PTI confirms JR Smith and Bulls are talking

[Jordan45822]

Jon Pastuszek
@NiuBBall Jon Pastuszek
J.R.Smith and the Zhejiang Chouzhou Golden Bulls are mathematically out of the CBA playoff picture after they lost tonight at Guangsha.
1 hour ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Retweeted by skitalicious

he will be available after Feburary 19 (he will play in the CBA all-star game) now.

[biggestbullsfan]

Jon Pastuszek
@NiuBBall Jon Pastuszek
J.R.Smith and the Zhejiang Chouzhou Golden Bulls are mathematically out of the CBA playoff picture after they lost tonight at Guangsha.
1 hour ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Retweeted by skitalicious

he will be available after Feburary 19 (he will play in the CBA all-star game) now.

Thats good news for us.

I think that its possible we arwe still in consideration depending on how much money he wants, and given if he wants to win now and get paid later. Thought given reports and his currenty trwwets, i think we are fourth behond La, LA and NY.

[kyrv]

Jon Pastuszek
@NiuBBall Jon Pastuszek
J.R.Smith and the Zhejiang Chouzhou Golden Bulls are mathematically out of the CBA playoff picture after they lost tonight at Guangsha.
1 hour ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Retweeted by skitalicious

he will be available after Feburary 19 (he will play in the CBA all-star game) now.

Thats good news for us.

I think that its possible we arwe still in consideration depending on how much money he wants, and given if he wants to win now and get paid later. Thought given reports and his currenty trwwets, i think we are fourth behond La, LA and NY.

So did Dwight, Jamal, and Jason Richardson.

Every case is different, but the majority of players who say it's about winning, end up taking the most money. That is to say, when someone says that, it's more than likely NOT true. Possible, but odds are against it.

Being 4th might as well be 30th wouldn't it? The 3 teams above him, all have interest right?

[Jordan45822]

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page ... 12-orlando

New York is still the closest thing to a consensus favorite to sign J.R. Smith to a rest-of-the-season contract worth $2.5 million when the rangy guard returns from China. Lots of teams are interested in Smith, including both the Clippers and Lakers, but the Knicks are starved for shooters and have more money and a bigger role to offer than most Smith suitors, which gives them an edge.

they going to start him over the "Great Landry Fields." Ohhhhhhhhhh Nooos. Thats a bad move since Landry Fields is the next Reggie Miller.

[Ralphb07]

JR Smith is not and I repeat NOT coming to Chicago. He will be in NY or LA. I think we have a better shot at Dwight and that's a 0.01% of happening.

[biggestbullsfan]

JR Smith is not and I repeat NOT coming to Chicago. He will be in NY or LA. I think we have a better shot at Dwight and that's a 0.01% of happening.

Lol, if we have a better shot at D12 than Smith, then we will have both on the day Terminator is president of the US.

[Ben]

Folks on the Knicks board are talking about
Lin/ Smith/ Melo/ Amare/ Chandler
as the starting lineup, and
Baron/ Fields/ Shumpert/ Walker/ Jeffries/ Novak/ Harrellson
on the bench.

I have to say, that'd be an interesting starting lineup, especially if Lin can play at a high level for longer than just 3 games. Of course, I wouldn't go as far as they're doing on the Knicks board and proclaiming Smith the piece that would make them title contenders. He'd have to be a pretty amazing player to take an 11-15 team and make them champions.

That said, I am one of the guys who thinks that Smith could take a team like us, already in title contention but probably not quite there, over the top. Too bad it's almost certainly not going to happen.

[boogydown]

I really want JR Smith here but it's not likely. Why?

1). We have the best record in the league with who we have
2). We can't offer as much money as some of these other teams
3). We already have way to many players and need to continue to build our current players
4). We have no minutes for Smith
5). He can start on other teams versus being a reserve here

My only hope though is JR Smith sees the good side of being in Chicago where he can probably come in here, eventually find minutes, and develop into the clutch scorer we need off the bench. In turn, this will build his value and could make him a must resign player in the summer.

If we want to avoid seeing players like JR Smith go to other teams, we need to clear roster spots which I think we should seriously consider this summer if we don't win a title by trimming down our total salary for picks rather than seeing them walk in 2013, and revamping our bench to be able to be eligible to use the Full Mid Level Exception.

[boogydown]

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-120210-11/nba-trade-deadline-looms-d12-orlando

New York is still the closest thing to a consensus favorite to sign J.R. Smith to a rest-of-the-season contract worth $2.5 million when the rangy guard returns from China. Lots of teams are interested in Smith, including both the Clippers and Lakers, but the Knicks are starved for shooters and have more money and a bigger role to offer than most Smith suitors, which gives them an edge.

they going to start him over the "Great Landry Fields." Ohhhhhhhhhh Nooos. Thats a bad move since Landry Fields is the next Reggie Miller.

JR will only receive half of that $2.5M.

It's the amount of games that haven't already been played / 66 Games X $2.5M

[boogydown]

That said, I am one of the guys who thinks that Smith could take a team like us, already in title contention but probably not quite there, over the top. Too bad it's almost certainly not going to happen.

I agree but it's up to him. Winning a title here and being a legit scorer off the bench we need would probably double his value.

[biggestbullsfan]

That said, I am one of the guys who thinks that Smith could take a team like us, already in title contention but probably not quite there, over the top. Too bad it's almost certainly not going to happen.

I agree but it's up to him. Winning a title here and being a legit scorer off the bench we need would probably double his value.

Players who look good on good teams that also go deep into the playoffs increase their value.

JJ Barea, George Hill, Jordan Farmar, Dantay Jones, Kurt Thomas, Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon, etc.

If you look good on a good team, then that will increae your value than if you look good on a bad team. Teams want to win, and they hope the players on those teams carry their winning ways to theirs.

[Ben]

I really want JR Smith here but it's not likely. Why?

1). We have the best record in the league with who we have
2). We can't offer as much money as some of these other teams
3). We already have way to many players and need to continue to build our current players
4). We have no minutes for Smith
5). He can start on other teams versus being a reserve here

My only hope though is JR Smith sees the good side of being in Chicago where he can probably come in here, eventually find minutes, and develop into the clutch scorer we need off the bench. In turn, this will build his value and could make him a must resign player in the summer.

If we want to avoid seeing players like JR Smith go to other teams, we need to clear roster spots which I think we should seriously consider this summer if we don't win a title by trimming down our total salary for picks and revamping our bench to be able to be eligible to use the Full Mid Level Exception.

We can pretty easily use the full MLE next year if we want to. Just let Brewer and Korver walk. We'd probably pay LT with the full MLE (b/c it would put us over the threshold once we fill out the roster and possibly extend Asik), but we could do it. The question remains whether a guy like JR Smith would be willing to take the MLE from us and whether our FO and ownership would be willing to pay the LT for a guy like him.

[biggestbullsfan]

I really want JR Smith here but it's not likely. Why?

1). We have the best record in the league with who we have
2). We can't offer as much money as some of these other teams
3). We already have way to many players and need to continue to build our current players
4). We have no minutes for Smith
5). He can start on other teams versus being a reserve here

My only hope though is JR Smith sees the good side of being in Chicago where he can probably come in here, eventually find minutes, and develop into the clutch scorer we need off the bench. In turn, this will build his value and could make him a must resign player in the summer.

If we want to avoid seeing players like JR Smith go to other teams, we need to clear roster spots which I think we should seriously consider this summer if we don't win a title by trimming down our total salary for picks and revamping our bench to be able to be eligible to use the Full Mid Level Exception.

We can pretty easily use the full MLE next year if we want to. Just let Brewer and Korver walk. We'd probably pay LT with the full MLE (b/c it would put us over the threshold once we fill out the roster and possibly extend Asik), but we could do it. The question remains whether a guy like JR Smith would be willing to take the MLE from us and whether our FO and ownership would be willing to pay the LT for a guy like him.

This is somewhat hard to consider since the market for a guy like JR is alot higher than the Full MLE. However, given the new CBA, the LT penalties and how teams are starting to cut back alot more now, it could be possible that a role with us, as well as the potential of the marketing from a city like chicago would help him alot more than other potential destinations longterm. Though given his career, he may want to cash in next summer.

But also since the season is halfway over, i dont think 2.5 million versus the vet min is a huge difference. Given how far we expect to go in the plyoffs in comarison to the knicks, lakers, pacers, and clippers, I think he could pretty much strike even on how much money he will make in the condensed schedule.

[boogydown]

We can pretty easily use the full MLE next year if we want to. Just let Brewer and Korver walk. We'd probably pay LT with the full MLE (b/c it would put us over the threshold once we fill out the roster and possibly extend Asik), but we could do it. The question remains whether a guy like JR Smith would be willing to take the MLE from us and whether our FO and ownership would be willing to pay the LT for a guy like him.

We'd also have to draft an European and don't forget the minimums that will automatically count. Think we need to move Taj or Watson or Asik/Korver/Brewer. The MLE isn't really worth losing all that unless we get picks back with an unguaranteed contract for them.

Example:

Brewer for a 1st + Unguaranteed
Korver + Cash for a 2nd + Unguaranteed
Taj for a 1st + Unguaranteed

Now we can use the Full MLE.

JR Smith on the other hand would of course get a bigger contract next year so he'd come here not necessarily for the present situation but a long term fit here. It's up to him though.

[boogydown]

My concern is Brewer, Korver, Watson, Gibson are guys who could walk in 2013 with bigger deals and now our bench looks weak and we're stuck with 4 contracts preventing us from having a deep bench. If the Bulls don't see these 4 being long term fits with this team beyond 2013, they should be moved while they have value in the summer for picks at least to reduce our salary rather than letting them walk in 2013 for nothing which would be devastating just as when Ben Gordon walked.

Guys like JR Smith though could keep our bench consistently deep allowing us to be able to move some of our current players.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Right now we have specialists coming off the bench. One trick Ponies if you will. We need some Swiss Army Knives going forward.

[kyrv]

Right now we have specialists coming off the bench. One trick Ponies if you will. We need some Swiss Army Knives going forward.

For starters, two way players rock. Not sure on bench players. If you get two way bench players, they aren't that good, so for example for specialty lineups they can't really help out, like end of game offense or defense and when you need a last second three.

I guess a team can go either way, but I don't think two way bench players will typically be too good at any facets, is that better than players like Brewer or Korver? I'm not sure.

[BullsCroatia]

We can pretty easily use the full MLE next year if we want to. Just let Brewer and Korver walk. We'd probably pay LT with the full MLE (b/c it would put us over the threshold once we fill out the roster and possibly extend Asik), but we could do it. The question remains whether a guy like JR Smith would be willing to take the MLE from us and whether our FO and ownership would be willing to pay the LT for a guy like him.

And Watson.

If you use the full mid-level to get to or approach that barrier looming $4 million over the tax line, you cannot cross it by re-signing your own free agents via Larry Bird Rights. You can cross it to sign rookies or guys on veteran minimum contracts.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Right now we have specialists coming off the bench. One trick Ponies if you will. We need some Swiss Army Knives going forward.

For starters, two way players rock. Not sure on bench players. If you get two way bench players, they aren't that good, so for example for specialty lineups they can't really help out, like end of game offense or defense and when you need a last second three.

I guess a team can go either way, but I don't think two way bench players will typically be too good at any facets, is that better than players like Brewer or Korver? I'm not sure.

What I meant was instead of having guys that do one thing really well it would be nice to have multi-purpose guys that can do more than one thing or play more than one position. Instead of relying on 4-5 guys for various things it would be nice to have 2-3 instead. Lamar Odom types I guess.

[cot2]

Minimum salary deals, and exceptions do not prorate from the same date, so always hold a higher %, and even a significant amount the last day of the season. Minimum salary deals prorate from the begining of the season, the other exceptions could be used in full until January 10th, then start to prorate, so probably later this year. The following is from the old CBA.

This exception begins to reduce in value after the first day of the season. For example, if there are 180 days in the season, then this exception reduces in value by 1/180 of its initial value each day. If a team signs a minimum salary player 90 days into the season, it can pay the player only half the minimum salary

.

Starting January 10 of each season, the Mid-Level, Bi-Annual, Larry Bird, Early-Bird and Non-Bird exceptions begin to reduce in value. For example, if there are 180 days in the season, then these exceptions (if they are still unused) reduce by 1/180 of their initial value each day starting January 10. If a team uses their $5 million Mid-Level exception on February 1, then the exception is actually worth $4,361,111.

without knowing exact dates of prorated amount, even if you say JR gets a prorated amount of 2.5 million (which pro-rates again because of 66 games), the difference is a couple hundred thousand dollars.

To be honest, I think JR Smith sits out before he signs a one year deal anywhere and loses his bird rights.

Larry Coon@LarryCoon
A note on JR Smith's choice, if he's choosing between a min salary offer and one for the $2.5M exception -- because of different rates of pro-ration, today's value of a min salary contract is $656,370, while the $2.5M exception is worth $2,358,871. In other words, it's not very close -- he can make 3.5X as much signing with the Knicks, say, than the Clippers. If he's in it for the money, then it's not close