(UPDATE: Smith signs) JR Smith nears deal to play in China

by Lt.Dan on Sep 13, 2011 9:42 PM CDT

[Note by your friendly BullsBlogger, 09/13/11 9:41 PM CDT: Woj reports that the deal is done, Smith can return in March after Chinese Basketball Association season is over -ed. ]

Looks like we're scratching JR Smith off the SG wish list...

Denver Nuggets free-agent guard J.R. Smith (notes) is nearing an agreement on the richest contract in China Basketball Association history, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Under terms of the deal, Smith would make more than $3 million to play the 2011-12 season with Shanxi, but lose his chance at unrestricted free agency prior to the start of the NBA season. Smith, who turns 26 Friday, has averaged 12.5 points per game in his seven-year NBA career.

Under league rules, the China Basketball Association is no longer signing NBA players who want opt-out clauses to return to the NBA prior to the end of the China season. China’s season runs through March.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

* Figure I'd submit it as a FanPost.

FanPosts are user-created posts from the BlogABull community, and are to be treated as the opinions and views of that particular user, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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damn, you guys are fast!

I’m not sure Smith was ever an option, and I wasn’t that excited about him either. But lowering options in general is bad news.

Plus, as Doug suggested on a podcast a while back, with the Bulls likely capped-out in the new CBA (whatever that will mean) they’ll have to take risks on ‘problem’ guys as they’re the ones who’ll come cheap.

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"Don't nag, flag!"

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Sep 8, 2011 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

He wasn't super high on my list but...

The pool seems to be drying up before the Bulls can even act.

48 minutes of intensity...RIP NVL.

by Lt.Dan on Sep 8, 2011 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Isn't he one of those guys?

feet firmly nailed to the floor of the Tyler Colvin bandwagon...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Sep 8, 2011 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah

there may not be many other talented nutcases

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"Don't nag, flag!"

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Sep 8, 2011 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

The Mayo dream lives on!

8tracks/Tumblr

by Option27 on Sep 8, 2011 11:37 AM CDT reply actions 5 recs

mayo dream becomes harder to become reality no??

I mean, i didnt want smith either, but i was hoping he would be on the market so that potential mayo (or affaalo) suiters would choose to go after smith more allowing the bulls to sneak up and nab the guy they want (which i honestly dont believe is smith, despite his talents)

I dont care what the D.N.A. Says, the Guy wearing number 12 Cannot be Kirk Hinrich, he is definetly Kurt. Kirk can actually play basketball!

by piccolomair on Sep 8, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Naw, I think this forces the Bulls hand a bit more to go after Mayo with the limited options remaining

8tracks/Tumblr

by Option27 on Sep 8, 2011 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

JR

don’t do it, we love you in Chicago

by Dennis Hopson2 on Sep 8, 2011 12:03 PM CDT reply actions

he's not reading

I mean, I doubt it.

BaB on Twitter | BaB on Facebook
"Don't nag, flag!"

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Sep 8, 2011 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I also don't think he was a realistic target.

But if he was, he could still be signed in March, pre-playoffs.

I could see that happening…

…but then I could also see him getting the butler non-minutes because of joining so late.

A true friend stabs you in the front - Oscar Wilde

by dantheman3k on Sep 8, 2011 12:05 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

oh man, that'd be a trip

considering how much outspoken love there was for Butler to get a chance, and he sucked.

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"Don't nag, flag!"

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Sep 8, 2011 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions

this obviously could happen with Chandler, too.

I can foresee it happening again with someone, I just don’t want to pick who. Because he won’t play. And because it’ll be in March.

jesus just fix the CBA and start the season already.

A true friend stabs you in the front - Oscar Wilde

by dantheman3k on Sep 8, 2011 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Wouldn't Chandler still be a restricted free agent?

Meaning the Nug’s can match any offer tendered in March

I support the NBA player's union.

by chowder on Sep 11, 2011 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't know enough, but

I would think that that only applies with the first free-agency period and that he would be freed up by then.

But, I mean, I’m not that guy. I’m probably wrong.

A true friend stabs you in the front - Oscar Wilde

by dantheman3k on Sep 11, 2011 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Almost forgot

No Bulls fault.

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"Don't nag, flag!"

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Sep 8, 2011 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 5 recs

really tho

with rose as our alpha, no need for jr. we need a good yesman

good luck jr, have fun throwing b signs in china

"Psycho: I'm liable to go Michael/take your pick: Jackson, Tyson, Jordan - Game 6."

by Belize on Sep 8, 2011 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

How binding are these Chinese contracts anyway?

Instead of opting out, what is to stop JR from simply not honoring his contract to return to the NBA? Would the NBA blacklist who did that?

7 for 7.

by Dionysus2.0 on Sep 8, 2011 1:33 PM CDT reply actions

he'd be drafted in the Chinese military

(I’ll work harder to come up with something more ignorant, give me time)

BaB on Twitter | BaB on Facebook
"Don't nag, flag!"

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Sep 8, 2011 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

maybe this is an obama cover up to help

payoff the national debt.

I dont care what the D.N.A. Says, the Guy wearing number 12 Cannot be Kirk Hinrich, he is definetly Kurt. Kirk can actually play basketball!

by piccolomair on Sep 8, 2011 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs

3 million down

14 trillion to go. i guess you gotta start somewhere?

by grabmesomeBOOZ on Sep 8, 2011 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions

funny thats how i look at boozer

1 year down….sigh…somanymoretogo…..

Should've traded for Melo.

by sin on Sep 9, 2011 12:37 AM CDT up reply actions

maybe we can unload him and bogans on the magic

for howard!!!! dy-nastyyyyy

by grabmesomeBOOZ on Sep 9, 2011 1:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm no expert on international contract laws, but I'm sure there are penalties for violating terms of your contract, no matter where you are.

I would also imagine that the NBA just wouldn’t allow JR to sign here while under contract overseas.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Sep 11, 2011 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm guessing there's an arbitration clause, and arbitration awards are binding anywhere.

Meaning: Smith breaches his contract, the Chinese team invokes arbitration, the arbitrator finds that Smith breached, and that arbitration decision can be enforced in US courts. The court could certainly order Smith to pay any monetary award, and I think could even enjoin Smith from playing basketball in the US (although that last one I’m less sure about).

by arjoseph on Sep 14, 2011 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

It continues to look more and more likely that the Bulls end up with Mayo.

Honestly, they are clearly aware something needs to be done, they will be nearly capped out when the lockout is over, he’s good friends with Rose, and the dice have already been rolled on him as well. I would give up one of Taj/Asik for him. You have to.

feet firmly nailed to the floor of the Tyler Colvin bandwagon...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Sep 8, 2011 2:43 PM CDT reply actions

if that's the second option to JR and it actually works

i’ll be ecstatic.

by grabmesomeBOOZ on Sep 8, 2011 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Keith Bogans we can't quit you!

by bleigh82 on Sep 8, 2011 2:57 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Saw him working out at the gym...

He’s still slow and old.

48 minutes of intensity...RIP NVL.

by Lt.Dan on Sep 8, 2011 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions

isnt he like 27?

ah nm, googled it…31, and he was a late second round pick in the 2003 draft. That 2003 draft was extremely good, a late second rounder started (deservedly or not) on a top 5 team in the nba….

I dont care what the D.N.A. Says, the Guy wearing number 12 Cannot be Kirk Hinrich, he is definetly Kurt. Kirk can actually play basketball!

by piccolomair on Sep 8, 2011 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Bogans had

a way bigger impact than the overpaid Hedo

by Dennis Hopson2 on Sep 9, 2011 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Hedo took his team to the finals

the one year he was good.

by JockstrapNoah on Sep 14, 2011 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions

... just when I moved to China to get away from J.R.

he’s following me here! And getting paid millions to do it!

In 20 years Brad Pitt will star in a movie called Poorball about a revolutionary GM who went back to basics.
— Jake, Eldersburg

- Simmons Mailbag, 9/2/11

by Dr. Handsome, D.D.S. on Sep 13, 2011 5:20 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs

Thank goodness!

You can go ahead and put me in the “not a fan of J.R. Smith” camp. I think he’d be a bad fit here. Let’s use draft picks and not too much front-court depth and get a SG that can play well within the Thib’s system/Bulls culture (i.e. plays defense).

At $300 million, I don't want Albert Pujols anywhere near the Cubs.

by DisCUBbobulated on Sep 13, 2011 1:49 PM CDT reply actions