RealGM

Nolan Smith, likely playing in his final games with the Portland Trail Blazers, understands why fans often dream about how they could have had Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried.

Portland drafted Smith one pick ahead of Faried, who has blossomed this season, during the 2011 NBA Draft.

"I don't blame them," Smith said. "I don't blame them at all. Seeing what he's doing, seeing how he plays when he's on the court with his team, it's very easy to say, 'Damn, we could have had him.' But they could have had Michael Jordan, as well. It's part of the draft. They're mad at Greg Oden, too. So you can just add me to the guys they can be mad at."

Smith prefers not to dwell on his inability to catch on in Portland, but rather to focus on rediscovering his game and prove there is a place for him in the NBA.

"This is a business and things in this league happen in time," Smith said. "You have to get to a team where you're in their plans. That's one thing I'm looking forward to this summer in free agency. I'm going to get to a place that wants me, that wants me to be myself and play my game. If you think about it, there's no telling what would have happened with (Faried) if the Blazers drafted him. He might have been playing behind LaMarcus (Aldridge) and maybe his opportunity wouldn't have come. His opportunity in Denver didn't come until Nene got hurt. But Kenneth got an opportunity and Kenneth made the most of his opportunity -- in Denver. So now all the Portland fans can be mad."

Via Joe Freeman/Oregonian

He's trash, and he knows it. Pity. He was good at Duke anyway.

See you in Hungaria soon, Nolan.

TOmSHoe wrote:He's trash, and he knows it. Pity. He was good at Duke anyway.

See you in Hungaria soon, Nolan.

He's a human being, man, not trash. People can grow and get better. Just wish the guy the best.

TOmSHoe wrote:He's trash, and he knows it. Pity. He was good at Duke anyway.

See you in Hungaria soon, Nolan.

Nolan's a man. He understands how things work. So many things are out of your control.

You sir on the other hand have no right calling a college educated, nba player, trash.

Perfectly said Nolan... straight forward legit answer... so many people lack the IQ to understand that a players location is key to their development. This is the very reason why some players become a complete buss while others surprise... this is the reason why I hate the fact that the NBA is also a business game... so many good players get put in places that kill their potential.

blau08 wrote:Nolan's a man. He understands how things work. So many things are out of your control.

You sir on the other hand have no right calling a college educated, nba player, trash.

Given the context of the discussion, I'm confident he meant that Nolan was trash as a bball player and not as a human being. Taking into account the fact this is the Internet, one must also remember that people often fall into hyperbole.
Nolan Smith has been a bad bball player.
Maybe he could have gotten better opportunities, but he hasn't capitalized on the ones he was given. He's also getting to an age where players show less signs of improvement.

So yeah, he's trash. I wish him the best so long as it does not negatively impact me.