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**darth-horax** · 05-07-2007, 08:44 AM

Here's Horax's list of things the Nuggs need to do in the offseason to become championship contenders.

1) Get rid of Reggie Evans. I like the guy as a rebounder, but he's overpaid for what he brings to the table. We've seen that Karl won't play him in the playoffs, so why have him on the bench at all? He was (in my eyes) a one year rental player to help with the loss of KMart and as insurance in case Nene did not pan out. Wiht the emergence of Nene, Reggie is more than expendable.
2) Get KMart back on the court. He's overpaid, but nobody will trade for him. It's pretty obvious that with his salary and history of injuries that he's in Denver for one more year (minimum). Get him rehabbed and back and ready to go by the first of the season. He can (if healthy) help out our post defense and running game, and is solid. If he can get healthy and prove that he's playable, he can either 1)help our squad, or 2) get traded at that point. Either way he needs to get on the court to allow the nuggs to do either option.
3) Camby...I love you as a player, but it's probably time to move on. Camby is the best defensive center in the game today, but he's 33, injury prone, and making a lot of money. It's PROBABLY in the Nuggs best interests to trade Camby for youth right now since his trade value is the highest it will EVER be. Every year he doesnt' go, he's getting older and his trade value diminishes. I say trade Camby and Steve Blake to the Knicks for a first round draft pick and Channing Frye. Blake will want a raise next year, and we can't afford that. With the emergence of players like Anthony Carter, Blake is expendable. Frye had a down season, but a change of scenery would be great for him. It' snot his fault that Eddy Curry had a career year last year.
4) Bring in some veteran 3 point rental players. Can we get Erik Piatkowski out of retirement? How about one of the Barry brothers? Players like that are needed in teh playoffs, I say go out and get 2 of them if possible.
5) Give Karl a one year time frame to get out of the first round. He's too complacent with the refs, and doesnt' protect his players enough. Throw in the fact that he doesnt' trust his players in the second season (playoffs), and you wonder what kind of trust they don't have in him.
6) Jr Smith must stay. I know a lot of people want him to go, but in all honesty, he had 2 poor games in the middle of a trying postseason run when everybody was saying he needed to score more. He's still very young, adn giving him away so soon would be a mistake. He needs to work on his defense, but he's too valuable and young to let go so soon.
7) Make Najera the captain. He's an asset and a professional. Kids should learn from him.

**cpawfan** · 05-07-2007, 09:16 AM

Karl obviously doesn't like using Evans, so I can understand wanting him shipped out, but if Camby goes, there needs to be a 4th big on the roster that can rebound.

Obviously, I'm optimistic about Kenyon

Agreed on moving Camby before his value declines. The Nuggets need to get a PG back when they move him though, especially if Blake becomes too pricey.

Don't overlook Von Wafer. The Nuggets have an option on him next season, so he'll get plenty of opportunities to make the roster.

jericho · 05-07-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darth-horax

Here's Horax's list of things the Nuggs need to do in the offseason to become championship contenders.

1) Get rid of Reggie Evans. I like the guy as a rebounder, but he's overpaid for what he brings to the table. We've seen that Karl won't play him in the playoffs, so why have him on the bench at all? He was (in my eyes) a one year rental player to help with the loss of KMart and as insurance in case Nene did not pan out. Wiht the emergence of Nene, Reggie is more than expendable.
2) Get KMart back on the court. He's overpaid, but nobody will trade for him. It's pretty obvious that with his salary and history of injuries that he's in Denver for one more year (minimum). Get him rehabbed and back and ready to go by the first of the season. He can (if healthy) help out our post defense and running game, and is solid. If he can get healthy and prove that he's playable, he can either 1)help our squad, or 2) get traded at that point. Either way he needs to get on the court to allow the nuggs to do either option.
3) Camby...I love you as a player, but it's probably time to move on. Camby is the best defensive center in the game today, but he's 33, injury prone, and making a lot of money. It's PROBABLY in the Nuggs best interests to trade Camby for youth right now since his trade value is the highest it will EVER be. Every year he doesnt' go, he's getting older and his trade value diminishes. I say trade Camby and Steve Blake to the Knicks for a first round draft pick and Channing Frye. Blake will want a raise next year, and we can't afford that. With the emergence of players like Anthony Carter, Blake is expendable. Frye had a down season, but a change of scenery would be great for him. It' snot his fault that Eddy Curry had a career year last year.
4) Bring in some veteran 3 point rental players. Can we get Erik Piatkowski out of retirement? How about one of the Barry brothers? Players like that are needed in teh playoffs, I say go out and get 2 of them if possible.
5) Give Karl a one year time frame to get out of the first round. He's too complacent with the refs, and doesnt' protect his players enough. Throw in the fact that he doesnt' trust his players in the second season (playoffs), and you wonder what kind of trust they don't have in him.
6) Jr Smith must stay. I know a lot of people want him to go, but in all honesty, he had 2 poor games in the middle of a trying postseason run when everybody was saying he needed to score more. He's still very young, adn giving him away so soon would be a mistake. He needs to work on his defense, but he's too valuable and young to let go so soon.
7) Make Najera the captain. He's an asset and a professional. Kids should learn from him.

1) I'm not in a hurry to lose Reggie. Maybe because I'm not at all confident that Kenyon will be able to stay on the court, or in Karl's good graces. So I'd prefer to keep him around for now, especially if y'all are serious about trading Camby. Subtract Reggie and Marcus, and Denver could struggle on the boards. Neither Nene nor Kenyon are, or will ever be, stellar rebounders.
2) From your mouth to God's ears. I'd be thrilled if Denver could benefit from the K-Mart they traded for. I'm just not holding my breath.
3) I'll do you one better than the Frye scenario. Camby (plus whatever considerations are needed) to Phoenix for Kurt Thomas and the Hawks' first rounder, which becomes John Conley.
4) I tend to think there are reasons why those guys are retired or gathering dust on benches. We may have to develop our shooters out of second rounders.
5) Karl's days in Denver are numbered. He was a terrific infusion of hope and energy during his first half-season, and it's been mixed results since then. I don't have the sense that the players are confident in him or comfortable with him. Denver's challenge is chemistry and strategy more than it is overall talent. We need a better strategist and tactician who doesn't keep the players second-guessing themselves, and doesn't place too much faith in streaky gunners.
6) Agreed.
7) Well, maybe tri-captain.

Kuskid · 05-08-2007, 05:58 PM

1) If (God forbid) Kenyon still can't play, that leaves us awfully thin up front. I say keep him around at least until we have some stability with the roster next season.
2) General consensus on this one. And I don't think most people have taken notice to how well Kenyon and AI could compliment each other. Kenyon'll get a lot of putbacks, clean looks at the basket (he does have a jumper, keep in mind), and dunks because of the way AI plays.
3) Agreed.
4) If they're out there, and we have the roster space, why not?
5) Hell I'd be looking for somebody new now, but I guess I'm just impatient. :P
6) Agreed.
7) Meh, why not?

And jericho, I'm assuming you mean Mike Conley?

soonerterp · 05-10-2007, 01:39 AM

Mike Conley -- Guy with mad ballin' skillz.

John Conley (or is it Conlee)? -- Has-been country singer (hey I just *live* in Oklahoma. I'm no lover of country music).

Actually I thought Steve Blake was an impending unrestricted free agent unless you're talking about a sign 'n' trade. From reading around apparently there are a number of teams interested in visiting with him when the time comes (Portland, Miami, Cleveland are three of them).

**darth-horax** · 05-10-2007, 07:54 AM

Yeah, Stevie B. is a free agent (unrestricted) this coming year...at least, that's what reports are saying.

I'd love to keep him, but I doubt we'll have the money unless we move a big contract.

jericho · 05-10-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuskid

And jericho, I'm assuming you mean Mike Conley?

Ah. No, I meant my cousin John Conley. I'm almost positive he'll be available at that spot in the draft. He's got wicked game--he once scored 12 points in an intramural game.

But in a pinch, yeah, Mike Conley will do just fine.

Melo's Answer · 05-10-2007, 11:34 AM

So does anyone know what the real status of Kenyon Martin is, like does he fully plan on being ready to play next season, if so coming off that injury do you think he has a chance of giving starting minutes or more of a helper off the bench. Just curious what everyones heard

**cpawfan** · 05-10-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melo's Answer

So does anyone know what the real status of Kenyon Martin is, like does he fully plan on being ready to play next season, if so coming off that injury do you think he has a chance of giving starting minutes or more of a helper off the bench. Just curious what everyones heard

Kenyon will be the first player to attempt a comeback from microfracture surgery on each knee. This second surgery though was reportedly performed on the non-weight bearing portion of the knee (which is what Jason Kidd had) so it should be easier to come back.

He hasn't been cleared to run yet and hasn't done any cardio since the surgery, but has kept his body fat way down (5%) and apparently been in the weight room a lot. I believe the FO expects that he'll be ready to play next season

**cpawfan** · 05-10-2007, 11:51 AM

Here are some recent items from the Denver papers

Denver Post

Quote:

Returning from microfracture surgeries on both knees successfully would be history-making, but he's confident he can. While Martin is optimistic he could return earlier, Nuggets strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess said Saturday that he believes Martin could begin running again in late August and is cautiously optimistic that he'll be completely ready for training camp in October.

Karl is now rooting for Martin and seems to miss his athleticism, defense, leadership and swagger. And if the Nuggets have to make roster changes to lower salary, Martin will be expected to pick up the slack since he will likely be around. In fact, Karl hopes to play Martin 2,000 minutes next season, which is 245 minutes more than what forward-center Nene played this season.

"I still think he has some months of rehab," Karl said. "I think we want to work with him and get him to a place where he doesn't have any health problems in the basketball business.

RMN

Quote:

• Karl's view: "I think Kenyon is fired up. I've seen him have a bounce and a spirit to him. He had a little giggle and glee about how well we played at the end, and I know he wants to be back on the court, but I still think he has some months of rehab."

• Martin's view: He expects to be ready for training camp in October but plans to be cautious after struggling in his recovery from the first knee injury. "I'll probably be limited at the beginning, but at least I'm playing," he said. "If everything goes along the way it should, I should have no pain. I should be full go."

**Ruff Draft** · 05-10-2007, 12:51 PM

See if K-Mart can return. Trade camby for a PG, or a young PF/C to put next to Nene.

southnc · 05-10-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soonerterp

Mike Conley -- Guy with mad ballin' skillz.

John Conley (or is it Conlee)? -- Has-been country singer (hey I just *live* in Oklahoma. I'm no lover of country music).

Actually I thought Steve Blake was an impending unrestricted free agent unless you're talking about a sign 'n' trade. From reading around apparently there are a number of teams interested in visiting with him when the time comes (Portland, Miami, Cleveland are three of them).

So are the Lakers, Atlanta, Orlando, and Indiana.

Blake is an unrestricted free agent and can go where ever he pleases. Since Denver "owns" his ending 2-year contract from Portland, they can use Early Bird rights to re-sign him. What this means is they can pay him up to the MLE withOUT using their official MLE. Blake still has to approve the deal, of course.

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