JR Smith officially agrees to deal with Knicks (merged)

[og15]

JR Smith although talented is not a good fit for our team.

Do you think CP3 is gonna like playing with him after playing with Billups?

I'd rather move Butler to 2 and start Gomes or Martin at 3 instead.

I've heard some people mention this Butler at SG and Gomes or Martin at 3 a few times, and I honestly don't know where it comes form.

Martin is a horrible 3 at this stage in his career, and the floor would be extremely congested. Caron Butler has never played well at the SG position, and is a SF, he's also better defensively at SF as his quickness is a little lagging at SG. Gomes just plain sucks right now, but even if he didn't, Foye-Caron is better than Caron-Gomes. The Wizards experimented with Caron at SG, it doesn't work that well.

The easy and obvious solution is starting Randy Foye at SG. He's versatile, can defend equally as well as Butler at SG, and can shoot from the outside. Not sure why any of those other options would even pop up before this one

[biggestbullsfan]

http://blognbasketball.com/2012/02/sour ... th-lakers/

[illastrate]

http://blognbasketball.com/2012/02/source-j-r-smith-will-sign-with-lakers/

LOL, you're linking an article that's 5 days old that has no mention of the Clippers' interest? This was obviously before Billups went down, so now a starting spot has opened up for him. Not to mention he gets to play with the best pure PG on a contender.

[kombayn]

I fully expect the Clippers to look at J.R. Smith but to also look at a trade. I personally wonder if the Celtics would be willing to deal Ray Allen. Say they trade Rondo for Gasol, then would Mo Williams & a filler get the job done for Ray Allen? The best part is J.R. Smith isn't back until around the trade deadline. So I expect Neil Olshey took look at all his options before he makes a deal.

[mkwest]

Lol RT @Grif_man44: @TheRealJRSmith In todays news JR Smith going to the knick!! #futurefacts

6 dayz dog! Ill be at one of them games soon RT @MylesTheCre4tor: @TheRealJRSmith I'm good bro how's china when u coming back ?

I wonder if people would be mad if I went to the heat? #justathought

Lol RT @goclips1: Breaking news @TheRealJRSmith has decided to join Kenyon Martin on the Los Angeles clippers. #dreamingtweets

Lol whats up man! RT @clipperdarrell: @TheRealJRSmith u will love los angeles then #CLIPPERS

Y'all really think kobe wants me on his team? Lol

You think so? It would be a great fit! RT @clipperdarrell: @TheRealJRSmith Yes we are BUT we can look even better with you #CLIPPERS

Thats whats up! Makes it easy wit a pg like @CP3 RT @clipperdarrell: @TheRealJRSmith Heck Yeah!! I know so ...YOU ARE THE MISSING PIECE!!!

#dope RT @clipperdarrell: @TheRealJRSmith when I say team.. u say SWISH!!....TEAM!! ..Let's Go JR Let's GO!! #CLIPPERS #TeamSwish

JR Smith via Twitter

The Decision Part 2 live on Twitter

[BernardKing]

just curious: do y'all have any exceptions left to use on JR? Or just the vet minimum?

[mkwest]

just curious: do y'all have any exceptions left to use on JR? Or just the vet minimum?

Just the minimum. If he is strictly about the money, he'll go with y'all more than likely. If it's a combination of fit and opportunity, then it's kind of up in the air. He could help out quite a few teams and have a significant role as well.

[BernardKing]

just curious: do y'all have any exceptions left to use on JR? Or just the vet minimum?

Just the minimum. If he is strictly about the money, he'll go with y'all more than likely. If it's a combination of fit and opportunity, then it's kind of up in the air. He could help out quite a few teams and have a significant role as well.

Thanks
I think there's a lot of minutes up for grabs in NY for a skilled 2 like JR... In a 6th man role he could end up averaging more minutes/game than our starting 2 (fields), especially with Toney Douglas struggling and Shump is just a rookie...

[illastrate]

just curious: do y'all have any exceptions left to use on JR? Or just the vet minimum?

Just the minimum. If he is strictly about the money, he'll go with y'all more than likely. If it's a combination of fit and opportunity, then it's kind of up in the air. He could help out quite a few teams and have a significant role as well.

Thanks
I think there's a lot of minutes up for grabs in NY for a skilled 2 like JR... In a 6th man role he could end up averaging more minutes/game than our starting 2 (fields), especially with Toney Douglas struggling and Shump is just a rookie...

He'll definitely get more $ and mins in NY. But with LAC, he'll get a starting spot, plays with the best PG, and catch lobs on a contending team. I really think it's between these two teams, a toss up at this point.

[mkwest]

Source: Clippers after J.R. Smith

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of a handful of teams vying for free-agent guard J.R. Smith, who will be eligible to return to the NBA on Wednesday after his Chinese team's season concludes, according to a source with knowledge of the team's thinking.

The Clippers were interested in Smith even before the season-ending injury to Chauncey Billups last week, believing they could use more offensive firepower off the bench. That was going to be a harder sell to Smith, who is looking for a larger role. Now, they can offer Smith the opportunity to start.

Like Billups did with recently-signed Kenyon Martin, point guard Chris Paul has taken a lead role in recruiting Smith, according to the source. The two are close from their two seasons as teammates with the Hornets.

Also like Billups and Martin, who are both represented by agent Andy Miller, Paul and Smith both are represented by agent Leon Rose. That would seem like an advantage, except for the fact that Rose also represents New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who said this week he'd be happy to have his former Nuggets teammate join him in New York.

The Clippers have two trade exceptions from the Paul trade -- one for approximately $3.9 million another for approximately $ 2.8 million -- that they could use to trade for an upgrade or depth at either shooting guard or small forward. Starting small forward Caron Butler can defend either shooting guards or small forwards.

If they miss on Smith, the Clippers would likely wait until after March 1 to actively pursue trades, the source said. March 1 is when players who signed as free agents in the offseason can be traded.

By then, Billups should almost be recovered enough from his surgery to travel with the team and help provide the gravitas and leadership that became so valuable to the team in the first two months of the season. It'll be from the bench, however.

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN Los Angeles

[Neddy]

hmmm. would NY give JR a starting job?

Lin-fields/eman-carmelo-amare-tyson i don't see a whole lot of minutes in NY for JR. maybe 18 minutes best?

CP3-foye-caron-griffin-DJ i see a starter minutes between starting over foye and sliding over to SF when caron sits. 30 to 38 minutes for this team easily.

if JR would go to NY over LAC, then we would know what he really cared about. $$$ over being a major part of something very special.

[Det the Threat]

From the wiretap.

The Clippers are in pursuit of J.R. Smith, according to a source.

Smith was on the radar of the Clippers even before the team lost Chauncey Billups for the remainder of the season. Smith can now be offered a bigger role with the Clippers.

Chris Paul has taken a lead role in recruiting Smith, as they are former teammates with the Hornets.

The Knicks are the presumed favorite to sign Smith.

CP3 recruiting Smith

The Knicks are certainly offering the most money, but we'd be offering a starting spot, quite some minutes and playing with CP3 and his other former teammate in Kenyon Martin.

[mttwlsn16]

Chris Paul recruiting JR

Chris Paul has taken a "lead role" in recruiting free agent J.R. Smith for the Clippers, a source tells ESPN Los Angeles.
Smith will be eligible to return to the NBA on Wednesday. And thanks to Chauncey Billups' season-ending injury, the Clippers might be offering a starting role. Paul and Smith know each other from their two seasons together in New Orleans and they both share agent Leon Rose. The Knicks are expected to be the Clippers' prime competition for Smith.

http://rotoworld.com/headlines/nba/171563/report-chris-paul-is-recruiting-jr-smith

[madmaxmedia]

I guess I will be pleased either way if thats what it comes down to- Clips or Knicks. I mean I want the Clippers to get JR, but I've been riding the Lin train and have been enjoying watching them.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Don't forget that Smith is from nearby Newark, New Jersey. So he would be a lot closer to home if he signs with the Knicks. At this point there aren't really any other good options, so if CP3 is pushing for JR to sign with us I'm OK with it.

[mkwest]

hmmm. would NY give JR a starting job?

Lin-fields/eman-carmelo-amare-tyson i don't see a whole lot of minutes in NY for JR. maybe 18 minutes best?

CP3-foye-caron-griffin-DJ i see a starter minutes between starting over foye and sliding over to SF when caron sits. 30 to 38 minutes for this team easily.

if JR would go to NY over LAC, then we would know what he really cared about. $$$ over being a major part of something very special.

The Knicks have been longing for something out of their backcourt for the entire season. Lin has obviously been huge for them. Baron should be ready by the end of the month for them. Aside from that, they have Douglas, Fields and Shumpert. None of them have been able to shoot from the perimeter and even Bibby is below 30%. Smith is 37.1% for his career and shot 39% last season. That would be huge for them in terms of spreading the floor and giving Melo, Stoudemire and even Chandler more room to operate in the paint. Fields can play some small forward.

Lin (30) / Davis (15-18) / Shumpert (0-3)
Smith (28) / Shumpert (14-17) /Fields (3-6)
Anthony (34) / Fields (14)

Or something like that. Davis' minutes woud probably increase as he got re-acquainted to playing in games. Smith could put in some time at SF depending on what kind of line-up they're using.

[JayClips92]

I really think we are going to see Swish in a Clippers uniform

[mkwest]

I really think we are going to see Swish in a Clippers uniform

I'm hopeful. Us having so many former teammates of his and being on a team with high potential heading into the playoffs should help our case a ton. Lin has helped turn things around in NY, but they're still likely going to face Miami or Chicago in the 1st round. They really need to jump 2 more teams to get into a much more favorable position at the 6th spot imo.

[mttwlsn16]

I really think we are going to see Swish in a Clippers uniform

[kombayn]

It's hard to tell. I think J.R. Signs with us and we start him.