Smith is Traded Again

[Its_asdf]

Adrian Griffin is on his way back to the Bulls with a three-year contract.

To make room for Griffin, J.R. Smith must go.



Smith, whom the Bulls acquired last week along with P.J. Brown in the Tyson Chandler trade with the Hornets, will be sent to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Howard Eisley and two future second-round draft picks, according to sources familiar with the deal.

The Bulls plan to waive Eisley to sign Griffin, sources said.

Bulls general manager John Paxson declined to comment except to confirm that the Bulls have reached an agreement with Griffin, a popular journeyman who was a co-captain for the Bulls two years ago.

Last season the Bulls passed on the 6-foot-5-inch swingman. Griffin, 32, signed a free-agent contract with the Mavericks in late November and averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while starting in 45 of the 52 games he played. He helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals.

Source: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com ... -headlines

Denver needed a shooter and they got one I guess.

[CERVANTES]

Well, maybe he's not a shooter, but at least he could be a solid SG for the Nuggets. I think he's what they needed. Well done Nuggs.

[maes]

Between Melo & JR there gonna have some crazy highlight reel dunks.

JR shot the 3 pretty well the latter half of his rookie year...he can probably do it again. For 2nd round picks..hey why not gamble on him.

[DatYellowGuy]

I don't see why the Bulls need Adrian Griffin

[KIG1]

They should have kept J.R. Smith, he is two times the player that Adrian Griffin is.

[Anthony15]

Awesome trade!!!! I finally approve some move by them!!!! Now we have a solid player at SG that we needed since Lenard's injury in 04-05. JR can be our third scoring option(if Martin is traded than second, which I doubt will happen now cuz GK is getting on the same note as K-Mart) and Patterson is our main peremeter defender after Buckner left. Now I can see this line up forming to go for the championship:

C - Camby(please dont get injured in the season)
PF - Martin(hopefully healthy and ready to contribute)
SF - Carmelo (much more of a leader now after the big contract)
SG - JR Smith/Patterson
PG - Miller

[DatYellowGuy]

Asking Camby not to get injured is like asking Antoine Walker not to brick shots all game long.

[TheBigEasy]

Awesome trade!!!! I finally approve some move by them!!!! Now we have a solid player at SG that we needed since Lenard's injury in 04-05. JR can be our third scoring option(if Martin is traded than second, which I doubt will happen now cuz GK is getting on the same note as K-Mart) and Patterson is our main peremeter defender after Buckner left. Now I can see this line up forming to go for the championship:

Don't get your hope's up too soon on JR Smith. There is a reason he was traded to the Bulls and by the Bulls in a matter of days. He is a headcase and will have to learn to listen to what a coach says. He didn't do it in NO ... and the Bulls apparently didn't want to take the chance. So don't think a championship is coming anytime soon just because of JR Smith.

[Fenix]

Yes, Pax does it again! Trade his ass, Pax, trade it now!

Griffin gives you depth and veteran leadership in the backcourt. This team is shaping up nicely, but I don't think Pax is done with the moves.

C-Ben Wallace/Mike Sweetney/Malik Allen
PF-PJ Brown/Tyrus Thomas/Darius Songaila
SF-Luol Deng/Andres Nocioni/Viktor Khryapa
SG-Ben Gordon/Thabo Sefolosha/Adrian Griffin
PG-Kirk Hinrich/Chris Duhon/Aaron Miles

Depth is nice, but this team is seriously undersized up front. If PJ goes down, there's no one over 6'9 up front. But still, I hell don't want Gooden on this team.

[Anthony15]

Awesome trade!!!! I finally approve some move by them!!!! Now we have a solid player at SG that we needed since Lenard's injury in 04-05. JR can be our third scoring option(if Martin is traded than second, which I doubt will happen now cuz GK is getting on the same note as K-Mart) and Patterson is our main peremeter defender after Buckner left. Now I can see this line up forming to go for the championship:

Don't get your hope's up too soon on JR Smith. There is a reason he was traded to the Bulls and by the Bulls in a matter of days. He is a headcase and will have to learn to listen to what a coach says. He didn't do it in NO ... and the Bulls apparently didn't want to take the chance. So don't think a championship is coming anytime soon just because of JR Smith.

Its not like JR is gonna be a big help, but if Nuggets can stay healthy(forfeit the opening night) they might have a chance.

[Blasphemy]

I am really clueless about this trade? Why would the Bulls get some unknown player like Griffen and trade a young tallent like Smith? Nuggets definatey got the better end of this deal. They only really gave up 2 second round picks and who the hell even uses em anyways, the players usually get released and never play again.

[maes]

C-Ben Wallace/Mike Sweetney/Malik Allen
PF-PJ Brown/Tyrus Thomas/Darius Songaila

Songaila just got a $23 million contract from the Wizards, so he won't be returning to the Bulls. What he's done to deserve $23 million i don't know, but i hope he earns his money on the Wizards.

I am really clueless about this trade? Why would the Bulls get some unknown player like Griffen and trade a young tallent like Smith

Griffin was on the Bulls before, and they liked him because he was a hustler and didn't mind dirty work. I think it's more of a good influence on the youngsters than anything else. You can see all the vets Pax has surrounded the kids with are all hustlers and good locker room presences (PJ Brown, Ben Wallace, Adrian Griffin).

My take on the situation is that JR Smith was originally an insurance policy in case Thabo didn't pan out. Since he's obviously doing well so far, JR Smith was expendable.

[Blasphemy]

Yea, Griffen could be a Hustler but he is getting older and Smith is still pretty young.

[Its_asdf]

I am really clueless about this trade? Why would the Bulls get some unknown player like Griffen and trade a young tallent like Smith? Nuggets definatey got the better end of this deal. They only really gave up 2 second round picks and who the hell even uses em anyways, the players usually get released and never play again.

Smith certainly has a lot more potential to him, as do most athletic highschoolers, but I'm almost certain he doesn't have the heart to work on his game to become better. As much as I want to see him succeed, he'll have to kick off a lot of nasty habits in order to become a more harder worker and less of a prick, for a lack of a better word.

Griffin on the other hand, is the complete opposite to Smith; he's a solid role player that has no potential whatsoever, but he knows what the hell is doing and he knows his role on the team. I think he's a better fit than Smith simply because he isn't that talented but still brings the maturity that is needed from a veteran player on a young team and doesn't mind having his minutes taken away from him to allow the younger players to develop.

Sometimes its not a matter of getting the better talent (this doesn't apply to some all-stars of course), but what is more important is getting what fits the team better, and Griffin certainly is that piece.

[Jing]

wow... i totally even missed Smith going to chicago...o_0

[R.J.]

I am really clueless about this trade? Why would the Bulls get some unknown player like Griffen and trade a young tallent like Smith? Nuggets definatey got the better end of this deal. They only really gave up 2 second round picks and who the hell even uses em anyways, the players usually get released and never play again.

Smith certainly has a lot more potential to him, as do most athletic highschoolers, but I'm almost certain he doesn't have the heart to work on his game to become better. As much as I want to see him succeed, he'll have to kick off a lot of nasty habits in order to become a more harder worker and less of a prick, for a lack of a better word.

Griffin on the other hand, is the complete opposite to Smith; he's a solid role player that has no potential whatsoever, but he knows what the hell is doing and he knows his role on the team. I think he's a better fit than Smith simply because he isn't that talented but still brings the maturity that is needed from a veteran player on a young team and doesn't mind having his minutes taken away from him to allow the younger players to develop.

Sometimes its not a matter of getting the better talent (this doesn't apply to some all-stars of course), but what is more important is getting what fits the team better, and Griffin certainly is that piece.

Exactly. To be a successful team, you need some stars and some role players, some veterans that know what the hell they're doing. Good move pax.

[air gordon]

it's a good deal for both sides i think. Denver I guess is in a better situation to take a gamble on someone JR Smith. Maybe he can prove his critics wrong he's not a headcase and can do other things other then dunk

Paxson seems pretty adamant about having good veteran presences on the team and not having any character issue guys on his roster. So far he's been right on for the most part in getting rid of Curry, Jalen Rose, Eddie Robinson, Jamal Crawford.. and Tim Thomas

maybe Eisley's imminent release (non guaranteed contract i've heard) can open enough cap to sign Toni Kukoc

but i do agree with Fenix, the team is somewhat undersized. it would be nice if the team's 3rd center was a 7fter... even if it was someone like Luke Schenscher or even Cherokee Parks

[Stevesanity]

I seriously wish Dorell Wright gets traded from Miami to New Orleans or somewhere he can start. The guy has the heart and desire to improve unlike JR and is capable of being way more versatile and all around is the better talent. You should have gone to DePaul Dorell.

On topic if JR shows a desire to improve then he can go places, a 20-3-3 type player is certaintly he's limit unless he becomes the primary scoring option on a team which I doubt cause he doesn't have the leadership skills nor can he take over a game. If he can get his shot going the Nuggets could have finally found that shooter they've long desired, but it's 50-50 right now.

Whilst Josh Smith may have made a good decision to skip college Dorell and JR are certaintly two players that could have been top 5 picks if they had gone to college and spent an year or two but now JR's got the headcase tag and Dorell's terrific talent is roting away in Miami.

[Dro]

Fenix hit the nail on the head; the Bulls need veteran leadership in the backcourt. Look at the young, but talented guys they have:

Hinrich
Duhon
Gordon
Thabo
Deng (G-F)

Adding JR Smith isn't going to help. He's not getting any playing time (rightfully so, the players I listed above are all better, smarter players).

Kudos to Paxson and the Bulls for putting together a hell of a team. Their only problem is veteran leadership, which is looking like less and less of a problem.

[nets4life]

hopefully JR will do well in Denver along side Melo

[Silas]

The big question is who will be the captain of the Bulls next season? I'd say it'll be co captains and two of these three guys

PJ Brown
Ben Wallace
Adrian Griffin

I bet it will be the last two though, unfortunatly for PJ.

[nets4life]

probably ben wallace but id like to see someone young take up the job. Preferably Kirk Hinrich

[Jugs]

Over-rating JR Smith/under-rating Adrian Griffin a bit here...

[beau_boy04]

getting two future second round picks is nice too, they will probably pack them up next season in exchange of a 1st round pick.

[3P]

the picks stink, the Nuggents will have playoff seasons