Could Chandler and JR Smith be back on the Nuggets after the lockout?

Wilson Chandler and JR Smith’s return to the NBA may be sooner than what many thought.

ESPN’s Marc Stein tweeted early Monday morning that talks around the Chinese basketball league is that both Chandler and Smith could be released if the NBA Lockout is lifted.

However, Kenyon Martin’s team would like to keep him all season.

Now the question is if both players return would they rejoin the Nuggets? While it is too early to tell, since we since the NBA is still locked out, but Chandler seems more likely than Smith.

It is well known that Nuggets coach George Karl isn’t a big fan of Smith and the feelings is probably vice versa and since Smith is a unrestricted free agent he can sign somewhere else and may possible be offered more money from another team.

Chandler on the other hand is a player that Karl likes, due to his versatility and defense. But the question remains is if Chandler wants to return to Denver. But since Chandler is a restricted free agent the Nuggets can match any offer for him.

While there is a chance that Chandler signs a multi-year deal with the Nuggets, a likely scenario is that another team offers him more money than the Nuggets are willing to match. Another scenario that may work to both parties benefits is Chandler signs a one-year deal and plays the next season for the Nuggets and than he’d be an unrestricted free agent the following offseason. If that was the case, it could help the Nuggets financially and give Chandler more options and a chance to improve his stock.