Bad Timing: As The Playoffs Heat Up, J.R. Smith Is Ready To Leave Denver

J.R. Smith, the soon-to-be Denver Nuggets free agent, has expressed that he may not return to Denver next season. With the lack of playing time and the change the team has experienced since the trade deadline, Smith is considering other options.

Here’s what Smith had to say:

“There’s a strong possibility as of right now,” Smith said. “It’s not going the way I planned it to go. It’s a tough situation. I want to be here, I love the fans and everything about the city. It’s just maybe not my fit.”

Then when J.R. spoke about the team meeting the Nuggets had the day after going down 0-2 to the OKC Thunder, he spoke about the pulse of the team during the meeting.

“Just frustration, just really didn’t have any life in there,” Smith said. “No one was really into it.”

Another reason Smith is thinking about changing teams is head coach George Karl. After their Game 2 loss, Karl said the “floodgates opened” when Smith was on the court, referring to his gunslinger mentality, but Smith is taking it in stride:

“I’m not worried about my shots,” Smith said. “That’s one of the things I was here for, I thought. If they ask me to play, I’ll play. If not, I’ll just cheer for my teammates.”

Asked about the floodgates quote, Smith said, “I don’t read the quotes any more. I don’t even want to get into that. If he asks me to play, I’ll play, if not, I won’t. It’s kind of getting ridiculous.” Source