So does this bring the Nuggets closer to winning a champions

[idajazz]

I don't think Denver even makes the playoffs.

[TonyMontana]

Only time will tell.

[elbowthrower]

At best it gets us to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

[CanNugget]

No one got the message? Nene is free, he will be a beast!

And i always spoke the truth, Iverson x André was a bad movie, now, thing´s will be all right!

apparently after the lakers game Nene was pissed and went and yelled at GK for the lack of touches he was getting. So not only will he get more touches but he will be angry haha. I cant wait for wednesday!!! i just cant believe we're going to either see AC or Jones in the starting line-up, when will that moron learn?!?!?!?!?!?!? Until GK is gone, we're going no where.

[realfung]

Not quite, but Denver is trying to save money from the tax.

I am not sure if they can clear space for free agent in 2010, but Billups, Melo and JR Smith lineup is pretty good.
They need a defensive stopper like Bruce Bowen, Prince type of player.

[corona]

They need a defensive stopper like Bruce Bowen, Prince type of player.

i've heard renaldo balkman plays some defense.

I don't think Denver even makes the playoffs.

of course you don't.

[pickaxe]

Yes it does. Sometimes taking away one of the most coveted parts of a team forces others to step up.

We still have Melo, Martin, Nene, Balkman, Birdman, JR, Kleiza, Carter (as a backup), Juwan/Dice, and Samb for additional size, who am I missing here?

Billups has a very formidable array of options on this team. The only reason we do not see this immediately is because we have been living without a true starting all-star caliber pg for 1.5 seasons.

Less chaos and more smart plays and floor leadership, and Billups can hit clutch 3's....which we were still waiting on Chucky for the tre thing.

Now how does it work out is the remaining question. We still have to see how it goes. In theory this is a better team? Nope. In reality.

[el loco]

Does this bring us closer to a championship?

Probably not, but it did free up a log jam at the 2 spot, it netted us a quality floor general and it should prove to help get Nene a few more touches on the offensive end. Chauncey should allow us to spread the floor more because he is always a threat to hit a 3. I think he will also get the ball to Melo in a much better position on the floor where he can operate much more effectively.

But, we are still facing all of the other problems we had prior to the trade. We still need front court depth, we don't have much of a scoring punch off of the bench, if Jr starts, we have no bench scoring except on a night when Kleiza is on. Rebounding is a real concern. In the 2 games that we have had with the teams that made the playoffs last season we got destroyed on the glass. In the game that we won against a depleted Clippers team, early on they were killing us on the boards, but we poured it on in the end.

I really like the trade from a team standpoint because it should make us a more balanced team. I believe that this trade will also get our owner out of the luxury tax once it is all said and done.

We are still a piece or two away IMO, but at least we are adding pieces that fit. It will be fun to see how it all works out.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

Camby
Nene
Melo
JR
CB

Yuck. Camby = done.

Now Kmart, Melo, Nene, Artest, CB would have been nice.

[planaria]

Everyone who´s crying about Camby or it´s not a Nuggets fan or wasnt used to follow Nuggets game.

Camby is one of the most overrated players in the NBA. Sure he has a special talent to get rebounds and block shots, but he´s a HORRIBLE man to man defense. Plus, he usually **** our defense more than helped while trying to block shots and increase his annual check (a part of his contract is based on his stats). That said Camby is one of the worst offensive centers in the league. Lets not talk about he been an injury prones.

Look, at this stage, Marcus would be a nice role player if he was earning something about 6/7 millions per season. In Denver, he was costing us about 22 millions per season (we were over the lux tax).

So, since every other team though like Denver, the deal with LAC was a no brainer (thanks God they´re desperatly to get some big...even a overpaid one...to replace Brand).

That said, we now have a 10 millions TE that only expires in 2009 november. It´s could very well become a player much better than freaking Marcus.

[The Rebel]

Everyone who´s crying about Camby or it´s not a Nuggets fan or wasnt used to follow Nuggets game.

Camby is one of the most overrated players in the NBA. Sure he has a special talent to get rebounds and block shots, but he´s a HORRIBLE man to man defense. Plus, he usually **** our defense more than helped while trying to block shots and increase his annual check (a part of his contract is based on his stats). That said Camby is one of the worst offensive centers in the league. Lets not talk about he been an injury prones.

Look, at this stage, Marcus would be a nice role player if he was earning something about 6/7 millions per season. In Denver, he was costing us about 22 millions per season (we were over the lux tax).

So, since every other team though like Denver, the deal with LAC was a no brainer (thanks God they´re desperatly to get some big...even a overpaid one...to replace Brand).

That said, we now have a 10 millions TE that only expires in 2009 november. It´s could very well become a player much better than freaking Marcus.

Agreed, it seems that everybody keeps bringing up Camby, but most Nuggets fans were ready to throw a party when they found out he was gone.

Although I must say that AI's interview with sportscenter really opened my eyes to part of the problem. While he was complaining about the Nuggets one of the comments he made was that the team had traded their best defensive player, which made me think that maybe AI does not even understand some of the basics about defense.

[The Rebel]

For anybody to truly believe that this does not make the Nuggets a better team and therefor closer to the championship they either have AI colored glasses, or have not been paying attention.

One thing I have noticed is that Billups only talks about teams, even in his press conference he talked about what he could bring to the team, and how he could help them out. Never once did I hear him mention awards, scoring titles, or who's team it is, he just stated what he felt he could add, and help the younger players with. That is huge, as it shows a guy who has long been a winner, and what they are really worried about, just that presence and attitude around some of these guys will help tremendously.

Overall since the trade the Nuggets have been moving the ball better, and playing better defense, even in that joke of a game against the Warriors, they looked like more of a team then they have in a year. While they still have to learn to trust each other better, they are moving in the right direction.

The only big problem I can see at this point, is the rebounding, something must be done to fix it, whether players focus more on it, or the team makes a trade to get a guy who can come in and grab rebounds on both ends.

[Ewingfan]

This is not about A.I colored glasses. If Denver doesnt win the division. it would take an OUTSTANDING performance to advance out of the 1st round. Be real. I am an A.I fan but he had to go. Now we will see if he was really the problem. Ask yourself. Are they better than the Lakers,Rockets,Utah,New Orleans,Phoenix and Spurs(if everybody is healthy).

[beemaster]

We are not quite close to winning it all, but we are closer than we were before the trade.