2011 NBA Free Agency: J.R. Smith An Option For the Minnesota Timberwolves?

It's not that surprising that the Denver Nuggets' guard, J.R. Smith, could be leaving the mile high city this summer. He has fallen out of favor with Head Coach George Karl and Nuggets management, while also putting the idea of playing for a new team into his own mind.

"There's a strong possibility as of right now [I'll be elsewhere]," Smith said, the Denver Post reported. "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."

Smith will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season and there will be multiple teams that pursue his services. What Smith needs is a team that has good talent on it, but will allow him to be a starter and reach his potential.

It was difficult for Smith to reach his potential in Denver, since he continued to switch between a bench role and an occasional starter and thus caused him to have an attitude problem.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have glaring needs in their backcourt and both positions will be addressed this offseason. Most likely, the point guard position will be upgraded by either Ricky Rubio or Kyrie Irving.

The shooting guard position, though, is a more complex problem to solve.

General Manager David Kahn may look to stay with Wes Johnson at shooting guard to see what he can bring in his sophomore season. He also has the option of trading Minnesota's lottery pick and moving back in the draft to select Alec Burks from Colorado.

What may be the best option though is signing an experienced shooting guard through free agency, someone like that of Smith.

Smith, 25, could work really well with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's young, athletic, extremely talented and in need of further growth. The Timberwolves would be a team that wouldn't magnify his bad plays, due to them not being an expected playoff team, which would in turn keep him from being down on himself.

Also, pairing him with another play-maker in Michael Beasley, would put him in a familiar situation that he had in Denver with Carmelo Anthony.

Having a game-changer like Smith could possibly take this Timberwolves team to the next level. Hopefully, that level is the playoffs.

A lineup including Smith would at least put on a great show for the people in the "Land of 10000 Lakes."