J.R. Smith Gets His Re-Up in Denver

I don’t care if you think J.R. Smith is a punk, or a prodigal son, or a bad influence on Iverson and Melo. Dude has undeniable talent, size, and athleticism, has improved dramatically as an actual basketball player, learned some versatility, grasps the concept of defense occasionally, and oh yeah, can score at will from anywhere. That’s drain the three from half-court, streak past three dudes for the dunk, anywhere. Ask Kobe about that.↵
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↵So it comes as only a modest surprise that, after a summer of light suspense, the Nuggets have signed restricted free agent Smith to a three-year deal. The Denver Post doesn’t have the exact numbers, but my educated guess is $6 or $7 milion a year. The Nuggets really, really like Smith, and see him as a major part of their future. This works for both sides; If Smith flames out, Denver will be rid of him soon, and if he blasts off into the heavens, he can get a new deal commensurate with stardom.↵
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↵I don’t think any other teams were really in the mix, since at this point only that crazy environment can accomodate J.R.‘s less-mature moments. But I’m guesing the deal relatively generous for a reserve with a patchy reputation. Who knows what would’ve happened if Denver had low-balled him; it could’ve allowed another team to creep into the picture, if only as leverage for Smith—who wanted to stay in Denver. Or rubbed him the wrong way, which would suck if they wanted to re-sign him down the road.↵
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↵Most likely, though, the 22 year-old Smith will come into his own, on a team he likes, for a relatively modest deal, and all the troubles of his past will be put behind him. And Ben Gordon will still be sitting at home, waiting for someone to offer him 175% what the Nuggets guard—younger, taller, more explosive, and increasingly reliable—got. If this doesn’t hammer home the concept of “market value” to Gordon, really, nothing will.↵