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Nuggets love Foster?
10:48AM ET
Jeff Foster | Pacers
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The Denver Nuggets want to add another big man and the player they would love to acquire is Jeff Foster of the Indiana Pacers.

ESPN.com Marc Stein gives some insight into the obstacles the Nuggets will face in landing Foster.

Stein writes: "Foster has one more season left on his contract and has a 15-percent trade kicker in his contract. ... the Nuggets would almost certainly need to find a third team to facilitate a deal for Foster unless they were willing to surrender rookie guard Ty Lawson. And you obviously presume Denver won't be surrendering the speedy Lawson."

I don't have any intelligent comment on this, but it's nice to see that teams still value Foster enough to deal with trade kickers and the like. I don't see any contracts on the Nuggets that make a sensible deal for Foster either even if Lawson was on the table (and I agree with Marc Stein that he's not).

A quick follow-up here. I live out in Colorado so I see more Nuggets games than Pacers games. If we did have a chance to get Lawson we should be running and not walking to that deal. I was just checking out his stats and he's shooting better than 50% from the field, 40% from 3, and has an assist-to-turnover ratio better than 2.5 to 1. In the 7 games he started, he got 30 minutes a game, and put up almost 16 a game on nearly 56% shooting, and he had over 6 assists a game with an assist-to-turnover ratio better than 3.5. He's the real deal.

I was at the Nuggets vs Lakers game earlier this year and the Nugs blew them out so Lawson got a lot of minutes in the second half. He threw down the most unbelievable in-game dunk I've seen in a long time. It wasn't on a fast break either, he just brought the ball up, lulled his guy to sleep a bit, and then exploded into the lane and threw down on two big men scrubs that the Lakers had out there at the time. Bodies flew everywhere like he had dropped an explosive through the basket. The whole place vibrated with enthusiasm.

Anyway, I can't see them parting with him. But, maybe we could catch them thinking they have a real championship shot and a small window to get it then include some of our other 2011 guys like Murphy or Dunleavy and take back some similar stupid contract from them to mortgage their future a bit for the here and now.

Denver has liked Foster in the past, so this isn't a surprise. Not sure they have anything I really like for us outside of Lawson.

I don't see how Foster can be traded until he shows his back is healthy.

I wouldn't think so either, but who am I to argue? Here's Marc Stein's latest trade CHATTER

Denver’s desire to acquire an extra big man to throw at the defending champs from L.A. is no secret.

What I didn’t realize until the weekend is the need to start describing the Nuggets’ affection for Pacer lifer Jeff Foster in stronger terms.

Love is the word used by two sources close to the situation.

The obstacles to a Foster-to-Denver deal, though, are considerable.

Obstacle No. 1: Foster has one more season left on his contract after this season at nearly $6.7 million and has a 15-percent trade kicker in his contract. As much as the Nuggets would be thrilled to have Foster – giving them one more mobile counter to all of the Lakers’ feared size – that’s a lot to take on for a team that’s already looking at a luxury-tax payment in July of more than $5 million.

Obstacle No. 2: My man Chad Ford noted in his latest chat that the Nuggets would almost certainly need to find a third team to facilitate a deal for Foster unless they were willing to surrender rookie guard Ty Lawson. And you obviously presume Denver won't be surrendering the speedy Lawson, who Chad says Indy nearly chose ahead Tyler Hansbrough and looks like an absolute steal as last June's No. 18 pick.

That reference to Chad Ford's chat appears to reference this quote:

Jeff VanderVeen (Nashua, NH)


Foster would look good as the Nuggets 3rd big. Do they have the assets to go after him?
Chad Ford
(1:35 PM)


They like him a lot, but they're going to need a third team to get involved unless they're willing to give the Pacers Ty Lawson. The Pacers were down to Lawson and Hansbrough on draft night. They went with Tyler and would love to get their hands on Lawson too. I just don't think the Nuggets would do it.

I'm fine with getting out from under Foster's contract for anything we can get, but I just don't see how that happens with any Nuggets deal. It's just nice to know that other teams, any other team, still sees value in him.

granger05 wrote:
I was at the Nuggets vs Lakers game earlier this year and the Nugs blew them out so Lawson got a lot of minutes in the second half. He threw down the most unbelievable in-game dunk I've seen in a long time. It wasn't on a fast break either, he just brought the ball up, lulled his guy to sleep a bit, and then exploded into the lane and threw down on two big men scrubs that the Lakers had out there at the time. Bodies flew everywhere like he had dropped an explosive through the basket. The whole place vibrated with enthusiasm.
.

He dunked on DJ Mbenga. It was awesome.

Yeah, I don't see Nugs parting with Lawson, he is too good and is young.

I do want to see Foster on a contending team though

Thank you Greenway. And it wasn't just Mbenga, former Pacer Josh Powell was in there as well.

How about Foster and TJ Ford for Billups, they save a year off Billups contract and we save some money this year and next.

Billups has this yr and 2 more with the final season only partly guaranteed.Only $3.7 million of the final year is guaranteed - it becomes fully guaranteed 5 days after the end of the 2011 season. So it's $12.1 million this season and $13.15 million next with only $3.7 of $14.2 guranteed for 2011-12. That would make him a very valualble trading piece at the dead line next season or after the season is over. TJ and Foster are $14.5 million this year, and $15.1 million next. We save $2.4 and $2 millon next, and then have the ability to move Billups after next season for some good stuff.

I don't know if Denver would go for this or not but they seem high on Lawson maybe it's time for them to move Billups.


Trade ID #5377538

There's a lot of problems with a Denver deal, and the largest is making the deal work financially.

One option is Foster straight up for JR Smith. The two guys have essentially the same contract. However, Denver like Smith, and I can't see Indy suiting up JR Smith with all of his behavioral issues.

The 2nd would have to involve Chris Anderson, and I assume that Anderson would be off limits as they would want to ADD Foster to him, not instead of him.

The 3rd would require Renaldo Balkman and his 4 year deal, and at least 3 of the following 6 players for financial filler reasons: Ty Lawson, Malik Allen, Aaron Afflalo, Anthony Carter, Johan Petro, and Joey Graham. This means that we would have to cut 3 guys off our roster before we're able to actually complete the deal. Which 3 guys would you cut? Diener? And....McRoberts? Head? Solo Jones? Who?

PR07 wrote:Denver has liked Foster in the past, so this isn't a surprise. Not sure they have anything I really like for us outside of Lawson.

Pretty much this.

As Scoot mentions, tough to see a deal that works financially also.

I think it would be something like this:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=ylj9e9t

Nuggets get Foster to help beat LA
Pacers get out of Foster's contract earlier
Hornets shred $2.1M off the luxury tax

I think a 3rd team would need to be involved, and that 3rd team's purpose is to shred some luxury tax.

And yes, I know Armstrong has been traded, but I'm just bringing up hypertheticals.

eathy wrote:I think it would be something like this:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=ylj9e9t

Nuggets get Foster to help beat LA
Pacers get out of Foster's contract earlier
Hornets shred $2.1M off the luxury tax

I think a 3rd team would need to be involved, and that 3rd team's purpose is to shred some luxury tax.

And yes, I know Armstrong has been traded, but I'm just bringing up hypertheticals.

Except Indy has no interest whatsoever in moving guys like McRoberts and Luther Head. Travis Diener is about the only guy they're looking to move, waive, or just generally let go.

That's the issue.

Scoot McGroot wrote:The 3rd would require Renaldo Balkman and his 4 year deal, and at least 3 of the following 6 players for financial filler reasons: Ty Lawson, Malik Allen, Aaron Afflalo, Anthony Carter, Johan Petro, and Joey Graham. This means that we would have to cut 3 guys off our roster before we're able to actually complete the deal. Which 3 guys would you cut? Diener? And....McRoberts? Head? Solo Jones? Who?

Not necessarily. Balk/Carter/Allen/Graham for Foster works straight up. And then Denver could take back a few of those guys from Indy in separate deals using their 3.7 mill TPE. I'd say that would definitely be more ideal for you guys, simply to save the extra money as opposed to just cutting them and leaving them on your cap. Diener/Solo works, and would save an additional 4.9 mill or so. Could add Price in there too, but he's been playing well lately. Or McRoberts and Head instead of one of the others, just so that no one would have to be cut. A lot of different possibilities.

I still agree a 3rd team being involved is probably the way any trade would go down, but the former scenario isn't all that terrible for Indy either....as I assume, from what has been said in this thread, dumping him for straight expirings is better then nothing. Saving 4 million off your cap this year, plus another 7 mill or so next year...not too shabby.

basketballwacko2 wrote:How about Foster and TJ Ford for Billups, they save a year off Billups contract and we save some money this year and next.

Dude, the only possible reason to trade for Foster is if they want to win now.
Trading Billups makes them significantly worse now.
How does that even remotely make sense?

J Smitty wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:The 3rd would require Renaldo Balkman and his 4 year deal, and at least 3 of the following 6 players for financial filler reasons: Ty Lawson, Malik Allen, Aaron Afflalo, Anthony Carter, Johan Petro, and Joey Graham. This means that we would have to cut 3 guys off our roster before we're able to actually complete the deal. Which 3 guys would you cut? Diener? And....McRoberts? Head? Solo Jones? Who?

Not necessarily. Balk/Carter/Allen/Graham for Foster works straight up. And then Denver could take back a few of those guys from Indy in separate deals using their 3.7 mill TPE. I'd say that would definitely be more ideal for you guys, simply to save the extra money as opposed to just cutting them and leaving them on your cap. Diener/Solo works, and would save an additional 4.9 mill or so. Could add Price in there too, but he's been playing well lately. Or McRoberts and Head instead of one of the others, just so that no one would have to be cut. A lot of different possibilities.

I still agree a 3rd team being involved is probably the way any trade would go down, but the former scenario isn't all that terrible for Indy either....as I assume, from what has been said in this thread, dumping him for straight expirings is better then nothing. Saving 4 million off your cap this year, plus another 7 mill or so next year...not too shabby.

Price is looking like the steal of this last draft, and maybe the Pacer's solution long term at PG. Anyway, at this point I'm sure the Pacer's brass see him as much more than just a throw-in to make the numbers work in some deal.

I wouldn't mind seeing Foster go to a contender--he's class and deserves a shot. But you need to give value to get value, and it doesn't sound like Denver is willing to give up anything worthwhile to get a guy who might be a difference-maker for them.

writerman wrote:

J Smitty wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:The 3rd would require Renaldo Balkman and his 4 year deal, and at least 3 of the following 6 players for financial filler reasons: Ty Lawson, Malik Allen, Aaron Afflalo, Anthony Carter, Johan Petro, and Joey Graham. This means that we would have to cut 3 guys off our roster before we're able to actually complete the deal. Which 3 guys would you cut? Diener? And....McRoberts? Head? Solo Jones? Who?

Not necessarily. Balk/Carter/Allen/Graham for Foster works straight up. And then Denver could take back a few of those guys from Indy in separate deals using their 3.7 mill TPE. I'd say that would definitely be more ideal for you guys, simply to save the extra money as opposed to just cutting them and leaving them on your cap. Diener/Solo works, and would save an additional 4.9 mill or so. Could add Price in there too, but he's been playing well lately. Or McRoberts and Head instead of one of the others, just so that no one would have to be cut. A lot of different possibilities.

I still agree a 3rd team being involved is probably the way any trade would go down, but the former scenario isn't all that terrible for Indy either....as I assume, from what has been said in this thread, dumping him for straight expirings is better then nothing. Saving 4 million off your cap this year, plus another 7 mill or so next year...not too shabby.

Price is looking like the steal of this last draft, and maybe the Pacer's solution long term at PG. Anyway, at this point I'm sure the Pacer's brass see him as much more than just a throw-in to make the numbers work in some deal.

I wouldn't mind seeing Foster go to a contender--he's class and deserves a shot. But you need to give value to get value, and it doesn't sound like Denver is willing to give up anything worthwhile to get a guy who might be a difference-maker for them.

How much value does foster really have? Seems like he's quite overpaid and the Pacers would be lucky to get out from his contract.

If we could get Lawson, that would be fantastic. I obviously don't think we're getting him for just Foster.

But would you guys be willing to throw in our 2011 first? maybe, top-7 protected, dropping to unprotected in 2012?

Granger, Hibbert, Lawson, hansbrough, Rush, our 2010 first, and whatever we get for our 2011 expirers could be a hell of a base to work from.

Price is looking like the steal of this last draft, and maybe the Pacer's solution long term at PG. Anyway, at this point I'm sure the Pacer's brass see him as much more than just a throw-in to make the numbers work in some deal.

I wouldn't mind seeing Foster go to a contender--he's class and deserves a shot. But you need to give value to get value, and it doesn't sound like Denver is willing to give up anything worthwhile to get a guy who might be a difference-maker for them.[/quote]

How much value does foster really have? Seems like he's quite overpaid and the Pacers would be lucky to get out from his contract.[/quote]

There are a lot of overpaid guys in this league--including a lot of guys considered "stars." It's hard to overpay a guy like Foster, whose value lies in the fact that he's still a very good defensive big (ask Tim Duncan) and a monster on the boards, and whose work ethic is surpassed by no-one else I can think of in the league. I think you'll find a high percentage of Pacer fans who think he's been worth every cent. I for one, if he can't go to a contender, would be perfectly happy to see him retire a Pacer. There are way too few guys in the league who play with the commitment, desire, and hustle that Foster does--and I've got to think that's why so many teams would like to have him. Was he ever a star? Nope. But even in the downhill side of his career, he's the kind of guy who would make any team he played for better. So we should be happy just to "get out from his contract?" Sorry--IMO, that's nonsense.

writerman wrote:he's the kind of guy who would make any team he played for better. So we should be happy just to "get out from his contract?" Sorry--IMO, that's nonsense.

The problem is, he HAS NOT been playing, so he isn't making us better.