tdizzle

Focusing on Nuggets (6-8-03).
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,...442249,00.html


CHICAGO - How about a Nuggets starting lineup of Gilbert Arenas at point guard, Rodney White at shooting guard, Carmelo Anthony at small forward, Juwan Howard at power forward and Nene Hilario at center?

If the Nuggets, as expected, select Anthony with the third pick June 26 in the NBA draft, that's a lineup he said he believes can happen.

"They are missing a real good big man and a point guard," Anthony said Saturday at a downtown Chicago hotel. "If they can fill that in and bring me in, we might be able to turn that program around. I'm not saying we will turn it around, but it would be a possibility ...

"Gilbert, Rodney, me, Nene and Juwan? That's a good team. You got a vet, Juwan Howard. You got Nene, a real good power forward. Gilbert Arenas (a Golden State free agent) is not even in his prime and is doing the things he is right now. And me, I'm an up-and-comer."

Anthony was here at the conclusion of the NBA predraft camp to take part in some league testing and measuring as well as a media session. The Syracuse star checks in at 6-feet-6, 233 pounds with a 7-0 wingspan and a standing reach of 8-9 1/2. The 2003 Final Four most outstanding player, who averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds as a freshman, said several times he expects and has no problem with being a Nugget.

"I'm focusing on Denver right now," Anthony said.

While in Chicago, Anthony met two potential teammates in Howard and Nuggets guard Predrag Savovic.

Anthony said Howard, a free-agent forward who led the Nuggets in scoring and rebounding last season, wished him good luck and hoped they could play together next season. Savovic, a restricted free agent, served as an interpreter for Serbian forward-center Darko Milicic at the media session.

When told of Anthony's starting five projections, Howard said in a phone interview: "That is a good thing coming from the young fella. That shows that he wants to win. He knows that himself, Gilbert and myself would add to the team. I think (the Nuggets) should try to add another free agent as well. I'm not ruling out Denver. Denver is high on my list."

Chicago reporters pressed Anthony about a rumor that the Nuggets would trade the third pick to the Chicago Bulls for the seventh pick and players. Anthony shot down that talk, saying he had no interest in being a Bull.

"I'm not going to force any trade," said Anthony, who added he would play in the Nuggets' summer leagues, if need be. "I'm happy that (the Nuggets) are going to pick me. Obviously, they see something that they like and a way that I can help the program."

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe plans on using the pick. "I have no interest in trading that pick," Vandeweghe said Friday before departing to Italy on Saturday for a scouting trip and basketball clinics. "Obviously, if there is something that's big, we'll listen. But I'd be surprised."

Anthony will be in Denver next Saturday and Sunday. His agent, Calvin Andrews, said Anthony will work out in limited fashion for the Nuggets. Anthony will visit the Detroit Pistons, owners of the second pick, before he visits Denver. But the 19-year-old expects the Pistons to select Milicic and believes he'd fit better with the Nuggets.

"If I go to Detroit, there is a possibility I would share time with (forward) Tayshaun Prince," Anthony said. "I know I would get better because of the type of team Detroit is and the type of coach Larry Brown is. But you don't get better sitting on the bench. Everyone needs a chance to play, and that's what I need. ... If Denver is talking about playing me, why don't I go to Denver?"

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