Denver's Karl, Smith Don't Speak

[RiverwalkParade]

Any chance we get this done this year? We can send Bonner and Vaughn for him. That gives Denver an expiring at the end of the year and a 4 with range.

Do we care given the success of Mason and Hill? Your thoughts.


Nuggets coach George Karl and J.R. Smith have had their share of issues since the guard joined the team in 2006, and they apparently aren't on speaking terms.

"We never talk," Smith said. "I wish (the two could). You never want to not even talk to your coach."

Smith was benched last Wednesday against the Clippers because Karl said he was "extremely late" to a practice, and he played just seven scoreless minutes Saturday at Minnesota.

"J.R. is a good-bad player, and we're trying to take the bad out and magnify the good," Karl said after using Smith for 30 minutes against the Rockets on Sunday. "For me, there's, as the game goes on, there's a lot of ways I can try to win them.

"And consistency, defense and a positive, good at ude would keep him on the court. But I don't think he gives us always those three every night we play. Some nights I'll tolerate his bad and some nights I'm probably going to go someplace else."

Via Rocky Mountain News

Denver's Karl, Smith Don't Speak

[T Park]

Any chance we get this done this year? We can send Bonner and Vaughn for him. That gives Denver an expiring at the end of the year and a 4 with range.

Do we care given the success of Mason and Hill? Your thoughts.


Nuggets coach George Karl and J.R. Smith have had their share of issues since the guard joined the team in 2006, and they apparently aren't on speaking terms.

"We never talk," Smith said. "I wish (the two could). You never want to not even talk to your coach."

Smith was benched last Wednesday against the Clippers because Karl said he was "extremely late" to a practice, and he played just seven scoreless minutes Saturday at Minnesota.

"J.R. is a good-bad player, and we're trying to take the bad out and magnify the good," Karl said after using Smith for 30 minutes against the Rockets on Sunday. "For me, there's, as the game goes on, there's a lot of ways I can try to win them.

"And consistency, defense and a positive, good at ude would keep him on the court. But I don't think he gives us always those three every night we play. Some nights I'll tolerate his bad and some nights I'm probably going to go someplace else."

Via Rocky Mountain News

Denver's Karl, Smith Don't Speak

Spursreport

take back your posters please.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I wouldn't have minded seeing Smith come here in the offseason, but at this point any trade the Spurs make needs to be focused on improving their big man rotation.

[ambchang]

I never liked JR Smith with his poisonous at ude, and below average basketball IQ. When are people going to learn that ability to score != ability to win?

[benefactor]

I would like a logical explanation as to why anyone thinks we need more back court players.

[Obstructed_View]

A guy who's inconsistent, doesn't play defense, doesn't have a positive at ude, and shows up late? When can we sign him??

[sribb43]

JR Smith is terrible...worst shot selection in the league, No D, no respect for his coaches....

[SenorSpur]

Now that we have RMJ, there's no need for Smith.

[sonic21]

i never understood why some spurs fan wanted him this summer.

[Dr. Gonzo]

A trade involving Bonner and Vaughn? Why hasn't anyone thought of that before. It's brilliant.

[wildbill2u]

Wasn't he run out of New Orleans because of at ude problems? Am I thinking of the right (or wrong) guy?

[DROB4EVER]

If he can play the 3 I would give him a shot, but lets face it our biggest problem is at the Center spot and no way Denver hands him to a western Conf team unless they give up some good picks for him.

Karl has never been able to handle guys with any issues, hes a poor coach that tends to look to blame players for his failures.

[Tully365]

Byron Scott didn't talk to him either. JR Smith is a child and a malcontent.

[wildbill2u]

Byron Scott didn't talk to him either. JR Smith is a child and a malcontent.

When Byron Scott cut him loose, I knew George wouldn't take him on his own. He's old school and wouldn't want a player with issues and at ude. Bet That was a front office decision like Iverson.

[MrChug]

Spursreport

take back your posters please.

[galvatron3000]

he should have signed elsewhere, old school coaches can't help guys like him, atleast the gguy wants to talk he just doesn't uderstand how to go about it. These guys need certain types to guide them early in their career and he needs to be on a more veteran type team. I'm tired of all the criticism these guys aren't the end of the world just lack the guidance you got at the right level of maturity. Get hime to a surrounding where he can grow, Karl couldn't get along with Ray Allen

[jack sommerset]

Folks just can't grasp Bonner is not going anywhere unless he is a throw in for Mangoo or Parker trade. Sad

[angelbelow]

a big pass, although i wanted him over the summer.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

JR can flat out BALL, but he's an idiot with a bad at ude. I really hope he matures soon because once he does (and I think he will, he just needs the lightswitch to go on in his head that basketball is a team game) he'll be a stud, and my DL II team needs him!

As for trading for him, Money Mason has made JR redundant... he is like the anti-JR, smart, fearless, and team-oriented, but with the same killer long ball. I love Roger Mason (he's a consummate Spur, a perfect fit) and hope he retires in a Spurs uniform.

[exstatic]

JR can flat out BALL, but he's an idiot with a bad at ude. I really hope he matures soon because once he does (and I think he will, he just needs the lightswitch to go on in his head that basketball is a team game) he'll be a stud, and my DL II team needs him!

As for trading for him, Money Mason has made JR redundant... he is like the anti-JR, smart, fearless, and team-oriented, but with the same killer long ball. I love Roger Mason (he's a consummate Spur, a perfect fit) and hope he retires in a Spurs uniform.

The long ball is about the only thing that RMJ has made unnecessary. Imagine putting RMJ and Hill into a blender, and stretching them to 6'6" with a 40" vertical. That's Smith. I don't think he's a bad guy, just monumentally immature. Oh the one hand, he was blessed to go down the Kobe-level talent assembly line. On the other hand, his next trip was down the Stephen Jackson brain assembly line. Talk about mixed blessings.

[The Truth #6]

George Karl is a cancer in his own right. Bad at ude, inconsistent? That could just as easily apply to Karl. That said, JR does need to mature, and maybe Billups can be a better mentor than Carmelo.

[Armando]

Why? If he is not even talking to Karl what makes you think it will be any better with a hard nosed coach like Pop?

[Indazone]

Spurs can always pick up Stromile Swift

[mrspurs]

Now that we have RMJ, there's no need for Smith.

Winner

[exstatic]

George Karl is a cancer in his own right. Bad at ude, inconsistent? That could apply as easily apply to Karl. That said, JR does need to mature, and maybe Billups can be a better mentor than Carmelo.

Why? If he is not even talking to Karl what makes you think it will be any better with a hard nosed coach like Pop?

See the quote above yours, Armando. Pop is hardnosed, but fair. Karl throws his players under the bus to the press on a daily basis. He's no ing prize.