RealGM

I think it is time we start a thread watching the Bobcats, they are now a game and a half out of the playoffs, but were only a half game out last night. While I would not mind the team adding some draft picks, I do not think the team is going to look to spend money this offseason, so a mid 1st could be the worst thing that could happen to this team. As I would rather they spend the money to bring back Birdman, and add another backup big.

I would like for us to get the pick and force the front office into actually drafting someone with it, but they would just trade it away for another future first, so it doesn't really matter either way.

Isn't Petro on the last year of his rookie deal? Would you bring him back? I know we picked up Balkmans option, so he will be back.

Who are our free agents:

Birdman
Kleiza
Petro

are those the only 3? What about Weems, was he a one year contract or two?

I don't want the pick this year. Beside that fact that it could be potentially be better the longer it takes for us to get(or possibly worse)...I'd much rather have it in a draft that we still own our own first rounder, so we could then package them together and maybe move up a little.

Let's also remember this is a pretty weak draft overall. I'm sure they'll find an appropriate time to trade the draft pick, let's not worry too much.

While Rebel is probably right with continued cost cutting measures... I hope that Kroenke after seeing K-mart's injury and the potential to have many teams cost cutting out there to get a very good player with the $9.8 mill TPE. This team when healthy has great potential, but they need a quality (semi expensive big) to have as insurance unfortunately. McDyess would have been great, but he did want to leave Detroit...OR....."Although the Nuggets tried to leave the impression they had no choice but to buy out McDyess because of his reluctance to leave Detroit, in fact he would have had to report or retire if they had insisted. As McDyess disclosed later, the Nuggets made no attempt to get him to report." (http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_11916858)

I am sure that if the Bobcats make the playoffs, the Nuggets will find a trade seeker to give away another 1st rounder. It's going to be a very interesting off season. If the Nuggets owner and FO decide cost cutting for next year, it's not going to make it alot of fun....but if they seize the opportunity that will be out there...we could have a legitimate title run next year.

I'd rather have Bobcats get in the playoffs so we get the pick this year. It's not gonna make difference unless they're in the lottery for 5 straight years from now and then the protection bursts.

DeJuan Blair (aka Elton Brand the ox) is currently projected as a 12th pick on draftnet... it's a joke, if he falls out of lottery by any thunder luck, we'll draft him and murder everyone on rebounding. We'd be invincible with him.

But plenty of other strong prospects: Stephen Curry, BJ Mullens, Jeff Teague, Demar DeRozan, Chase Budinger all of whom I think are going to be great pros with pure talent/ ball IQ. Teague, especially, is a wizard with the ball, he's got the skills and under Billups' tutelage he'll be all NBA guard.

First I of course hope Charlotte continues to not make the playoffs. But IF they do we get their pick. I dispute what was said earlier. I see a lot of nice pickups if we get the pick this year.

So lets say we get the 15th pick. There is a long list of guys that COULD be available that I would love to get. I'll leave my personal opinion out of who should get drafted and use draft boards to suggest who could be available at or around 15.

Jonny Flynn, Dejuan Blair, Patrick Patterson, Craig Brackins, Patrick Mills, Demar DeRozen, Ty Lawson, Tyreke Evans.

I'd be all for getting Evans or Flynn as the eventually successor for Billups. I'd be all for taking DeRozen just based on potiental. I'd be all for any of those PFs to eventually replace K-Mart.

On the upside I could see a team ending up with the 4th pick and already being set at shooting guard (LA Clippers as an example). If that is the case I could see the Nuggets trading up for James Harden.

But in reality my top suggestion is to move Camby's trade exception and the Bobcat's first for a 3 year deal with Rasheed Wallace.

^Are you kidding? Unlike Shaq, Wallace is never going to find his fountain of youth. He's done.

SnakefromHell wrote:^Are you kidding? Unlike Shaq, Wallace is never going to find his fountain of youth. He's done.

Nope not kidding. Wallace is not done. He would be a nice fit in Denver. A 3 year deal would be safe.

12.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 36% from the 3 point line this year. Wallace has put up very similar numbers over the past 3 years. I think he's got 3 more solid years left in the league.

SnakefromHell wrote:I'd rather have Bobcats get in the playoffs so we get the pick this year. It's not gonna make difference unless they're in the lottery for 5 straight years from now and then the protection bursts.

The difference that pick makes, is as a trade asset. Combine it with the TPE and any other needed picks, and the team could bring in a player that will make a difference.

At least, I hope they do.

pickIBL wrote:On the upside I could see a team ending up with the 4th pick and already being set at shooting guard (LA Clippers as an example). If that is the case I could see the Nuggets trading up for James Harden.

What are you gonna use to move up? JR Smith, Nene?

No I can't see moving either Nene or JR Smith. If you are the Kings with K-mart2 or the Clippers with Eric Gordon what do you do with the 4th pick?

I'd say offer the Bobcat's pick at 15 plus the Thunder's second rounder and possibly swap Steven Hunter for a longer contract they want to move (especially if the guy coming back can play a little). If they don't want to take the expiring contract I'd just offer a future first along with the Cat's pick.

pickIBL wrote:No I can't see moving either Nene or JR Smith. If you are the Kings with K-mart2 or the Clippers with Eric Gordon what do you do with the 4th pick?

I'd say offer the Bobcat's pick at 15 plus the Thunder's second rounder and possibly swap Steven Hunter for a longer contract they want to move (especially if the guy coming back can play a little). If they don't want to take the expiring contract I'd just offer a future first along with the Cat's pick.

That's not happening. I guarentee that one.

To get a top 5 pick, you have to give up top 5 talent or a pick and a young prospect, which Denver does not have.
Denver wants Harden or any other of the top 5 picks in this draft, you are giving up JR Smith, bank on that one for sure.
The Clips could easily snag a future point guard like Jennings, Teague, or a center in Thabeet, figuring they are probably gonna trade Kaman this offseason if possible, which probably will be.
They can also just take BPA as well and use that player as a big minute 6xth man or take a SF like Aminu that is a project and bring him along slowly or trade down to maybe the 10th overall and take a guy like James Johnson or Evan Turner and get another player or dump a bad contract and then trade Thornton in a seperate trade.
But to think the 15th overall and a 2nd rounder, or the 15th overall and another future non-lotto 1st, is just completely unrealistic.
I also can't think of a large contract they are gonna move for Steven Hunter's small contract and I don't see your team, the Nuggets taking back salary and getting stuck over the luxury tax when they just dumped their 1st rounder and Camby in seperate deals to avoid just this situation.
Never.

You really can guarantee what the Clippers will do? Its the Clippers.

Let's say the Clippers draft 4th and our Cat pick is 15.

Pick One: Griffin
Pick Two: Thabeet
Pick Three: Jordan Hill
Clippers Pick: Traded to Denver (James Harden)
15th Overall Pick: Traded to Clippers (according to draft boards Jeff Teague, Eric Maynor, Willie Warren, etc could be available)
Plus Clippers get a future first round pick.

Harden isn't an elite level athlete. He's not on the athletic level of a guy like OJ Mayo or JR Smith. That is what I see scouts saying all the time. I agree with that. But I do see some Manu in the guy. I just don't see any teams giving up a JR Smith or Nene type guy to move up for Harden.

Just give me an example of a team trading up for the Clippers pick. I've been thinking and I just don't see the Clippers getting a deal they'd like more than the 15th pick plus a future first.

Anyways I'm not saying it is very likely. But I do see the possibility if the Clippers can find something they want at 15 and then stockpile the pick to use later or trade.

My focus isn't really on Harden just that a lot of bad teams are set at shooting guard so he might fall. And if he does we could trade up.

Brainstorming is good. Ideally I'd like to snag vets though. My latest theory with the Charlotte pick is

OKC 2nd rounder (rights to whoever we drafted),Charlotte Pick, Kenyon Martin, Steven Hunter for S&T w/ Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, and Jerome James

Then you can still send Camby's exception plus a future first to Detroit for a 3 year deal with Rasheed Wallace. I'd actually love to see it done for Marvin Williams Jr. Not likely but not a bad idea to recruit the guy during free agency and maybe he'd tell the Hawks to trade him.

OKC 2nd rounder (rights to whoever we drafted),Charlotte Pick, Kenyon Martin, Steven Hunter for S&T w/ Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, and Jerome James

I doubt that would ever happen, but it would be great.

Balkman/Thomas
Melo/JR
Nene/Andersen
JR/Gordon
Billups/??

Balkman has shown he could be starting. Him and Thomas can share minutes at PF, rotate to SF if needed, JR should get 35+ between SF and SG. Not sure you really need to go after Wallace with that line up, a PF who can hit the outside shot and defend like him would be nice though. The more pressing need would be getting a younger PG to backup Billups. Maybe some team would be dumb enough to S&T LK for one.

Does leave the TPE and James as an expiring I believe as trade assets.

Edit: Just remembered, there is no way the Bulls would do that, because they believe they could sign Wade, Bosh, or Lebron in 2010.

Ok I'm going to play the role of the above said players' agent for a second.

Sign an extension for max dollars and max years now! You sign now you don't have to worry about the CBA or getting injured. Don't be stupid. You want yo money. I want my cut. Now sign on the dotted line.

And all these teams tanking and clearing space specifically for 2010 are going to feel salty. Outside of Lebron James taking less to go to a big market (new york being the only option) and making that up with big endorsement contracts... I just don't see it happening. I read how teams like Minnesota plan to use that 2010 cap space AND I LAUGH. I won't pretend I know what Paxson will do for sure. But he needs a hard nosed PF. I suspect he goes out and gets one this summer. Be it DeJuan Blair, Boozer, K-Mart, etc.