First New Orleans throws you into the Tyson Chandler-P.J. Brown deal like an old rag doll.

Then the Bulls play a little 'hot potato' and trade you to Denver a week later for a washed up Howard Eisley, whom the Bulls promptly waive, and two second-round draft choices.

The Bulls do this because they say they don't want another kid on the roster. At 21, no doubt about it, you're still young, even if this is your third year in the league after entering the NBA Draft straight out of high school.

(And if you read between the lines, J.R., you'd know they don't want to deal with your attitude, work ethic and maturity, all of which have been questioned, most recently by your former coach in New Orleans, Byron Scott.)

The Bulls also say they want to be able to sign Adrian Griffin. What's that you ask: Isn't he the journeyman who hasn't played the entire road trip because of a nagging calf injury…the guy who wasn't even playing much before the injury? Yeah, that's the one.

But enough about Adrian, what's new with you?

Well, for starters, you just hung a career-high 36 points on the Bulls in a 113-109 win last night in Denver. I'll bet you were just a little pumped up to beat the team that wanted nothing to do with you, huh? You dog, you.

Thanks in large part to your performance, the Bulls are now 3-8 on the season after dropping all five games on the western swing of what has been, to date, a disastrous circus trip. They'll try to salvage a win or two with road games in Philly and New York following Thanksgiving.

Anyway, I see that you're starting this season, J.R., and averaging 16.4 points a contest and hitting 39 percent of your threes. Not too shabby.

Nevertheless, it's not all sunshine and roses in the Mile-High City, J.R.

You still don't pass the ball, and boy, do you love to shoot. On the defensive end, your coach, George Karl, is frustrated with your lack of focus. You've heard all of this before.

As for your team-for-a-week, don't be so quick to dismiss Adrian Griffin. If and when he gets over that calf injury, he could be a starter himself and provide a nice, steadying influence in the Chicago backcourt. Chris Duhon's been underwhelming in a starting capacity, and for the time being, Ben Gordon looks comfortable in his old sixth man role.

Then there's Thabo Sefolosha, whom the Bulls drafted to fill the big guard role that you might have played in Chicago had John Paxson not traded you away. At the moment, things are moving pretty quickly for Sefolosha, but the team likes the way he plays with equal intensity on both ends of the court.

And let's be honest here, if George Karl at times wants to "strangle" you (his word, not mine), imagine what Scott Skiles would do. (In case you didn’t know, J.R., in his playing days with the Magic, Skiles once got into a fight with Shaq. Not exactly a mellow guy.)

So maybe this is one of those situations that works out well for all parties involved. You get a fresh start in Denver, and the Bulls add a veteran to a young team and nip any potential player-coach confrontations in the bud.

Still, at least for a night, I couldn't help but think how nice it would've been to see you in a Bulls uniform and to have those 36 points on the other side of the score sheet.

But I guess that's how things go sometimes.

Touché, J.R. Touché.