[UPDATED] Monday links...

by Andrew Feinstein on May 12, 2008 8:23 AM MDT

I just got back from a quick three-day break and am finally getting caught up. Here are a few links I thought I'd pass on...

The Rocky Mountain News' Chris Tomasson does a thorough recap of how the New Jersey Nets duped former Nuggets' GM Kiki Vandeweghe into giving the Nets three first round draft picks for Kenyon Martin (and then signing Martin to a max deal...ugh).

And if that doesn't make you depressed about where the Nuggets could be today, check out the Denver Post's Mark Kiszla's summary of the state of the Nuggets offseason.

Also, the Post's Woody Paige takes a harsh stance against his admitted friend, Nuggets head coach George Karl, and calls out what many of us complained about all last season: Karl's evident lack of passion on the bench and refusal to work the refs.

[UPDATED] And this morning, Paige serves up some suggested moves the Nuggets could consider this offseason. If I read this correctly, Paige is recommending:

The Nets just named Kiki Vandeweghe general manager. The former Nuggets general manager knows the team. Make a deal with him. Vandeweghe drafted Anthony third overall. Let Kiki have him again. The Nets are trying to rebuild as they build a new arena. Carmelo Grows in Brooklyn. The Nuggets trade Anthony and Camby and Linas Kleiza for center Nenad Krstic (a sign-and-trade). They then sign unrestricted free-agent small forward Bostjan Nachbar, late of the Nets. Would the Nets want Kenyon Martin back? Too much to hope for. Nevertheless, the Nuggets would be under the cap and able to sign another free agent (Duhon).

I applaud Paige's creativity but...is he serious?! I might (might) be amenable to parting with Carmelo Anthony, but absolutely not in a three-player deal where the Nuggets also jettison Linas Kleiza only to get a mediocre center like Nenad Krstic back. Did I just read that wrong?

When I get to Anthony in my offseason series, I'll explore a Herschel Walker-type trade only. Meaning, if the Nuggets were to trade Anthony, we get multiple players back and I would insist on a shooter, a defender, a point guard and at least one pick.

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Great links...

Nuggets could have been so much better talent wise... but would it matter with Karl and his no system game plan?

Kenyon is still a good finisher around the rim, assuming he has a point guard like Chris Paul who can throw lob passes all game long. Just look at what Paul did to that bust Tyson Chandler. Someone check if KMart has not made a trade demand to the Hornets already.

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And I really hope the owner and management has not fully reviewed the coaching this year and will fire Karl in the summer.

Karl acts like he doesn't care what fans think that he should be fired. Let's show him that we, as fans, matter. Our voice matters. Let's create an online petition where thousands of members can e-sign. If we can get NON-Nugget fans to e-sign too, it'd be tremendous.

Karl is sneering at us fans, "who's in power? Me! What do you fans complainings "

So what should we do to make them non-Nugget fans sign it? We must convince them that Karl is doing a turrible job... we need to be really really thorough, simple and packed and not boring them with this "negativity" we want him to be fired after the man leads us to 50 wins (*puke*).

Imagine forums like RealGM with hundreds of thousands of members e-signing the petition... will it be ESPN mentioning worthy?

"Have you heard the news? There's this petition where it demands Denver Nuggets' coach George Karl's firing... and most of them are not even Nuggets fans... Maybe this is something Denver Nuggets boss Stan Kroenke should look at."

That would make my summer.

- Snake -

by Anonymous on May 11, 2008 10:48 PM MDT reply actions

"Winning is everything and nothing else matters. I mean, I've said that so many times myself I've lost count. It doesn't matter what sport, it doesn't matter what country... any coach that's worth a darn in this business believes those words. Fact." - Marshall coach played by Matthew McConaughey in the "We Are Marshall" movie.

by Anonymous on May 12, 2008 12:10 AM MDT reply actions

here's another interesting link

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9228144?source=bb&_requestid=1413320

it's on what the nuggets could and might do... intriguing if anything.

by andrew fisher on May 12, 2008 2:02 AM MDT reply actions

Very Well put.

1. I would Start AI At PG: But 12 fewer shots would be unrealistic in a non-structured offense, and also you'd take away alot of what AI does best... The Gain would be the pressure he would put on the opposing teams Defense. He Averaged 33 and 8 at the PG in Philly on 18 shots per. Take it down 5 shots he could get 24 and 11 game on this team.
2. Next I would move Camby. Even tho I really don't like this he looked very old at the end of the season... Maybe it was him being overused being as tho he played without a backup all season. (Hunter got no minutes) Draft Hibbert, and see what he can do.

My overall move would be the coach. 3 - 16 in 4 PO appearences is poor... the 5 years Larry brown had the sixers in the PO's, they were 28-30.

by chillz on May 12, 2008 7:06 AM MDT reply actions

^Hibbert would be the softest big man ever... he makes Boris Diaw look like a man.

by Anonymous on May 12, 2008 8:29 AM MDT reply actions

If we can trade Camby, I'll be happy.

I know he plays great D, but he ruins us on offense. 7 footers should not be shooting 20 footers with any type of regularity.

I don't care if I get Kwame Brown in return. I want somebody to sit in the post.

Maybe Nene could get healthy (has hell frozen over yet? no? just checking.) and do that.

by Chris C. on May 12, 2008 1:38 PM MDT reply actions

Yes, the deal with the Nets seems to be nuts. Must be some benefit there I don't understand.

I agree that Camby should be considered for the trading block. And amen to "7 footers should not be shooting 20 footers with any type of regularity." The fact that Camby is constantly popping off shots from the top of the key is just another sign that Karl has no control of this team.

Yes Camby just made the NBA all defensive team, but that is largely because he is the line of last defense at the rim. Notice no other Nuggets even merited a vote. This was not the case for true championship contenders, which for the most part had two or more players with votes.

by JTR on May 12, 2008 3:23 PM MDT reply actions

The more and more I read articles that Woody Paige has written, the more I realize his thinking is ..different. Anyways, some of his points make sense. I like his idea of switching Allen Iverson to starting Point Guard, and letting JR Smith start at Shooting Guard. Iverson said when he was traded to Denver that he wouldn't mind playing the point, so we'll see if that still stands.

Also, if the Nuggets could get Roy Hibbert, that would be a great addition. Adding another Hoya to the roster who is a better offensive center than Marcus Camby, would be nice.

by Nataly on May 12, 2008 5:30 PM MDT reply actions

Stiffs, I read that Woody Paige column over breakfast and asked myself the same question. He named a bunch of players that are marginal. So we go from marginal superstars to marginal nobodies? I see why he's tight with Karl.

I like the way you think vis a vis a Herschel Walker-type trade. Absofuckinglutely. Looking forward to that piece and wish I had thought of that shit first.

by DeAngelo Starnes on May 12, 2008 6:41 PM MDT reply actions

Listen up Andrew, we MUST NOT trade Melo under any circumstances if it is not for a young superstar in return. In my book, it's LeBron, CP3, Dwight Howard and maybe Deron Williams, Kevin Durant or #1 or #2 picks this year. It ain't gonna happen...

If we traded Melo for a bunch of mid-tier players, we would regret it and would become mediocre again for years to come. Have you really beared those long years no-playoffs years without Melo? I don't think so. It's like run out of memory.

by Catalan on May 13, 2008 2:53 AM MDT reply actions

Folks, Camby is not the problem! It's the system they run on offense that is. I'll still take Camby on the defensive end, and if we could just put an offense together that doesn't cater to a Camby 20 footer, we'll be much better off.

The problem is the offensive strategy and the lack of desire to defend the perimeter. Camby plays with heart, Kleza plays with heart, JR Smith does, and AI too (but I think sometimes his heart and Braveheart mentality at times get in the way of the best decisions he could be making... The rest? You can certainly say Najera plays with heart, but god bless em', that's all the poor kid has. We need more.

I think it boils down to Melo needing to grow up and learn to play D and when the offense runs thru him, make better decisions than "stare at floor, stab step, pull up jumper"

Maybe that happens in the coming year. After the "we quit" and the DUI, maybe changes finally click in the young man.

by Eric on May 13, 2008 9:28 AM MDT reply actions

Any melo trade needs to include K-mart. Since the team would essentially be conceding the next few years (although they've already done that next year by bringing Karl back), they better dump some salary while they're at it and start rebuilding.

by kenoshakid on May 13, 2008 11:12 AM MDT reply actions

Watching game 5, the Celtics and Cavs here on Wed night that the Celtics will win at HOME reveals to me anyway how far off the entire Nuggets game is off from the sit on his ass coach to the selfishness and lack of team play by the Nuggets. They want to watch film of their games ? Here's my suggestion. Burn all the Nuggets game films and watch the Celtics over and over and over again.

by markp on May 14, 2008 8:37 PM MDT reply actions

markp. Are you watching the same celitcs I am? The same celtics who went to game 7 with Atlanta. Newsflash, Cleveland is not very good and the Celtics are on the verge of losing this series. The Nuggets would walk all over Cleveland and would probably beat Boston the way they are playing now. The West is a different league. Trading Melo is ridiculous. People said the same stuff about Jordan not winning playoff series and playing no D. Melo gets better every year. What he really needs to do is take some time off and not play in the olympics.

by paterade on May 14, 2008 9:25 PM MDT reply actions

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STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.