Me personally I still prefer TNT over ESPN any day of the week. Will be interesting to see how this will play out.

  • el_larsen

    lol @jtaylor21!!
    a second basketballlllllllllllll!!great!

  • http://nba.com/celtics lights out

    Christ, Allen, I forgot JR and Iverson were once on the same team. mind-boggling.

  • BBaller

    Is this official yet? I personally wanted him to sign with the Clippers but oh well. JR is a good player so he should help any team.NYC are taking a risk but the potential rewards may be worth it.@ Jtaylor21, dude that was one of the most amusing,witty posts I’ve seen in such a long while.More please.

  • BBaller

    With Melo, J.R and AI, how many shots are put up and under which system? Karl’s or Di Antonio’s? Amare, JR and Melo fit the later more.I hope it works out as although i’m not a Knicks fan i do like to see them be competitive and challenging. The MSG requires playoff BBall.

  • crooklyn

    The way this season is playing out it’s not a bad idea to get a proven scorer (albeit streaky), because someone will definitely go down to some sort of injury, hopefully nothing serious. But having someone who knows how to score and isn’t afraid of big moments to step up is a plus

  • DeeDre

    Everybody keeps saying how they should sign a defensive player and higher a defensive coach blah blah but one defensive addition isn’t gonna change the overall play of the team when you have two interior guys who play no defense. The Knicks are an offensive team and they should keep hitting that niche. I bet if the Suns of a couple of years ago played in todays Western conference they’d easily be the favorites to come out.

  • Chris

    They need to get Bubba Chuck in there with Earl now, for old times sake.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER

    “We got Rip” < Sour gra/pes and "JR Smith has never ever ever ever ever ever been a good defender. " < More sour gr/apes, because JPriceless21 wanted J.R. Smith to play with his favorite point guard CP3, as well as not make the Knicks stronger) …..LISTEN UP KIDS, I actually watched a lot of games J.R. Smith has played while he was in Denver since 2007, yet I got some alluding I'm delusional, because I don't agree with the premise that J.R. Smith is a poor defender? Then you got the audacity to smear me as one of those fanboys who hate on a player once he's no longer in a Knicks uniform. That not just asinine, it's asiten, asieleven, asitwelve, asithirteen! Face it, some of you just having a hissy fit over the Knicks getting J.R. Smith.

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