J.R. SMITH TO DENVER
The Denver Nuggets acquired guard J.R. Smith from the Chicago Bulls for guard Howard Eisley and two second-round draft picks.
What does it give the Denver Nuggets
The potential star at shooting guard they've needed for years. The Nuggets under head coach George Karl do a great job of getting to the basket, but they're arguably the NBA's worst team from the perimeter. Enter Smith, who loves to shoot from behind the arc and is an electric scorer in general. He needs to rein in his game and play better defense, but Smith has the talent to be a top-10 scorer in the NBA and he's still only 20 years old. He spent a year in Hornets' coach Byron Scott's doghouse, but can still become a star.
What does it give the Chicago Bulls
A couple of future second-rounders who won't be as good as Smith. Chicago just didn't have the room to keep the talented young swingman, since they are already well-stocked at the swing spots. The team is two-deep at every position from point guard to small forward, so it appears Smith was the odd man out in that equation. They traded for him with New Orleans seemingly to get Tyson Chandler's massive contract off their books, and that was accomplished. This deal further helps their bottom line going forward. Eisley appears to be a throw-in, and even if he sticks with the Bulls will not likely play a significant role for them.
Fantasy impact
