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NBA - The saga of J.R. Smith By Alex Boytan PhilBoxing.com Tue, 27 Jan 2015  CLEVELAND -- After covering the Cavaliers-Hornets tiff last Friday at the Quciken Loans Arena, a game which the Cavs too, 129-90, I was assigned to feature J.R. Smith. It was an exciting task given that Smith's career is highlighted by fantastic highs and sweeping lows. Smith's journey to Cleveland began last January 5 when he was shipped from New York in a three-team trade that also involved the Oklahoma City Thunder. As part of that deal, former Cavalier Dion Waters went to Oklahoma while Smith and fellow ex-Knick Iman Shumpert landed in Cleveland while players with non-guaranteed contracts ---- Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson from the Cavs and Lance Thomas from the Thunder joined the Knicks. Also, the Thunder sent protected future first-round pick to Cleveland, which is sending its 2019 second round pick to the Knicks. Earl Joseph ?J.R? Smith III, was born on September 9 1985 to Ida and Earl Smith. He played high school basketball in Saint Benedict?s Preparatory School in Newark, NJ and was recruited by the University. of North Carolina. But Smith chose the riches of the NBA and joined the 2004 draft. Smith was drafted 18th overall by the New Orleans Hornets, whom he played for in 2004 and 2005, averaging 10 and seven points per game respectively, while shooting just 39.4 percent. On July 14, 2006 the Hornets traded Smith and forward-center P.J.Brown to the Chicago Bulls for center Tyson Chandler. Six days later, Smith was traded again, this time to the Denver Nuggets for guard Howard Eisley and two 2007 second-round draft picks. JR played in Denver from 2006 until 2011. He flourished in the 2007-08 season, shooting 46.1 percent. And he averaged 18.1 points per the following season. And then the troubles emerged. On December 16, 2006 Smith was involved in the Knicks-Nuggets brawl which was precipitated by a Mardy Collins flagrant foul. Smith was suspended for 10 games for his part in the fracas. After the melee, Smith was involved in a series of car accidents, the most notable of which occurred on June 9, 2007 when Smith and a passenger, Andre Bell, were ejected from the vehicle. Smith?s vehicle went through a stop sign and collided with another car. Smith was taken to the Jersey Shore University Hospital while Bell, who suffered serious head injuries, died two days later. On October 2008, a grand jury in Monmouth County, NJ, declined to indict Smith on a vehicular manslaughter charge stemming from the accident. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Smith signed with the Zhjiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) because he did not secure an opt-out clause and wasn?t able to return to the NBA until the end of the 2011-12 Season. Upon his return from China in 2012, Smith signed with the NY Knicks under the bi-annual exception worth $2.4 million. A year later in July, he re-signed with the Knicks, reportedly for a three-year deal worth $17.9 million. Smith underwent surgery on July 15, 2013 to repair a patellar tendon and a torn meniscus, both in his left knee. The procedure was followed by a five-game suspension without pay for violating the NBA's anti drug program. On January 8, 2014 Smith was fined $50,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after repeated instances in which he attempted to untie the shoelaces of his opponents. And finally, on April 6, 2014, Smith recorded an NBA record 22 three point attempts in a 102-91 loss to the Miami Heat. He also set a Knicks record of 10 three-pointers made. All of the above incidents provide a glimpse as to why a player as talented as Smith get traded so often. But all is in the past now and Cleveland provides Smith a fresh start. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are hoping to get a more mature J.R., one who can drill open 3s and thrive under the shadows of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. If J.R. can indeed put his act together and focus solely on basketball, the Cavaliers will be a tough beat in the Eastern Conference playoffs. If he can't, then he will just be an unwanted distraction that can undermine Cleveland's championship aspirations. It will be interesting how this one unfolds. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex Boytan.  |
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