Denver Nuggets

Crossova21 · Post #1 » by **Crossova21** » Mon Jun 1, 2009 10:37 pm

Sources close to the team have made it clear the Nuggets have one goal this offseason: build a roster that is capable of knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers. One area where Denver was exposed in the Western Conference Finals was length on the low block and on the boards. The Nuggets really didn't have an answer for Pau Gasol. Whether he was catching the ball in the post or crashing the offensive glass, the Nuggets could not adequately defend him.

To address this weakness, expect the Nuggets to pursue a player like Jeff Foster of the Indiana Pacers. The Nuggets nearly acquired Foster this season just prior to the trade deadline, but the two teams couldn't get a deal hammered out. Foster is a veteran, defensive presence who the front office believes could really give Gasol and the Lakers' frontline some problems.

The fact the Nuggets have a trade exception valued at over $9 million that doesn't expire until November will give the Nuggets incredible flexibility this offseason. Denver isn't looking to make a major shakeup and will instead look to acquire that one veteran piece that might put them over the top.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12824

Any chance we make a deal with Denver before Foster ages too much? I would love to see us find a way to land Chris Anderson in a sign and trade

Post #2 » by **Grang33r** » Mon Jun 1, 2009 10:43 pm

Interesting, but I don't see how Denver can add payroll like Jeff Foster. They had to cut tons of money prior to last season.

Denver will be nearly at the tax line with the contracts of just six players -- Billups, Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Steven Hunter, and Nene (who broke his arm in the fourth quarter of Game 6, by the way). Add in the $3 million on the books as part of Antonio McDyess' buyout and the smaller contracts of Sonny Weems and Renaldo Balkman, and they're already at $69 million -- with the luxury-tax threshold expected to fall between $69 and $71 million next year. And things get even worse a year later, when the tax level may drop again while the salaries of the Nuggets' core players once again rise.

All of that is before they attempt to re-sign Chris Andersen, Linas Kleiza, Dahntay Jones, or Anthony Carter, or add any additional players, or draft anybody.

Link- http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... end-090530

Looks like a team will be losing some players but seems to me that adding a contract like Foster is really out of their options.

cdash · Post #3 » by **cdash** » Mon Jun 1, 2009 10:57 pm

Hmm...not really sure how a deal can work there. I'm sure they would love for us to take Steven Hunter off their hands, but I wouldn't deal Foster for Hunter, and they don't have a first rounder (traded to Chicago) and they can't trade next year's either.

chatard5 · Post #4 » by **chatard5** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 12:22 am

They don't have a first rounder? Then I don't see how anything can go down. Their first-rounder would've sucked anyways. I want to buy a few (since I am not paying), get that one from Sac-town, and do whatever we can to land Rubio. I just want to chant Rub-i-o, Rub-i-o, RU-BI-O!!! And now I actually want to take Hansbrough late in the first.

chatard5 · Post #5 » by **chatard5** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 12:25 am

If Chris Andersen wasn't crazy we could possibly do a sign-and-trade. I don't think he is the attitude we need, but he is the player we need. He is like Jeff Foster but on cocaine. Wait a second...

cdash · Post #6 » by **cdash** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:25 am

I still don't want anything to do with Hansbrough. Besides being a little bigger than expected, nothing has really changed there for me. If we are going to get a Tar Heel, I like Danny Green.

As for Chris Andersen, I think he played himself out of our price range (unless we can get him in an S&T for Jeff Foster, which really wouldn't make any sense for Denver to do). I don't think he is crazy, and I don't think his background would scare us off as bad as it might seem. He is exactly the type of guy we need, and I would love to get our hands on him if we could.

Dunthreevy · Post #7 » by **Dunthreevy** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:31 am

cdash wrote:I still don't want anything to do with Hansbrough. Besides being a little bigger than expected, nothing has really changed there for me. If we are going to get a Tar Heel, I like Danny Green.

As for Chris Andersen, I think he played himself out of our price range (unless we can get him in an S&T for Jeff Foster, which really wouldn't make any sense for Denver to do). I don't think he is crazy, and I don't think his background would scare us off as bad as it might seem. He is exactly the type of guy we need, and I would love to get our hands on him if we could.

Couldn't agree more. But I also wouldn't be opposed to picking up Psycho T if we can get a pick in the 20's, while keeping #13 and drafting a PG.

chatard5 · Post #8 » by **chatard5** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:36 am

The interview I saw last week before one of the Lakers Nuggets games with Andersen was very good. I don't think he is crazy off the court, just on. Still doubt we would take a chance with him.

chatard5 · Post #9 » by **chatard5** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:38 am

What happens if you get drug tested by the NBA or whoever and you test positive for a drug. Can you get arrested? I guess he never admitted what drug it was, but it was one of cocaine, heroine, and something else, I think. Maybe he won't say it so he won't get in trouble. Or has he gotten in trouble that I have forgotten about?

cdash · Post #10 » by **cdash** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:40 am

You can't get arrested.

Post #11 » by **Grang33r** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:50 am

The Birdman would be a nice fit for many teams, but a team like us, or Portland, and maybe one or two others, it just doesn't make sense.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #12 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 2:48 am

Grang33r wrote:The Birdman would be a nice fit for many teams, but a team like us, or Portland, and maybe one or two others, it just doesn't make sense.

Agreed.

I just don't see a deal working out. They could trade us the rights to the Bobcats pick that they own - but wouldn't be a smart move for them.

Post #13 » by **PR07** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 6:18 am

Denver could probably use Foster, but I don't think they'd be willing to exchange what Birdman brings for what Foster brings. Birdman's a big-time game changer off their bench.

Post #14 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 8:30 am

In all actuality, I think they're either going to have to dump Kenyon Martin or Nene in a salary dump, much like they did with Camby last year, if they want any chance to stay under the luxury tax.

Nene only had about 4 solid games out of 16 played in the playoffs, and has been injured seriously in pretty much every NBA season he's played in.

If they can dump salary, then they'd probably make a move for Foster. Otherwise, I don't see them being able to.

cdash · Post #15 » by **cdash** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:21 pm

Scoot McGroot wrote:In all actuality, I think they're either going to have to dump Kenyon Martin or Nene in a salary dump, much like they did with Camby last year, if they want any chance to stay under the luxury tax.

Nene only had about 4 solid games out of 16 played in the playoffs, and has been injured seriously in pretty much every NBA season he's played in.

If they can dump salary, then they'd probably make a move for Foster. Otherwise, I don't see them being able to.

Plus, Nene broke his arm in the fourth quarter of game six against the Lakers.

greenway84 · Post #16 » by **greenway84** » Tue Jun 2, 2009 3:49 pm

I know they wouldnt do it, but I would. Nene, balkman FOR Foster, Tinsley, 2 2nds

Nutty Nats Fan · Post #17 » by **Nutty Nats Fan** » Wed Jun 3, 2009 4:32 am

Scoot McGroot wrote:In all actuality, I think they're either going to have to dump Kenyon Martin or Nene in a salary dump, much like they did with Camby last year, if they want any chance to stay under the luxury tax.

They dumped Camby because he was useless and hurting the team, plus Stan didn't want to keep paying a large tax on a team that was being knocked out in the 1st round. Now that the Nuggets have made the WCF's, I think he would be willing to spend a little more to get the team to the finals.

chatard5 · Post #18 » by **chatard5** » Wed Jun 3, 2009 4:38 am

Camby was useless?! 10 points, 13 boards, and 3.5 blocks per game is useless? He won DPOY or was close to winning too, wasn't he? It was because of the tax, not because he was useless.

chatard5 · Post #19 » by **chatard5** » Wed Jun 3, 2009 4:41 am

cdash wrote:Plus, Nene broke his arm in the fourth quarter of game six against the Lakers.

Dude, you are totally prejudice against basketball players that make $10 million a year and have broken arms. I mean c'mon, playing with 1 arm is worth a lot, right?

Nutty Nats Fan · Post #20 » by **Nutty Nats Fan** » Wed Jun 3, 2009 5:01 am

chatard5 wrote:Camby was useless?! 10 points, 13 boards, and 3.5 blocks per game is useless? He won DPOY or was close to winning too, wasn't he? It was because of the tax, not because he was useless.

Camby winning that DPOY award was a joke. It only proved the voters looked at box scores and didn't watch actual games. The Nuggets were better last season when Camby was off the court. Yes, Camby put up numbers, but that was because he was an extremely selfish stat stuffer. He would rather leave his man wide open and try to get a block. He thought he could drive to the rim like a SG (couldn't). He would grab rebounds out of team mates hands. The last half of the season, he only showed up to play maybe once every five games. He wasn't playing a team game.

Most of us were happy to see him go. We were only upset the Nuggets weren't able to trick the Clippers in to giving up value for him.