5 Questions on the Nuggets

[The Rebel]

After the Carmelo Anthony drama last season, Denver became a powerhouse in the second half of the season and earned the No. 5 seed in the West. Now they have some questions to answer. Chief among them: Do the superstar-less Nuggets have enough talent on their roster to challenge for the top spot in the conference?

Our panel of 5-on-5 experts have the answers:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-o ... -questions

[youngthegiant]

good read. hope this lockout business ends soon.

[KAVK]

Really hope we do not get into a rebuilding session but it looks more likely if Nene signs elsewhere. Hard to predict anything.

[almost famous]

Why would we not go into a rebuilding session? I would think it was obvious the moment we new Melo was leaving.

After the playoffs, it should be pretty obvious that this team lacks a star. Whether Nene signs or not (he probably won't), we need to make serious changes if we ever want to rise above the level of mediocrity.

[The Rebel]

If the Nuggets were going to rebuild they would have taken the Nets offer. The Nuggets have given no indication that they are going to rebuild and instead appear to think they have a borderline contender.

[almost famous]

Why do you still think we could have taken the Nets offer? It was pretty clear to me that Melo had no desire to go to NJ. The Nuggets had to drag the guy kicking and screaming just to meet the Nets owner

There seems to be plenty indication that we are rebuilding. If they thought we were a borderline contender, I think losing 5 pieces of your main playoff rotation (as it appears is very likely) kind of scraps those plans.

There's only 3 guys on this team who were on here a year ago. The last three players who were a part of our playoff stretch are all showing major interest in leaving the team. Our whole team is full of prospects. We just got manhandled in the first round... Again.

It certainly seems like a rebuilding phase is imminent to me.

[The Rebel]

Why do you still think we could have taken the Nets offer? It was pretty clear to me that Melo had no desire to go to NJ. The Nuggets had to drag the guy kicking and screaming just to meet the Nets owner

There seems to be plenty indication that we are rebuilding. If they thought we were a borderline contender, I think losing 5 pieces of your main playoff rotation (as it appears is very likely) kind of scraps those plans.

There's only 3 guys on this team who were on here a year ago. The last three players who were a part of our playoff stretch are all showing major interest in leaving the team. Our whole team is full of prospects. We just got manhandled in the first round... Again.

It certainly seems like a rebuilding phase is imminent to me.

Melo stated in several interviews that he was sure he was going to the Nets up until the night before the Knicks trade. It is pretty much common knowledge on the Knicks board that Melo was not only willing, but was ready to go to the Nets.

Losing 5 pieces is hard, but I truly think the front office believes the team is better now then they were a year ago. Without Nene & Jr I do not understand how Kroenke and Ujiri think we can be better, but given the indications I have taken from Ujiri's interviews, plus resigning Karl who has made it clear he does not believe in rebuilding, I just don't think they are planning a complete rebuild. I think the front office is going along with the idea that with a couple of the right pieces coming back or being added then they will be a 2nd round team this year.

Personally I said prior to the Melo deal, directly after a Melo deal, and as soon as the rumor started that Nene wanted to test free agency that the Nuggets would best be served trading some of their pieces for good picks and young talent with huge potential, I would still prefer that. but it looks like we are going to go for the 2nd round of the playoffs instead.

[almost famous]

I believe that the Nets proposed a trade for Melo without the extension. That trade would have been less than half the value of the trade Denver wanted. I don't believe Melo to the Nets was ever a realistic option, if we wanted the most value for him. I think Melo was just playing the hype with those quotes IMO.

I certainly don't expect the Nuggets FO to come out and say they are officially rebuilding. The team did pretty well, and they would be foolish not to hype the team for next season's attendance sake, but I don't think there is any choice here. They can call it what they want, but this IS a form of rebuilding. All new players. All new talents. All new options. The former team was built around Melo. Without him, it's a completely new team. I'm sure they realize that.

[RRFB]

Melo stated in several interviews that he was sure he was going to the Nets up until the night before the Knicks trade. It is pretty much common knowledge on the Knicks board that Melo was not only willing, but was ready to go to the Nets.

Melo said a lot of things during that half-season, most of which were lies to keep the media off of his ass. He knew he was going to New York all along, and I don't believe for a second he would have signed an extension elsewhere. New Jersey stayed active in the media to help us get as much value out of the Knicks as possible.

I'm fine with the FO not 'completely rebuilding', whatever that means. We may not have a clear #1 guy, but we are stacked with young talented players, surrounded by very solid veterans, and with all of our draft picks plus a NY first. Sounds to me like we're already a few years ahead on the rebuilding process. Nene, Lawson, Gallinari, Afflalo, Chandler*, and even Jr* all have border line all-star+ potential. If one or two of them utilize that potential, this team could make some noise in the west. I don't think those are totally unreasonable expectations at all.

[The Rebel]

Looks like Melo said just friday morning that he would it was New Jersey, and it sure sounds to me like they were on his list, considering the other 2 teams were always rumored to be on it.

Carmelo Anthony was on with Regis and Kelly Friday. talking about the anxiety he faced at the trade deadline as the Nuggets sifted through competing offers from various teams. He didn't mention that the anxiety was of his own doing. But once again, he suggested he thought he could be headed to the Nets.

"It was crazy...not to know where I'm going to end up at...whether it's going to be Jersey, New York, Chicago," he told Regis Philbin, with his wife, LaLa Vasquez looking on. It was the second time he's told a talk show host he thought he could wind up in New Jersey. In May, he told "The View": "Me personally, I thought I was going to end up in New Jersey."

http://www.netsdaily.com/2011/9/10/2415 ... -in-jersey

[KAVK]

Looks like Melo said just friday morning that he would it was New Jersey, and it sure sounds to me like they were on his list, considering the other 2 teams were always rumored to be on it.

Carmelo Anthony was on with Regis and Kelly Friday. talking about the anxiety he faced at the trade deadline as the Nuggets sifted through competing offers from various teams. He didn't mention that the anxiety was of his own doing. But once again, he suggested he thought he could be headed to the Nets.

"It was crazy...not to know where I'm going to end up at...whether it's going to be Jersey, New York, Chicago," he told Regis Philbin, with his wife, LaLa Vasquez looking on. It was the second time he's told a talk show host he thought he could wind up in New Jersey. In May, he told "The View": "Me personally, I thought I was going to end up in New Jersey."

http://www.netsdaily.com/2011/9/10/2415 ... -in-jersey

i started believing he could end up in New Jersey when NY started hesitating.

Damn.... Really hope Nene signed with reasonable deal.