http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/nuggets...ng_tabs_on.html <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Keeping tabs on J.R. By Aaron J. Lopez NBA rumors are a way of life, but sometimes common sense must rule. That's why I had to shake my head Monday when I saw a report out of Cleveland saying the Nuggets and Cavaliers are talking about a deal involving young shooting guard J.R. Smith. The 22-year-old Smith is a restricted free agent, but there is no indication that he and the Nuggets are going to part ways anytime soon. <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">In fact, I've been told by a very reliable source that J.R. is not going anywhere and he could re-sign with Denver within the next 7 to 10 days.</span> Smith is one of those young players the Nuggets can ill afford to let go. He has had some bumpy times in Denver -- not to mention his home state of New Jersey, where he was the driver in a fatal accident last summer -- but he showed signs of maturity last season and even gained back much of the trust that George Karl had lost in him during the 2007 playoffs. Plus, he can shoot as well as anyone in the league. He made 40 percent of his three-point attempts last season and hit at least six 3s in a game seven times. It might take the rest of his teammates half the season to make that many 3s. The Nuggets already have extended a one-year, $3.04 qualifying offer to Smith, but it looks like he's going to get some long-term security. The question becomes: How much are the Nuggets willing to commit? Smith told the Rocky Mountain News last month that he hadn't heard from any other teams. It's now up to the Nuggets to determine his market value -- a difficult task when there are no other bidders. Will they give him a multiyear deal starting at the mid-level exception of $5.585 million or can they convince Smith to take a little less? We should know very soon.</div>
