Denver Post sports writer Benjamin Hochman posts his Nuggets Mailbag on Tuesdays during the 2009-10 NBA season.
for the Nuggets Mailbag.
from Chauncey last week had me thinking. The highlight was everywhere, national attention, ESPN over and over. What’s great about J.R. is he’ll put up a highlight reel often enough to get attention, but when he goes cold on defense, no one notices nationally. We just have to suffer here. I guess what I’m getting at is: In terms of future trade possibilities or free-agent contracts, is J.R.’s stock high around the NBA? Higher than in Denver where we know better? Does that make sense? What is his reputation around the league?
— Rollie, Denver
Rollie: Indeed, J.R. Smith has been a hot topic in Denver this season. You look at games like the one he played at L.A. and and you realize that this guy can change a game the way only a few guys can.
“He can come in and hit five in a row and all of them could be 3s, or he can attack the basket and dunk on you,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins told me. “He’s a young kid who’s maturing into what a lot of people expected him to be when he came into the league.”
But then there are the games where he plays “ole” defense or squabbles with Karl, and it’s understandable why the fans fill up my e-mail box with complaints.
Fact is, Smith is a key cog in this Nuggets machine, and key members of the front office stand by Smith and think he can become a great player.
And Smith will make “just” $6 million next season, so to get his scoring production at that price is pretty enticing. I think he’ll be on the team next season.
“The way he can shoot the ball, attack, spread the court out – that’s something we need, and he’s been giving it to us,” Carmelo Anthony said. “He’s a starter coming off the bench.”
With the obvious success Rodney Stuckey attained in Detroit after the tutoring from Chauncey Billups, do you think Ty Lawson will have the same success, after Chauncey retires? Also, with Chauncey being Ty’s mentor, why does it seem like Ty is not really progressing as quick as we all thought (he’s very inconsistent)?
— John, Colorado
John: I’d have to say that Lawson has actually exceeded expectations. He’s averaging 9.0 points per game and plays big minutes for a title-contending team (most title-contending teams don’t have rookies in their rotations). George Karl has said that he likes the grooming process for Lawson, who likely won’t start for a couple of years.
As for Billups, while he is sort of an assistant coach right now when it comes to Ty, like you made reference to.
I asked Chauncey about his role, and he said: “I love that, man. The education part of the game, being able to just teach, talk about different situations, and then you see it happen in the games and he’ll say, ‘that’s what he was talking about.’
“That’s something I didn’t get when I was a young player until I got to Minnesota. Terrell Brandon was the point guard in front of me, and I learned so much. I just want to make sure (Lawson) has that.”
Do you mind discussing how the Nuggets will be poised for free agents during the summer? Certainly we will not be going after any huge names, but I’m curious to know which Denver players have expiring contracts and if you hear any rumblings about players the Nuggets would like to bring to town or players that Denver will certainly re-sign this year.
— Sean, Boston
Sean: What up man, hope things are going great for you in Boston (Celtics are slippin’!).
Unlike the Knicks, Nets, Heat, etc., the Nuggets currently aren’t in position to make a run at any “name” free agents this off-season (which actually isn’t a bad thing, considering the current Nuggets are one of the better teams in basketball).
Basically, every rotation player is under contract and will return, barring a trade – and barring Kenyon Martin opting out of his $16 million contract (which, of course, he said he won’t do … who would?).
With the Nuggets, a lot of people talk about the “two-year window” in reference to this season and next season. This is because after the 2011 season, Carmelo Anthony has a player option, Martin is off the books, J.R. Smith’s contract expires and Chauncey Billups has a team option in 2011-12.
The only Nuggets with guaranteed contracts beyond the 2011-12 season are Chris Andersen, Renaldo Balkman, and (most likely) Ty Lawson.
As a loyal I have to ask, do you root for the Nuggets? I mean of course you probably cheer when things go well, but, personally, is there a team that you would rather see win a championship? Careful, you may ostracize a loyal reader and die-hard Nuggets fan!
— Robert, Golden
Robert: Thanks for writing! I am a journalist. I don’t root for the teams I cover. I just make sure to be the middle-man between the Denver Nuggets and the Denver community, providing analysis and perspective.
Of course, there are some really great folks in the Nuggets organization, so when they do well, I’m happy they’re happy. But it’s my job to report, not root.
Can you please tell me how to send personal best wishes to George. I’m 55, single dad, and exactly one year ago went through the exact medical procedures Squamous cell carcinoma, stage 4, tumor in the base of my tongue. Never smoked or chewed, no risk factors. Two weeks of chemo in the hospital followed by eight weeks daily radiation. I opted to not use a PEG tube. If there is any information I can provide I would be happy to share with him. It does get better, however it is brutal. I wish him every possible hope of recovery.
— Mike, Loveland
Mike: Thank you for sharing this. In regard to getting your best wishes to George, hopefully this mailbag entry will do just that – the Nuggets PR folks include the weekly mailbag in the article clips given to the staff, so perhaps George will read this.
What you and George (and so many others) have endured is incredibly courageous. I commend you and appreciate you sharing your story with us. George, like you, is a fighter. I believe he’s got a knockout punch in him. But like you said, it’s going to be brutal battle in the next few weeks.
Benjamin Hochman is in his third season as the Nuggets and NBA beat writer for The Denver Post. for the Nuggets Mailbag.
