BULLS to trade JR Smith to the NUGGETS for Howard Eisley & 2 2nd Round Picks...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

JR Smith To Be Traded To The Nuggets.

One of the Nuggets' least-scrutinized personnel moves this past season could have a major impact on next season once a pending trade goes through this week.

Denver's soon-to-be-consummated deal of Howard Eisley and two 2007 second-round draft picks for 6-foot-6 shooting guard J.R. Smith, traded by the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets to the Chicago Bulls last week, could not have happened without an unorthodox approach to Eisley's contract.

Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, the league would have covered about $75,000 of the $272,000 the Nuggets paid Eisley simply to finish last season with them, since he has played in the league for more than 10 years. But then- general manager Kiki Vande- weghe and his front-office staff convinced owner Stan Kroenke to agree to a second, nonguaranteed year that precluded any NBA assistance over the length of the deal.

They did so with such a trade in mind.

Eisley's cap number jumped to nearly $1.2 million July 1, a total not guaranteed until Aug. 30. The Bulls reportedly plan to cut Eisley after completing the deal, having spent millions on Ben Wallace and Adrian Griffin.

The Nuggets, therefore, could be getting a starter at a relative bargain. Smith, heading into his third NBA season, is due about $1.4 million for the upcoming season, and the Nuggets would have until the start of the regular season to exercise his fourth- year option of $2.1 million. The trade is expected to happen shortly after his physical in Chicago on Wednesday.

Smith, 20, is available at a relatively low price for a reason. His feuds with Hornets coach Byron Scott were well-documented.

Scott publicly accused Smith of poor work habits. Smith countered that Scott was unfairly singling him out and making disagreements too personal. The coach benched Smith from mid-February to mid-March this past season. He played only 19 minutes in four February games before sitting.

"He got shut down for no reason at all," Smith's father, Earl Smith, said in a telephone interview Monday. "So he's got to prove himself. He can play in the NBA. I'm pretty sure he could help Denver a whole lot."
Earl Smith added that while he was not aware of the proposed trade, "Denver is really nice. I have no problems with Denver and J.R. doesn't, either."

Scott, who was not on speaking terms with Smith for more than a month last season, discussed his differences with his young player to the Times-Picayune of New Orleans last week.

"I think with J.R., I tried to use three or four different approaches as far as talking to him about what he needs to work on, showing statistics and having the coaches there to work with him on those things. Now, if he doesn't show up, then we can't work.

"But the one thing I never really did with J.R. was degrade him or jump on him to a point where I was trying to break his confidence. I never did that. I think his biggest problem was that he was overconfident. He never thought he could lose his job."

Smith is thought of more as a slasher than an outside shooter, though he did shoot 37.1 percent from 3-point range last season. But his scoring dipped to 7.7 points per game, down from 10.3 in the 2004-05 season, when he earned Western Conference rookie of the month honors in three consecutive months.

How Smith's potential arrival affects Denver free agent DerMarr Johnson remains to be seen.

Smith would arrive at a low enough price to not make money an issue, but Johnson's playing time figures to lessen with Smith on the roster.

Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentien declined comment.




Wow... Bulls are gunna give up on this potential superstar without even giving him a try!...I mean, the kid came straight out of high school and did some incredible things in his rookie season...Shows how much a clash with a coach can under-value a player (ala Kareem Rush). I think once he grows up a little, he will be something in the NBA, definitely all-star material...Oh, and the Nuggets are finally doing something to improve...Here's some JR Smith highlights:

[Spicemuthafuc*in1]

HAHAHAHA what the fuck are the Bulls thinking.  Smith has 6th man of the year potential I could see this guy averaging 13-15 ppg off the bench some day. Wow I am shocked at this trade, Jr Smith is the reason why the Chandler trade was such a good one imo, wow the Bulls really dropped the ball on this one.

[herpes]

u got a link, I havnt seen anyone mention this trade yet.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

u got a link, I havnt seen anyone mention this trade yet.

Are you serious? How close do you follow your team?...This trade has been rumored ever since the Chandler for PJ Brown+JR Smith trade...

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_4063573

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

HAHAHAHA what the fuck are the Bulls thinking.  Smith has 6th man of the year potential I could see this guy averaging 13-15 ppg off the bench some day. Wow I am shocked at this trade, Jr Smith is the reason why the Chandler trade was such a good one imo, wow the Bulls really dropped the ball on this one.

True...But JR Smith has much more than just 6th man of the year potential. He woulda' been a 6th man of the year candidate in his rookie season had he been coming off the bench...He's only 20 and has great upside, I think his career will hold much more than that...He's just your typical young player out of high school, of course he's gunna need some attitude adjustments. I guess the Bulls weren't prepared for that...PeACe

[herpes]

u got a link, I havnt seen anyone mention this trade yet.

Are you serious? How close do you follow your team?...This trade has been rumored ever since the Chandler for PJ Brown+JR Smith trade...

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_4063573

I know its been rumored, i havnt seen any confirmation on it asshole.  I checked on a few bulls message boards and espn.com and cnnsi.com and no mention of the trade going down.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

u got a link, I havnt seen anyone mention this trade yet.

Are you serious? How close do you follow your team?...This trade has been rumored ever since the Chandler for PJ Brown+JR Smith trade...

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_4063573

I know its been rumored, i havnt seen any confirmation on it asshole.  I checked on a few bulls message boards and espn.com and cnnsi.com and no mention of the trade going down.

LMAO. Why am I an asshole? I wasn't calling you out or anything, just thought you mighta' missed the trade rumors from being caught up in baseball or something...The link I posted is on NBA.com.

[d-nice]

Yeah, but we all know how Skiles is and if you do not play D, you don't play. Look at how he handled the whole Tim Thomas situation. The bulls definitely need some size at the 2 guard and it seemed like Smith would be the answer, but Skiles definitely was or is the reason this trade goes down.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Yeah, but we all know how Skiles is and if you do not play D, you don't play. Look at how he handled the whole Tim Thomas situation. The bulls definitely need some size at the 2 guard and it seemed like Smith would be the answer, but Skiles definitely was or is the reason this trade goes down.

Yea, but the point is that his trade value is/should be A LOT higher than what he was given for...

[d-nice]

Most definitely agree with you on that, but Skiles and the Bulls only really play a 8,9 man rotation and they feel it is pretty much set now with the pieces they already have and added in the draft and free agency. I like Smith's game but like I said I really do not think that Skiles would give him a shot. Sounds like Chicago is just trying to dump contracts so that they can pay Wallace.

[GangstaBoogy]

JR Smith is nice. I don't know why NO gave him up, but whatever. Him and Mello could be a nice 2-3 combo