any trade ideas for big men?

[Takuya Kimura]

Nazr Mohammed

for

Atkins/Hunter

[SnakefromHell]

lol I have no idea Takuya Kimura is a fan of the Nugz...

[The Rebel]

I will comment on a few things. Salmons really started to shine last year when I wrote the article that the Nuggets should trade for him instead of Ron Artest. Another facet of Salmon's game is his improved three point shooting. He's already made 39 threes on 40% shooting this year.

I personally do not care if you have written 20 articles on Salmons, the fact of the matter is that his game got better as the Kings became worse, and the other teams started half assing it. You are wrong on the guy, and have avoided even trying to defend your false statements in regards to him. There is a reason that the Kings want to trade him, and it is not that he is overpaid for a 20ppg scorer. it is the fact that Petrie and the Maloofs realize that he is the proverbial good player on the bad team. Since you obviuosly have never paid attention to that part of the game, this is a common phenomenon where a decent player goes to a bad team, or the team they are on becomes a bad team, and their numbers go through the roof. Unfortunately those numbers never actually translate to a good team, where they become end of the bench/ bordreline rotation guys who cannot get it done.

On another point, while you bring up the 3 point shooting, when you wrote your article last year the Nuggets needed three point shooting, now the Nuggets are tied for 5th in the elague for 3 point shooting and are 22nd in rebounds. But let's get a young 3rd tier big, and get a 2nd tier Sg, where we do not need help.

My point on these deals involving the trade exception is that they aren't going to happen until after the season. The Nuggets certainly will add salary (and Camby was traded for his age and injury history plus that he didn't step out on screens) but they aren't going to add a bunch of luxury tax this year. They can use the exception after the season and avoid the luxury tax.

The camby trade was made when the team realized they were never getting out of the 1st round with or without Camby. When Detroit called and accepted to AI deal, then team and the position changed. This team is currently a much better team then when we finished last year, and there have been articles in the paper locally where league executives expect Denver to be a buyer at the deadline this year. As for Kroenke, as I said before unless you are Kroenke then you have no idea what he will okay, however he has shown in the past that he will pay for a winner.

One thing you should have learned from the Camby trade though, is that the Nuggets are not going to pay extra money to fill a slot that can be filled for cheaper. The team knew when they traded Camby that without the deal they would be paying over $10 million for a backup, when they could get a couple of guys to fill the role for much less money. So in other words why would they pay Salmons, to fill a role that does not need filled?

Will Salmons play on the Nuggets? No offense to Dahntay Jones or Anthony Carter but yes he'd play. You've got a guy that can play the 2,3 and 1. He and Billups and Smith would make a nice backcourt tandem.

Right now Atkins is a better PG then carter, yet Karl plays AC.

Jr is clearly better the Jones, yet Jones starts.

I personally would put Salmons just below Jr in every aspect of the game, and that is after watching both throughout the last couple of years. So why would Salmons start or get minutes?

As for Salmons playing the 1-3 positions, every player in the NBA could play the 1-3 slots, doesn't mean they are good at it, or should do it. After watching AI for the last few years I would think Denver fans could easily grasped the concept that just because the guy likes to control the ball, and get s the occasional assist, does not make him a PG. Salmon's is a 2, he is not a good enough floor general to be a PG, and he is not big enough to be a 3. The fact of the matter is that JR is better at all three slots, and I do not want JR playing real minutes as the PG.

Another thing you are missing Karl's whole philosophy, he has stated numerous times in interviews that he likes having one guy starting that is playing above his head. This year that guy is Jones, last year and a half it was Ac, prior to that you had a ton of crappy sgs. He also follows the Dean Smith and Larry Brown mode of thinking with having 3 guards in rotation with 2 of the 3 PGs. So while this is a slight variation, overall the current rotation fits with his line of thinking. Hell for that matter I personally like Jones a lot more then past options, at least he understands his role and does his best to fit into being the guy who only shoots when totally ignored by the defense, and tries to get into the opposing guards heads within the 1st few minutes of each half. Fact of the matter is that while I would love to see Carter upgraded with a good backup Pg, overall this rotation is much better then many years past, and is a key part of a team that is on pace to win 55 games, while being one of the worst rebounding teams in the league.

There is no question that the Nuggets need to add a big. My point is they aren't going to beat the Lakers just because they add Chris Wilcox (or insert another big thats been mentioned).

So your argument is that Wilcox, and the added rebounding he brings will not help us win against the Lakers, so we should add $5+ million in payroll to fill a slot that does not need filled? Salmons is not a difference maker and is another piece taking up valuable resources. At least with Wilcox, or any other number of bigs we are working on filling a key hole that may make a big difference against whatever teams we face in the playoffs. Otherwise we are just treading water.

It will take more. I'm all for youth too. Which is why I've suggested the Nuggets look at working with multiple teams. Ideally they could bring back John Salmons from Sac and Sean Williams (and maybe even Hayes) from New Jersey.

Sean Willaims is the key big guy you want? Really? You obviously feel this team is much further from actually contending then I and many experts do. This team is on pace for 55 wins. Think about that for a minute, you are advocating bringing several more pieces to a team that is going to win 55 games, yet none of the pieces you want are going to fill the roles needed most. The Nets have been trying like hell to trade Williams since last year, nobody wants him, because not only does he not have any offensive skills, but he is a headcase that thinks he is better then he is. The guys was sent to the dleague by a team that has been searching for big men for the last 4 years, and cannot break into a rotation that is currently filled by 4 players in their 1st 3 years, including 2 rookies. In other words, not exactly a prime prospect, and not someone who the Nuggets can depend on to come in a play any kind of meaningful minutes.

The fact of the matter is that you obviously place much more emphasis on the marketable slots like Sg and SF then I do, as it is a proven fact that good bigs win championships. I have yet to see a team win anything while they were in the bottom 3rd of the league in rebounding, and had only one big post option. Yet I have seen many teams win with a scrub wing and a good big or two.

The trade exception could then be used to add yet another piece over the summer (likely a big)when a lot of teams will be looking to trade away salary to get under the cap for 2010. It makes perfect sense if you plan to get even better for the 2009/10 season.

The fact of the matter is that you are more likely to get something just as good between now and the trade deadline as you are going to get next summer. teams have already decided if they are going to try for 2010 or not, and that is not going to change in the last 3 months. In fact I actually believe you will find better deals now than you will this summer, as teams will begin to realize how many other teams are trying to sign the same group in 2010, and may go the way of the Nuggets and begin adding longer contracts for good players now.

The fact of the matter is that the Nuggets are on the verge of being a special team, they do not need to go out and add 3 or 4 more players as you seem to advocate, especially when they are some end of the bench scrub like Williams or even Hayes, but they need to grab a role player or two that can fill the roles that is needed. then after improving in the playoffs this year, and maybe winning a series or two, they can add any additional minor pieces they need. But they do not need to go changing over 30% of the team right now, instead they need let them grow together over the next two years after adding one more piece.

[pickaxe]

lol I have no idea Takuya Kimura is a fan of the Nugz...

What is Nazr's status?

[SnakefromHell]

^Nazr is ancient man...

You know what David Lee is slipping through our fingers right now... Portland is said to be close to dealing for him.

First Houston stole Artest from us, and now Portland stole our big stud from us... all kudos to Karl

[pickIBL]

Denver, Let's Make a Deal

This is a piece of an article I wrote early last Feb. Getting Lee is a great idea. But I'd rather have Salmons than Artest. And he fits better. The biggest shame would be if Salmons slips through our fingers and ends up on another team for less compensation.



Great news Nugget fans, your team is just 4.5 games out of first place in the Western
Conference. Now for the bad news. Currently, Denver is 12 games over .500 and looking
at the playoffs from the outside. Yes, your beloved Nuggets are in 9th place out west.
Future GM of the year Mitch Kupchak stole Pau Gasol. Steve Kerr rolled the dice on
Shaq. Mark Cuban is determined to land Jason Kidd.

Carmelo Anthony has the best mid range jumper in the game, however the Nuggets
brass have failed to surround him with the talent to get out of the first round. Carmelo
needs shooters and they traded for Allen Iverson. Based on Iverson's reputation he
was a scorer by shot volume. His last partial season in Philadelphia he shot 41% from
the field. During the 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 seasons Iverson failed to shoot over the
40% mark on the year.If that isn't chucker territory then I don't know what is. To
Iverson's credit he has worked hard to be a team player and blend in with his
teammates in Denver. Iverson's field goal percentage has risen, and his shot attempts
have dropped. However, when watching the Nuggets it appears on occasion that the
superstars don't gel well together. I don't think playground rules should apply in the
NBA. You shot last time now it is my turn. That is not what I call an offense. George
Karl doesn't have any quality offensive schemes besides the fast break and relying on
his stars. On the other end the Nuggets struggle defensively as well giving up 104
points per game.

The rumor floating around the league is that the Nuggets plan to pick up Ron Artest
before the deadline. I say right team, wrong player. The Nuggets can only get Ron
Artest by mortgaging the Nugget's future players. There are multiple players involved
in the trade rumors, but the concept is Eddie Najera plus Linas Kleiza for Ron Artest.
Why trade for a franchise killer when another King is having a career year. John
Salmons has been the one bright spot for the Kings all season long. Sacramento is
headed in a rebuilding direction with a 23 win record. The Kings are set at shooting
guard with Kevin Martin which makes John Salmons very expendable. Salmons was
signed to replace Bonzi Wells when the Kings believed they where heading in the right direction. The Kings can make a deal with the Nuggets to erase Salmon's contract from
their books. The Nugget's brass need to take a hard look at John Salmons. With Anthony Carter (5'11) and Allen Iverson (6'0) in the Nuggets backcourt, stars like Kobe Bryant
(6'6) and Manu Ginobili (6'6) can dominate either guard in the playoffs offensively. Lets
take a look at John Salmon's (6'6) statistics as a starter for the Kings this year.

17.9 Points Per Game
3.6 Assists Per Game
4.8 Rebounds Per Game
1.5 Steals Per Game
0.4 Blocks Per Game
51% Field Goal Percentage
42% 3 Point Field Goal Percentage
82% Free Throw Percentage
38 Minutes Per Game

Not a bad deal for the Nuggets right? The offical trade I suggest is Eddie Najera for
John Salmons and Justin Williams. There are other trade options that could be
available for Denver. For instance.........

[Gogo Babaroga]

Nuggets trade Samb to Clippers
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/05/nuggets-deal-samb-clippers/
The Nuggets’ roster now stands at 13. Coach George Karl has said the team, thin in the post, could use another big man.

[sportsmikegm23]

What is the deal with the Salmons talk??? I mean, I haven't heard one really statement from anyone what would even seem like it's a rumored deal... (doesn't mean anything I guess)...but when everyone from LA to DC knows we have no front court depth... why in the world would we trade for a SG? I truthfully don't believe we need a 2 guard...I think if we go guard we need a back up PG... so we can lose AC... But even then would the move be that much better than what we have??? We need a big... someone to bang, set screens, rebound, and maybe have a shot or a so so post game... Dyess would have been perfect, but he didn't want to play here... but stop with the Salmons talk, he's not going to improve the Nuggets.

[pickIBL]

Salmons would be a nice option as a backup PG

Just focusing on bigs is pretty short sighted. Yes its an obvious need but when you compare the team to the contenders its not the only area to improve the team. The Nuggets have exp deals, kleiza, and a trade exception. enough pieces to get more than just a big.

Why the wing talk? Because now is a good time to deal for one. And when the season ends several bigs will likely be available for the trade exception as teams look to dump salary for the 2010 free agency.

Why John Salmons? Because he can take most of Dahntay Jones and Anthony Carter's minutes.

[Gogo Babaroga]

Salmons would be a nice option

Wiretap
Salmons Frustrated By Kings' Coaching Staff

[eathy]

Scott Hastings on radio reported that a "trade is in the works" and that the guy is "under the rater" but "a hell of a baller" and is a consistent 14/12 guy.

[pickaxe]

hmmmm

I wonder if its a guy capable of 14/12 on the Nuggets but not necessarily exactly 14/12......


hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[SnakefromHell]

A consistent 14 and 12?

Nikoloz Tskitishvili?

I'm assuming David Lee... but is he averaging 14 pts? Or... *gasp*... Emeka Okafor!

[RRFB]

If it's true, these are the guys I'd consider as 'under the radar' and can potentially put up 14/12.
Emeka Okafor
Andris Biedrins
David Lee

Lee seems the most realistic but I don't really see any of them happening.
It is coming from Hastings so that 14/12 could really be 8/5.

[water_st]

ATKINS for Chris mihm???

[pickaxe]

I'm thinking someone even more under the radar.