Tuesday, February 8, 2011

J.R. Smith Wants to Move on From Latest Incident, Stay in Denver

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J.R. SmithDENVER -- What is it with guys named J.R.? J.R. Rider always had negatives surface during his playing days, although it continued after he started calling himself Isaiah.

J.R. Smith also has had plenty of negatives during his seven-year career. He did flirt last season with being known by his given name of Earl Smith Jr., perhaps thinking that might soften some headlines, but he soon abandoned that idea.

"For me, it was just more or less people were looking at it as, 'Well, that's just J.R. being J.R.,''' the Denver guard said Monday about his flagrant foul 2 last Friday against Utah that got him a $25,000 fine Saturday. "That's my first ever flagrant 2.''

Smith said he likely won't appeal the fine and that he has "no beef'' with Jazz guard Deron Williams, who shoved Smith and got a technical and later said Smith made a "dirty play.'' He's just looking to move on, and that definitely doesn't have anything to do with moving on from the Nuggets.

Smith's name still has come up in rumors as the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches. That is despite Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri having told FanHouse before the season he is confident Smith will last the season with the team and despite Ujiri and Smith both telling FanHouse in December the desire is for Smith to re-sign with the Nuggets this summer.

Smith, making a base salary this season of $6.03 million, is due to become a free agent July 1, although any progress then could be delayed by what happens due to the collective bargaining agreement expiring June 30. He told FanHouse on Monday nothing has changed from his end in wanting to remain long-term in Denver.

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/07/j-r-smith-wants-to-move-on-from-latest-incident-stay-in-denver/

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