The Clippers are pursuing guard J.R. Smith, who can return to the NBA after his team in China finishes its season. The Clippers hope to convince the athletic, 6-foot-6 Smith to sign for the mini-mid-level exception of $2.5 million, or for the veteran minimum of about $1 million. Smith owns a career scoring average of 12.5 points on 42.8% shooting. Via Los Angeles Times Think this will happen, makes sense to all parties involved and he'd play with former teammates. Gives them added backcourt strength and they could maybe move Williams, Foye or Bledsoe. Also, Lob City with freakin JR Smith? Would add some sick highlights to their reel.
Knicks also interested: The Knicks plan to be aggressive in landing J.R. Smith, coach Mike D’Antoni indicated. “I know [interim general manager] Glen [Grunwald] every day will canvas the league and talk and try to make the team better,’’ D’Antoni said. “Whether it’s D-League, free agency, trades. Whatever make sense and helps the team we’ll do. We have to be very aggressive. We know the areas we need help.’’ The Knicks’ interest in Smith appears to be mutual, as Smith tweeted on Friday: “New York City is where it’s at!’’ Via New York Post
Unlikely, how do you think he got to the nuggets the in first place? The bulls gave him up for nothing, less than a week after getting him in a package with PJ Brown.
LoL Guard City.... I don't think they need him, esp if they already have Mo Williams... If they do land him, that pretty much means Gilbert Arenas is going to LAL
No, top 5 pick here they come, the pick is top 5 protected. I hope they get like the 6th pick, that be nice.
damn, couldnt remember which one was top 5 or 2. top 6 than! either way that is not a good pickup for a team who cant defend for sht and their offense is in desperate need of a pg not a chucker. wouldnt be a top 5 anyways, they are bad, but not bad enough even with jr's addition.
Let's see the Knicks have to be worse than the Wizards, Bobcats, Raptors, Nets, Bobcats, Hornets, and Kings. Even if the Nets get Howard that still leaves them outside the top 5, although there is a lottery. Without winning a top pick outright, they would have to be in like the 6th spot, and have the number 5 team win.
Originally Posted by trueroxfan damn, couldnt remember which one was top 5 or 2. top 6 than! either way that is not a good pickup for a team who cant defend for sht and their offense is in desperate need of a pg not a chucker. wouldnt be a top 5 anyways, they are bad, but not bad enough even with jr's addition. i was exaggerating with the top 5 pick. the knicks are playing like sht and still in the eastern playoffs.
The fact that J.R. Smith gets to head back to the NBA as soon as his Chinese team's season ends isn't good news for his Chinese team. If they are making a playoff push, I wouldn't expect Smith to be all that interested in getting his team there.
Nice target. I like this aggressiveness. I thought they were content with their roster after landing CP3. Mo Williams was a crap bench. They had absolutely no one else. Now they have Mo Williams and Kenyon Martin. Looking better, I like it. But insert JR Smith and you have solid-solid 8 man rotation - not a single weak link. Add Pryzbilla and man they are a definite top 4 in the West and only inexperience of not playing together will be holding then back from top 2.
I agree, Smith would help them a lot. Another athletic scorer who paul can throw alleys to, or score on his own when he needs a break. I think orlando should go after him. it would be a start in the right direction imo. or the lakers, who have been struggling to score as well.
Actually his team really is making a playoff push. Currently sits at 8th place (top 8 go to playoffs). Wilson Chandler's team is 9th, half a team behind. Chandler's team was 3rd a week ago, but the dude helped his team lose 6-7 games in a row including performances such as 2/13 shooting 2 days ago. At least JR is still producing huge numbers, even though his team lost the last one to a very lousy opponent. Aaron Brooks' team is first and 5 games ahead of 2nd place, he'll win the championship and be the last one to leave China.
So the Clippers are trying to become the old Nuggets? Billups, interest in Kenyon Martin, and now they also want J.R. Smith?
JR's a Lamborghini Diablo w/ an unreliable engine, damaged interior, and detestably loud sound system. Buyer beware.
