Tune In: The Nick Smith Jr Thread

[Liver_Pooty]

You don’t release a 21 year old who shoots 37 percent from deep. Just stupid.

[luciano-davidwesley]

You don’t release a 21 year old who shoots 37 percent from deep. Just stupid.

Can't you see how Spencer Dinwiddie, Connaughton and Plumlee are going to be more deserving of roster spots and relevant to the long-term future of the team?

[JDR720]

I don't have an issue with letting him go. He doesn't have a spot with Melo/Sexton/Mann/Kon etc. on the team.

Mitch was the worst GM we've ever had though.

[Bassman]

Sorry to see NSJ cut but was expected. What a disastrous, horrible deal they pulled during that draft. Duren…sent away because we “had” our center?

[GoBobs]

I wish him well. He can still get there as he has plenty of time.

To many guys are coming out to early though. Most 19 year olds are not going to succeed in the nba. You have to be elite to make that work.

Picking a bunch of 19 year olds is also the dumbest video game plan out there. Nobody wins with a bunch of 19 year olds. Nobody wins with a bunch of 23 year olds. You win with guys that are like 27-33.

The average nba career is 4.5-5 years. Half the people are below average.

[Walt Cronkite]

Not crazy about this move, but the roster would need catastrophic injuries to its guard pool for him to see significant minutes, so if he can get a contract elsewhere, it might not be the worst thing for him. Not sure if getting cut at this point does him any favors or not getting onto a training camp roster. Hope he lands in a good situation, easy to like kid who is probably a net positive in the right place.

[EmpireFalls]

I hope we cut Salaun next year. If that’s the way this front office is going to move with young players then let’s be ruthless and cut out all the garbage. If you can cut NSJ, you can dump Salaun out of here too.

[HornetJail]

I hope we cut Salaun next year. If that’s the way this front office is going to move with young players then let’s be ruthless and cut out all the garbage. If you can cut NSJ, you can dump Salaun out of here too.

it won't happen since he's Jeff's first draft pick, but Salaun really doesn't even deserve to have his year 3 option picked up. There is such a small chance that he's ever going to be worth his rookie contract let alone a second contract. If he ever figures it out, it'll be long after he's gone from Charlotte, probably out of the NBA entirely, and then coming back like Guerschon Yabasele

There's a very good chance Jeff neglected to bring in a backup forward, so that Tidjane is guaranteed playing time this year.

[fatlever]

1. nsj was not picked by jpete
2. nsj played more than most late 1sts would have played, so its not like he hasnt had minutes
3. even if we cut spencer AND pat AND sent sion to swarm, nsj is still buried behind guards in front of him
- at pg: melo, sex, mann, kj, nsj
- at sg: sex, kon, mann, liam, green, nsj
4. 37% is barely above league avg. hell, we just signed a random sg to 2way who is 40%.
5. nsj has not carved out a role beyond microwave streaky undersized combo, with no real path to a role this year

its unfortunate for nsj, but cutting him was correct move. its more unfortunate we couldnt find a trade for him. he'll be ok.

[Diop]

I'm with Fats, I think NSjr will be great in lesser leagues as an alpha scorer but I don't believe he has the skills to be that in the NBA consistently.

He couldn't find a role like high end defence or reliable back up point guard.

Let someone else have a go with him but I don't see where he fits in this roster. We held on to see if we could trade him, but no luck, he is a low risk cut really.

Good luck to him

[Diop]

His best option would be a playoff team, be has a hot microwave patch in an important game that earns a nice next contract.

[Chapelchilla]

Smith has been consistently inconsistent and is short, skinny and weak. It's probably fine to move on.