J.R. Smith signs in China

[Roy H.]

Denver Nuggets free-agent guard J.R. Smith(notes) has signed a one-year contract with Zhejiang of the China Basketball Association, a source told Yahoo! Sports.

Smith and Nuggets free-agent forward Wilson Chandler(notes) are now the two highest-paid players in the Chinese league. Neither player can return to play in the NBA until the end of the Chinese season.

Under league rules, the China Basketball Association is no longer signing NBA players who want opt-out clauses to return to the NBA prior to the end of the Chinese season. China’s season runs through March.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_jr_smith_china_091311

[KGs Knee]

Yeah, not really surprised by this.  His move to China has been rumored for a few weeks now.

What I find interesting is the timing of the announcement.  Not one day after signs again point to labor talks deteriorating, Smith announces he's going to China.  Careful planning, or coincidence?

[greenpride32]

Yeah, not really surprised by this.  His move to China has been rumored for a few weeks now.

What I find interesting is the timing of the announcement.  Not one day after signs again point to labor talks deteriorating, Smith announces he's going to China.  Careful planning, or coincidence?

He's in rumored to be going to China for the past 2 weeks, so I think it's just coincidence. 

Both JR and Chandler are two of the more coveted role player type free agents this year.  So the fact that they both signed overseas without an out clause is a big hint at least some of the season will be lost, if not all.  You figure these guys were in line to get at least $40m deals if not more.  Well that's based on the old standard, I guess.  But you get the idea, these guys aren't chumps getting minimum deals like a Wafer or Adam Morrison who both signed overseas.