As has been widely reported for awhile now, Chris Paul is actively trying to recruit his former teammate, free agent J.R. Smith, to join the Los Angeles Clippers. Smith is currently playing his final game in China any minute now, and will apparently be back in the US some time Wednesday. Presumably he would be deciding between offers from the Clippers and the New York Knicks and other suitors shortly thereafter.
Paul's association with Smith as a former teammate is being played up as a major factor in all of this. Consider this line from Marc Stein's story: "'Who knows J.R. better than me?' Paul said of Smith, his teammate for two seasons with the Hornets." Ramona Shelburn of ESPN LA has been on top of this story as well, and on Monday she wrote "Like Billups did with recently-signed Kenyon Martin, point guard Chris Paul has taken a lead role in recruiting Smith .... The two are close from their two seasons as teammates with the Hornets."
So that seems really important right? Those two seasons they played together with the Hornets? Just one problem. They only played one season together with the Hornets.
Smith was part of the 2004 draft where Dwight Howard was the first pick and eight high schoolers were selected in the first 20 picks, Smith himself going 18 to New Orleans. Paul was in the 2005 draft, selected fourth by the Hornets. Smith was then traded to Chicago in July 2006, eventually landing to Denver a week later. So Paul and Smith played just one season together, 2005-2006, as teammates in New Orleans. Or really, as long as we're nitpicking, in Oklahoma City, since that was directly after Hurricane Katrina and the Hornets temporarily relocated.
Not that this invalidates the original point or anything. Paul and Smith were a couple of 20 year olds, living the dream playing NBA ball. They were the two youngest Hornets, and formed the team's starting backcourt for much of the season. They no doubt grew extraordinarily close in that situation. If CP3 says he knows J.R. Smith as well as anyone in the league, who am I to say different.
But they originally grew close playing together one season with the Hornets, not two. Just so we're clear.
0 recs | 62 comments
I always wonder how the players
who’s playing time or job can be effected really feel when they hear stories like this. Are Mo, Foye, Bledsoe excited CP3 is recruiting another guard? How about DJ,Cookie and Evans when Chaucey was recruiting KMart?
PV Mike - February 14, 2012
Good question
It’s great to win. But Randy Foye would go from starting two guard on a contender to expiring contract trade bait immediately if this trade happens.
Steve Perrin - February 14, 2012
Tell JR that if he signs, we let Foye Expire. That's 4m right there, and however much more we want to thrown on via Bird Rights, that will be his next season, as well.
Gordon for President - February 14, 2012
I don't think any bird rights can be given to Smith.
JackduhSun - February 14, 2012
correct
you need 3 years on the same contract… so no UFA. If you trade, Bird Rights are retained. So unless Foye walking clears cap, then JR cannot get that $$
LJ Hann - February 14, 2012
Foye doesn't see that
He sees going back to the bench to be in gunner mode.
Takebb909 - February 14, 2012 via mobile
Gotta love this snippet from NBC Sports
Getting some respect finally? :-)
lovinglosangeles - February 14, 2012
Pro-rated over a longer period of time?
I wonder how come?
Erik O - February 14, 2012
I understand the whole pro-rated deal but not the "longer period of time" thing
lovinglosangeles - February 14, 2012
apparently an MLE is prorated taking 10 February as a starting point
so if a player is signed after the second game after the 10 February he misses 1/(number of games left after 10 February) of his pay check. With the minimum deal they count all the games already played in the season; So if he signed at the exact same moment he would lose (1+number of games before 10 february)/(number of total games). Both mechanism only kick in after 10 February but as you see in the second case a player loses a much bigger part of his pay check.
BelgianClipper - February 14, 2012
If it's between LAC and NYK
LAC has to have the advantage here simply because this team lacks Melo, the ultimate ball hog and anti-up-tempo offensive guy. It still baffles me that he is in NY with D’Antoni. We’ll see how it is when he comes back now that Lin has given D’Antoni a point guard rather than a small shooting guard playing point.
JR has much more opportunity to be successful as a team and individual in LA than NY.
ECFIVESTER - February 14, 2012
The Knicks gave up waaay to much for Melo, they were better without him. I knew from when I saw that trade, it was horrible. He shoots waaaay to much.
DannyDodger - February 14, 2012
I thought Kobe was the ultimate ball hog . . .
Jax - February 14, 2012
True bit in his defense, his supporting cast is not that good right now.
lovinglosangeles - February 14, 2012
wow
good eye, President Perrin
jon y - February 14, 2012
Need his help Foye struggled greatly against the size of Carter
KillaClip - February 14, 2012
so who has known JR as a teammate the longest?
I’m guessing since Kenyon, nene, and melo were all in Denver when he arrived, and we’re all there until last year, it’s one of them, with melo probably coming in last since he was traded mid season.
osamu - February 14, 2012 via iPhone app
you answered you own question
Kenyon and Nene. Although both of them missed major portions of one season during that span due to injury.
One more thing — as long as I’m fact checking here, Stein says there are three former teammates of Smith’s on the Clippers — Paul, KMart and Billups. There are actually four as Reggie Evans and J.R. were together in Denver in 06-07.
Steve Perrin - February 14, 2012
thanks I wasn't sure
And yea I noticed Reggie’s name not mentioned as well. Although with some of Reggie’s tendencies, maybe it’s best if he doesn’t remember playing with him, haha.
osamu - February 14, 2012 via iPhone app
One of JR's fondest memories of Reggie could be
“Hey JR, pass me the ball… No the other one..”
JackduhSun - February 14, 2012
LOL
Jax - February 14, 2012
Well i hope JR or his agent read Espn's 5 on 5 today
All 5 think JR should go to the Clips.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-120214/hitting-nba-headlines-gilbert-arenas-jr-smith-new-york-knicks-more
cassellmania - February 14, 2012
Worth the risk...
I agree with Jon Krolik. JR can’t be that much worse than Foye. He’s a better shooter, athletic and a better defender. I hope he signs with the Clippers and suit up with the team next week.
Hengtime81 - February 14, 2012
yep that's the only reason I'm in favor of brining in JR
I’ve honestly never really liked the guy, and seemed to shoot his team out of as many games as he’s won for them, but compared to lil chucker, he has to be an upgrade from all standpoints. I still worry he’ll want to be a ball dominant, iso, ball stopper, but I trust cp enough to know how to use him.
osamu - February 14, 2012 via iPhone app
On a sidenote
Did everybody see DJ’s twitter pic on the plane last night 1. They got CP3 really good on the flight (flight attendant included) and 2. They certainly got over the loss quickly as you could not tell they lost.
PV Mike - February 14, 2012
lovinglosangeles - February 14, 2012
oops forgot to post thanks
PV Mike - February 14, 2012
NP... Got your back... :-)
lovinglosangeles - February 14, 2012
Butler with the BLING
UC.Clipper - February 14, 2012
LMAO
They got him good. Looks like he had the coat covering his face and they uncovered it. And then to get the stewardess in there …..hilarious!
Rakelds79 - February 14, 2012
demonic eys..j/k.
tenkaistar - February 14, 2012
lovinglosangeles - February 14, 2012
That one's still the best
Chris McD - February 14, 2012
maybe if they slept on the plane
they wouldn’t be exhaughsted at the end of games… yes blake, I’m talking to you
LJ Hann - February 14, 2012
and who is the white guy in the background
we don’t have any of those here
LJ Hann - February 14, 2012
Steve Blake's ghost
KidJustin - February 15, 2012
LMAO
boltsfan21 - February 15, 2012
I thought he was haunting Kobe
LJ Hann - February 15, 2012
Our next Clipper's sensation, Jeremy Whiteman
PV Mike - February 15, 2012
who?
I googled the name, but alot of links are just comparing Jeremy Lin to the White man
LJ Hann - February 15, 2012
congrats, You broke the code and found out who this fictional character is.
PV Mike - February 16, 2012
I've been saving every GotEm I see.
Expect a compilation at the end of the season!
2-ScoopIceCream - February 14, 2012
I hope your final got-em
is there rings!
PV Mike - February 14, 2012
JR will fit in w/ Clips just fine
With Chauncey lost for the season, they need help at the SG position. Randy foye is not that consistent and Mo Williams is too short to start next to Paul. JR has the size and athleticism that would be perfect for the Clippers offense.
Jeffrey Thompson - February 14, 2012
just keep the drugs out of the locker room.
tenkaistar - February 14, 2012
hey, now
we need him in his element so that he can play his best
jon y - February 14, 2012
Do u have evidence of this?
That’s a pretty strong aligation. Anyways, he’s with the Knicks now. I wonder whether he will start or come of the bench.
Jeffrey Thompson - February 17, 2012
i think if anything you can rope JR in with this.
if we win it all or make the NBA finals, you can cash in with a big contract like jj barea.
before that playoff run no one was paying jj barea 4 million a year. and this summer he had both the lakers and twolves and others chasing him.
if jr smith is generally under control , im sure that cook/foyes money can be freed up to pay him too. do we get the MLE next year?
hans007 - February 14, 2012
the tricky part comes in the off-season
this season the FO is just going after every chances to fix holes in the roster. The moves are quite predictable and clear: go after Keyon Martin and JR Smith, because even though they have their flaws they are quality players.
But in the off-season you have to make a lot of decision. What with Billups and Keyon Martin (or possibly JR Smith)? We got them cheap but it hard to imagine the prices will be much higher next season. What do you do with Mo if he opts out and asks for a new contract? What FA’s are out there and can we build a more balanced roster?
BelgianClipper - February 14, 2012
i believe it was a clause in the trade that brought Mo here that he would exercise his option
i could be wrong because he has one of those old timey contracts with 2 player option years
KidJustin - February 15, 2012
http://www.nba.com/media/hornets/tophats_cp_jr_060414.jpg
hans007 - February 14, 2012
The national media are clearly pushing for J.R. to go to the Clippers
kikyexcel - February 14, 2012
Significant Factors
The Clippers have played well as a team and are continuing to grow. The sharpest tool that the Clippers possess is their chemistry which allows them to play as a team on and off the court. This has been a great season so far and there is a lot of basketball to look forward too! Make sure to tap into the resources that 1-800LoanMart provides and keep up with the latest news! http://www.800loanmart.com/
800LoanMart - February 14, 2012
As if I did not already feel sorry for the Hornets
Hoopsworld is reporting they are signing Solomon Jones.
PV Mike - February 14, 2012
if only they would take Cookie!
ganima - February 14, 2012 via iPhone app
Cookie has a guaranteed 2 year contract
agolden - February 14, 2012
he had a 2 year deal
he is now expiring
LJ Hann - February 14, 2012
i'm glad that between the two Jones on the team
we got to keep DeAndre
KidJustin - February 15, 2012
Knicks currently the fans and media darlings with Lin
Might attract JR plus more money
PV Mike - February 14, 2012
Yeah, we shouldn't get too excited.
I see him signing with NYK.
cassellmania - February 14, 2012
well it might impact JR Smith playing time and touches negatively
2 weeks ago NY looked a team devoid of any back court talent. Now Lin has happened, Fields seems to be back on track and Schumpert looks a NBA rotation player if he doesn’t have to handle the ball. Baron is also around the corner.
Plus Lin, Melo and STAT are all high usage players. Hard to see JR Smith getting a lot of touches unless he comes off the bench.
Plus even if Lin is as good as advertised I don’t see NY beating Miami or Chicago this year whilst the West is quite open this year. Even OKC isn’t untouchable.
BelgianClipper - February 14, 2012
Clippers are just a way better fit in every way except $
And that extra 1.5 million will probably be what sways him to NY, even though his potential success with a contending Clipper team could fetch him a bigger contract this summer.
I read on hoopshype that ‘a source’ says NY is still the frontrunner but his agent is ‘flirting’ with other teams. Who knows, but I really hope JR makes a decision fast, because he’s been retweeting quite a few Clipper/CP3 related tweets and nothing about NY.
cassellmania - February 14, 2012
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