Too bad so many people hated him because when it boils down to it - regardless of how poorly he did after we sent him to the Hawks - there was no way on Earth Smith even close to being as good of a all around player and the real joke of it is - i don't even think he was much better than Jimmy Jackson who was also sent along with Rider for Steve! We traded two very well-rounded players who were faster/quicker/more-athletic and above all - WAY MORE VERSATILE for guy who was every bit as old and eventually played like (by the time Portland got him) - lie the aging pure-shooter he had shown to be turning into a year or two before the trade for fuck's sake! I find it utterly mind-boggling when i go on Portland Blazer's fan forums or news-sites and they talk about how great the team after that trade was - when we basically traded away half a team of good players and couple even were almost individually (Rider/Jackson and Walt Williams) - as good if not better n many ways than the "new star talent" we got in return: Pippen an Smith. We lost Rider/Jackson/Greg Anthony/Calvin Cato/Walt Williams - all for those two guys who were both a year or two beyond anything close to what you could call "their prime"
Both Jackson and Rider were talented, no doubt, and much more so, combined than Smith, but both were also, by most accounts, a huge negative in the locker room. Rider more so, but Jackson had a well earned reputation of being a pouter/taking things personally throughout his career. Rider was also on a downward slide, and it showed. What he did for the Hawks is what he would have done for us. Smith on the other hand was a great teammate who played his role. Ultimately the trade made us better, in my opinion.
Jr is one of my favorite blazers of all time. Jimmy Jackson was VERY solid as well. But with rider’s antics and Jimmy apparently wasn’t a saint, they felt bringing in a legit vet with high iq in smith . It worked for us. It was just rigged and we lost to the lakers when we should have won it all that year. As good as rider and Jimmy were they don’t take us that far. Also note both rider and Jimmy were basically done once they were dealt. Hawks stint was bad for JR and he went to the lakers and didn’t do much after
![[ไฮไลต์] แบดมินตันชาย วิว กุลวุฒิ (ไทย) vs LEE Zii Jia (มาเลเซีย) รอบรองชนะเลิศ | โอลิมปิก 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mvBiEAqlssw/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember this game.....JR used to bully Kobe.....
b VINCENT JR? you mean IR
JR bullied Eddie jones I remember too
Too bad so many people hated him because when it boils down to it - regardless of how poorly he did after we sent him to the Hawks - there was no way on Earth Smith even close to being as good of a all around player and the real joke of it is - i don't even think he was much better than Jimmy Jackson who was also sent along with Rider for Steve! We traded two very well-rounded players who were faster/quicker/more-athletic and above all - WAY MORE VERSATILE for guy who was every bit as old and eventually played like (by the time Portland got him) - lie the aging pure-shooter he had shown to be turning into a year or two before the trade for fuck's sake! I find it utterly mind-boggling when i go on Portland Blazer's fan forums or news-sites and they talk about how great the team after that trade was - when we basically traded away half a team of good players and couple even were almost individually (Rider/Jackson and Walt Williams) - as good if not better n many ways than the "new star talent" we got in return: Pippen an Smith. We lost Rider/Jackson/Greg Anthony/Calvin Cato/Walt Williams - all for those two guys who were both a year or two beyond anything close to what you could call "their prime"
Truth, Smith was great in his prime, but his best days were behind him. Jr was competitive, and Jim was a true proffessional.
Both Jackson and Rider were talented, no doubt, and much more so, combined than Smith, but both were also, by most accounts, a huge negative in the locker room. Rider more so, but Jackson had a well earned reputation of being a pouter/taking things personally throughout his career. Rider was also on a downward slide, and it showed. What he did for the Hawks is what he would have done for us. Smith on the other hand was a great teammate who played his role. Ultimately the trade made us better, in my opinion.
Jr is one of my favorite blazers of all time. Jimmy Jackson was VERY solid as well. But with rider’s antics and Jimmy apparently wasn’t a saint, they felt bringing in a legit vet with high iq in smith . It worked for us. It was just rigged and we lost to the lakers when we should have won it all that year. As good as rider and Jimmy were they don’t take us that far. Also note both rider and Jimmy were basically done once they were dealt. Hawks stint was bad for JR and he went to the lakers and didn’t do much after