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J.R. Smith isn't attracting any attention

Free-agent guard still waits to hear from other teams

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 18, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

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J.R. Smith hasn't received much more interest this summer than J.R. Rider.

If the Nuggets had fears of some team swooping in to sign the restricted free-agent guard to a big offer sheet, they can breathe easier.

Smith was asked Friday if he'd heard this summer from any other teams.

"Not yet," he said.

Wait a minute. You haven't heard from any teams having interest in signing you?

"I haven't heard from anybody," he said.

Smith said he hasn't gotten an offer from the Nuggets, other than the option to return next season for the $3.04 million qualifying offer. He said it's too early to say whether he might take that offer, which would enable him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

"I'm not sure yet. I'd have to go over that with my people," said Smith, who said he plans to talk to his representatives "at the end of the month."

Taking the qualifying offer could end up being Smith's best option. He turned down a three-year extension offer in October worth about $10 million, and there have been no indications the Nuggets are willing to offer a lot more.

Even if Smith were to be offered a multiyear deal starting at $4 million, taking the qualifying offer could allow him to increase his value for next summer. With most teams seeking to contain costs, teams don't seem willing this summer to possibly overpay for a restricted free agent to prevent the offer sheet from being matched within the allowable seven days.

KEEPING UP WITH JONES: Guard Dahntay Jones turned down a Nuggets offer in April because he didn't want to also sign a nonguaranteed contract for next season.

Looks like it was the right move.

After scoring 29 points in Friday's 105-104 overtime win over Houston, Jones leads Denver in scoring in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with a 21.5 average in four games. And he's remained a free agent.

"We're talking about it quite a bit," Jones' agent, Mark Bartelstein, said of his client possibly signing with the Nuggets for next season. "There's interest, but there's interest from a lot of teams. . . . We're going to jump at the first good situation."

Bartelstein expects the 6- foot-6 Jones, who has averaged 4.9 points in five seasons, to receive guaranteed money. Seeking that security, Jones, 27, turned down Denver's offer in April.

"It was no disrespect to the Nuggets," said Jones, who has worked out recently with Charlotte, Dallas, Golden State, Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Clippers. "I didn't want to get locked into that team and then they could release me Aug. 15. I wanted to be able to work out for other teams."

When Jones rejected them, the Nuggets turned to forward Bobby Jones. His $797,581 contract for next season is guaranteed only if he's not waived by Aug. 15.

The summer league hasn't gone too well for Bobby Jones and point guard Taurean Green, whose $711,517 deal becomes guaranteed only if he's not waived by Aug. 1. Jones is averaging 8 points and 4.3 fouls while shooting 6-of-20 and Green is averaging 6.3 points and 1.8 assists while shooting 5-of-26.

"I'd like to play for (the Nuggets)," said Dahntay Jones, who concludes summer play for Denver tonight against the Lakers. "I think I bring them a player who can attack the basket, have a little flash and provide outside shooting and defense."

CUTTING COSTS: Bartelstein said the Nuggets have talked to him about client Kwame Brown, a free-agent big man. But Bartelstein doubts Brown is a viable Nuggets option.

"I think they're in a cost-cutting mode," Bartelstein said.

Denver dispatched center Marcus Camby on Tuesday in a move that could save more than $22 million when the dollar-for- dollar luxury tax is considered. After paying $13.57 million in luxury tax last season, the Nuggets are in line to cut that figure significantly and don't figure to spend much the rest of the offseason.

If Smith returns for the qualifying offer and the Nuggets fill remaining roster spots up to 13 with minimum-contract players, they would have a payroll of about $75 million, about $4 million in excess of the tax line.

Comments

  • July 19, 2008

    2:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Kered writes:

    Is it really any surprise that teams don't want to pay a player like Smith big money? He has plenty of baggage and he doesn't have a consistant game.

  • July 19, 2008

    4:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SteveC writes:

    $3.04 million? How much do you really need to live on? I'm sorry but these guys turning down offers of millions of dollars a year because it's not enough make me want to not watch them play. When your main concern is how millions you can make and not about playing the best you can or trying to win, why should I waste my time?

  • July 19, 2008

    5:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    daRock writes:

    SteveC

    It is not a matter of how much someone needs to live on. Pro athletes have skills matched by few others. Just like all of us, they should get paid what it would cost to replace them. If an employer (or potentially several of them) offered to pay you $250k per year to do what you do, would you say, 'no thanks I can live on $50k per year'. Of course not.

    It is a business for them, just like it is for the team, league or any other company.

    Heather MIlls claimed she 'needed' $500 mil to 'live on'.

  • July 19, 2008

    9:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SteveC writes:

    If someone offered me $250K a year you're right, I would take it. My point is that pro athletes are WAY overpaid and feel that they are entitled millions of dollars a year. There perspective on how much they are really worth and how much they think they should get are totally out of whack.

  • July 19, 2008

    11:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    stewie_08 writes:

    SteveC, I'm not sure the pro sports forum is the place for you.

    Just like anything else, you want to be paid comparable to others in your field. Whether it's making $9 per hour like the rest of the movie ticket-takers or $5 mil a year like the other on-the-rise shooting guards, the concept remains the same.

    Like the previous commentor pointed out, it's not as if J.R. will say, "Well, all the comparable players are making $5 mil, but, heck, $3.1 is a lot too, so why don't I just settle?"

  • July 20, 2008

    11:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    repent_walpurgis writes:

    I'd like to see the Nuggets wrap JR up for 3-4 years, and that would require a rather large financial committment. JR is this close to becoming a superstar in the NBA. He can get to anywhere he wants on the court and get a shot. Once he eliminates some simple mistakes from his repertoire, he'll be unstoppable. Easily the best athlete on the team.

  • July 20, 2008

    2:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    anugsfan writes:

    i agree with the above poster. j.r. is going to be a talent. he is maturing. nuggets should lock him up and try to fill in a solid cast around him and melo in the coming years.

  • July 20, 2008

    2:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    munson13 writes:

    Smith is an idiot. A lucky idiot. Idiots usually make $5.85 an hour. They only make more when idiot employers like the thuggettes pay them more.

  • July 20, 2008

    4:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nuggetsteve23 writes:

    JR is 6-6 Can shoot from anywhere and drive and leap to get to superstar status He needs some post moves and DEFENSE NO REASON THat somebody that athletic cant play D but is he worth more than 3 mill yes the nuggets gave that to kleizia and Boykins and chuck akins

  • July 20, 2008

    6:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nutmg1 writes:

    Locking up Smith should be a no brainer.

    Sure he has off court issues but so does 50% of the NBA.

    I believe he has more talent than Melo and AI. Next season will be his best.

    Lets get it done.

  • July 21, 2008

    7:50 a.m.

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    NJDOLLFACE writes:

    WOW!! Some people that see JR's potential is a good thing and not what he does off the court is a great distraction. I so feel he needed to spend this summer working on his defense which I heard he is doing in Houston. The young man has range out of this world and we are not going to talk about his vertical!!!! The nuggets need to give him the 5-7 million a year for 5 years he is asking for and get ready to get past the 1st round once they find a true middle man since they go rid of Camby.

  • July 21, 2008

    10:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cwillyrun1 writes:

    nutmg1, wow. Really throwing exaggeration out there, huh? Smith is likely more athletic than Melo or AI.... although AI could've went to college as a QB for a football team, so maybe AI really is more athletic than Smith. But Smith doesn't have more talent than Melo or AI, sorry!

  • July 22, 2008

    2:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dwade3 writes:

    Smith is an amazing talent, but if he just sits on the bench it isn't going to do them much good. Losing Camby obviously signals that they are going to blow up this team. Why not lock Smith up with a 5 year contract and get him on the cheap now. Put Iverson at the point guard, a position which he can play. (Even if he doesn't like it they will probably be trading him before the end of the season) then build the team around Klezia, Smith, Melo and whoever you get for Iverson. Although I think Melo is not the franchise player that is going to get you a championship. Oh and get rid of George Karl as the denverstiffs site has been asking for.

  • July 22, 2008

    4:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ManginoTorreta writes:

    "Like the previous commentor pointed out, it's not as if J.R. will say, "Well, all the comparable players are making $5 mil, but, heck, $3.1 is a lot too, so why don't I just settle?""

    I understand where you are coming from, stewie, but he may not have a choice in the long run. Not many teams are going to want to take a chance that he's going to be anything more than a sixth man until he demonstrates the same desire to play all season long that he showed at the end of last season.

    This is a case where getting rid of Najera is going to come back to bite the Nuggets in the butt. Smith's time on the pine with Eddie and Kleiza forced him to pick up his game and show the same consistent energy those two put out night after night, and it showed down the stretch when he was shooting the lights out. Now there is going to be one less person to show him by example how to maximize his talent (which is considerable).

    Smith was just starting to come into his own as a player before the knicks brawl and the Iverson trade, and it's going to take another 2-3 years, at least, before we'll know the extent to which he will be a good or great performer. Pound for pound, he's the best athlete and best shooter on the team (and could potentially be the best defender if he worked on that aspect of his game), so hopefully he'll continue to grow and not regress with these recent roster moves.

  • July 26, 2008

    5:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Slader writes:

    Since this article appeared, Josh Childress bolted for Greece with a very sweet offer. I think if the Nuggs hope to wait out JR and sign him for 3 mil, some European team could whisk him away. There are many teams over here (I live in Italy) that could afford to offer 2mil euros (more than 3mil dollars!) and maybe pay his taxes like the Greek team is doing for Childress. JR might just jump.
    I think Denver should offer him a little more than the qualifying offer, say 3.5mil but for two years at least. That way they pre-empt other offers without committing long-term.
    If President Bush wants to keep the dollar weak to promote US exports, we'd better get used to exporting hoopsters. Also the NBA needs to negotiate with the European leagues to establish reciprocal respect for contracts and free agency. Otherwise their strong currency will constitute an unpredictable lever against NBA teams.