Nuggets' Smith leaves troubles behind, matures into three-year deal
By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 22, 2008 at 9:41 a.m.
Smith, left, averaged 18.3 points against the Lakers in the playoffs.
Carmelo Anthony had two things to celebrate Friday.
Within a few hours of helping the U.S. Olympic team reach the gold-medal game in Beijing, he learned the Nuggets had re-signed his close friend and teammate, J.R. Smith, to a new contract.
"I'm glad they got it over with, got it done," Anthony told the Rocky Mountain News. "He was a guy that I didn't want to see leave our team, so I'm happy. That's some good news."
Smith, the Nuggets' leading three-point shooter in each of the past two seasons, was a restricted free agent but spent the summer as though he would return to Denver all along.
The 22-year-old worked out with the Nuggets' summer league team and the U.S. Select team in July, then attended an NBA camp run by Nuggets assistant Tim Grgurich earlier this month.
"He demonstrated that he not only wants to be a good player but a good Denver Nugget," Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said. "There wasn't a free agent that was in the gym this summer with his own team more than J.R."
As a restricted free agent, Smith received a one-year, $3.04 million qualifying offer from the Nuggets and could have signed an offer sheet from any other team (Denver would have had the opportunity to match).
In the end, the Nuggets and Smith found middle ground, as he signed a three-year, incentive-laden deal that will include a first-year base salary between $4 million and $5 million.
"We had common goals," Warkentien said of Smith's agents, Thad Foucher and Arn Tellem. "Let's make him a Nugget in a way that's good for all."
Gauging Smith's market value is a tricky thing because he has shown flashes of both brilliance and inanity on and off the court during his four NBA seasons.
In his two seasons with the Nuggets, he has averaged 12.6 points and shown the ability to score from the perimeter and off the dribble.
He shot 40.3 percent from three-point range last season and twice tied a team record by making seven threes in a single quarter.
By contrast, Smith's defense and decision-making have been erratic, prompting plenty of head-shaking by coach George Karl, who benched him for the final game of Denver's first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs in 2007 because of a lack of professionalism.
The missteps turned tragic in June 2007, when Smith was injured and his friend killed in a car accident in New Jersey. Smith was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign and improper passing.
Four months later, Smith was suspended for three games after being ticketed for assault, disturbing the peace and destruction of private property outside a Denver nightclub.
Smith bounced back after the tumultuous offseason, emerging as a top-flight sixth man for the Nuggets in 2007-08. He then averaged 18.3 points during Denver's first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
"We've seen him grow and develop before our very eyes," Warkentien said. "Look at his playoff performance against San Antonio and his playoff performance against the Lakers."
Smith, who will turn 23 on Sept. 9, is a classic example of a young player trying to grow up in the NBA. He passed up a scholarship to North Carolina and turned pro straight out of high school in 2004.
"This kid should have been a senior at Carolina last year. Instead, he was a highly productive player in a playoff series against the Western Conference champs," Warkentien said. "You're not guessing on J.R. His ability has been demonstrated."
With Smith's return, the Nuggets have 12 players with guaranteed contracts on their roster. Second-round draft pick Sonny Weems remains unsigned.
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August 22, 2008
10:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
kmeissner writes:
Good move! Go Nugs
August 22, 2008
10:19 a.m.
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Squatch writes:
Very nice! Now stay out of trouble and the news and you will be a superstar.
August 22, 2008
11:09 a.m.
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RDenver writes:
Smith needs a mentor to stay out of trouble. Hope the Nugs find one!
August 22, 2008
11:28 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Good luck. Go Blazers!
August 22, 2008
12:08 p.m.
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RBN writes:
This guy spit on a girl. Class act
August 22, 2008
12:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
El_Mariachi writes:
More money for...More Tattoos!!!
August 22, 2008
12:28 p.m.
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notyouravg writes:
just another wanna be fake a$$ tattooed up thug, drunk driving killer. it would be nice if the NBA, NFL & MLB demanded more character from their millionaires.
August 22, 2008
2:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
KP13 writes:
JR needs to just keep playing better ball, and stay on the straight path he got on last year.
People make mistakes, just like accusing someone of being a "drunk driving killer"...when they were sober and made a dumb mistake! Get your facts straight before you hate. JR has a terrible driving record, but drinking and driving isn't a part of it.
Finally a good move by the Nugs!
August 22, 2008
3:47 p.m.
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beach1220 writes:
About damn time!
August 22, 2008
5:22 p.m.
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The_Man writes:
Hell yeah,
This was a great move for the Nuggets and they didn't have to overpay to keep him. He was flat out awesome the last half of last season. He is the Future at 2 guard.
August 22, 2008
5:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
carryBIGstick writes:
We Gave up Camby for nothing, curently, we don't have a quality point guard, a decent guy who can play center, but HEY! WE HAVE JR BACK!!!!!!!! PATHETIC!!!!!!!
This team will be lucky to win 32 games, every other team in the west got better, except the Chicken McNuggets!!!
August 22, 2008
9:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
sildragon writes:
J.R. led the Nugs in 3 point shooting the last 2 seasons ( was tied with Peja Sto., leading the league briefly), and averaged 12 points a game as a BENCH player and you call that pathetic, carryBigstick? Signing J.R. was one of the more intelligent moves the front office made this summer. J.R is a great role player for the Nuggets and any fan that follows them knows that.
August 23, 2008
12:44 p.m.
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Broncody writes:
First of all I think big stick was commenting on the fact that everybody is so excited about JR coming back when the Nuggets let go of two essential players. I think the Nuggets do have a chance though, if they start; Nene, K-mart, Melo, JR ( I wouldn't mind seeing Kleiza here either) and AI, I don't know of a starting 5 with more talent, then you have Chucky Atkins or AC come in for the 3 minutes AI needs a breather, and Kleiza off the bench. There is no reason this team can't win.
I would like to see this team emulate the Broncos O-line and refuse to talk to the media. They need the mindset of "You Will Not Score While I Am Defending You" every game and they will go far. That, though, lies with Coach Karl.
About JR's immaturity, that needs to stop right now. I think it has resolved itself quite a bit, but it cannot be allowed anymore. Darrent Williams (may he rest in peace) was murdered because of other individuals immaturity and recklessness and so did JR's friend. Learn from that and don't let history repeat itself please. I am not blaming JR for Darrent Williams ( may he rest in peace) I am just using that as an example of how serious that issue is.
August 23, 2008
3:03 p.m.
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jsppro1 writes:
Ok, it's about time the Nuggets did right by one of their players. JR with take over for AI next year. If you take a close look at it. JR, Melo, Nene not bad for a center piece of a team. You add AI, K-mart, Balkman, Speical K and Anderson, you might have something here. BUT, I have been saying this for months now. Nuggets need a point Guard in the worst way. You add a 1 guard to this and it will sing(believe me). HInrich or Tinsley or anyone who can PASS the dam ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 25, 2008
4:34 a.m.
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NJDOLLFACE writes:
I am real excited about this signing. Now I hope and pray that J.R. takes this opportunity to show the NBA and the world WHY he came out of HS to the pros. He has an awesome 3 point savvy. He flows with Melo and AI on the run game, he needs to make better shot selections and hopefully his summer work out with John Lucas in Houston and the other training he did will improve his defensive. I believe he is ready to settle down and assist the Nuggets in making it out of the first round. Thanks KP13 for setting the record straight on JR's previous infractions. So what he has tattoos, NOPE he was not drunk the night he best friend was killed, and has it been TRULY proven that he spit on this woman at the bar yet? Can't recall hearing a verdict on that one.