Ex-Nuggets vs. Current Nuggets: Who's Better?...
CENTER - DIKEMBE MUTOMBO (free agent) VS. MARCUS CAMBY ($8 million)Even though Denver Stiffs is advocating trading Camby this summer and Mutombo had a remarkable season (considering his advanced age) filling in for an injured Yao Ming in Houston, I think we'd all rather have Camby anchoring our defense in the middle. EDGE: Camby. Other possible active ex-Nugget centers: Mark Blount, Raef LaFrentz and Francisco Elson.
POWER FORWARD - ANTONIO MCDYESS ($6.8 million) VS. KENYON MARTIN ($14.2 million)Believe it or not, McDyess has been much more durable than K-Mart as of late. Since joining the Pistons four seasons ago, McDyess has appeared in 77, 82, 82 and 78 games while averaging 8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, compared to K-Mart appearing in 70, 56, 2 and 71 games while averaging 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. EDGE: Even if you consider McDyess's lower salary, better health and excellent character. Other possible active ex-Nugget power forwards: Juwan Howard, Joe Smith and Reggie Evans.
SMALL FORWARD - JAMES POSEY ($3.4 million) VS. CARMELO ANTHONY ($14.4 million)A no-brainer in favor of the current Nugget, Anthony. Even in spite of Posey's evolution into the new Robert Horry by routinely making big three-point shots and playing tough, occasionally dirty defense on the NBA's biggest stage, he's no Anthony. EDGE: Anthony. Other possible active ex-Nugget small forwards: Chris Andersen and Ryan Bowen. Not exactly tough competition!
HYBRID GUARD - CHAUNCEY BILLUPS ($11 million) VS. ALLEN IVERSON ($22 million)Since neither Billups or Iverson are pure point guards or pure shooting guards, I'll call them "hybrid guards." This is actually a tough call. Iverson is undoubtedly a better player statistically, but Billups is a proven winner having been to six-straight conference finals, two NBA Finals and being a former NBA Finals MVP who has more game-tying and/or game-winning shots on his resume than Iverson. In all likelihood, Billups probably benefits from being a better fit on a very talented team than Iverson does on his very talented team, but Billups costs $11 million less. EDGE: Even. Other possible active ex-Nugget hybrid guards: Earl Watson, Bobby Jackson, Earl Boykins and Greg Buckner.
POINT GUARD - ANDRE MILLER ($10 million) VS. ANTHONY CARTER (free agent)Another no-brainer, but this time in favor of the ex-Nugget, Miller. Carter took a lot of heat last season from the readers of this blog, but it wasn't his fault that head coach George Karl forced a backup point guard into the starting role. Miller was a perpetual over-dribbler during his stay in Denver, but after seeing his success in Philadelphia and watching A.I. routinely over-dribble himself, I blame Karl for this (no surprise). EDGE: Miller. Other possible active ex-Nugget point guards: Steve Blake, Jeff McInnis and Carlos Arroyo.
BENCH - EX-NUGGETS ($46.3 million) VS. CURRENT NUGGETS (approx. $25-30 million) If I had to select seven top actively playing ex-Nuggets for the bench, I'd go with Steve Blake, Earl Watson and Bobby Jackson at guard, Reggie Evans and Joe Smith at forward, and Mark Blount and Raef LaFrentz at center. The current Nuggets bench situation is a bit up in the air. We still don't know for sure if J.R. Smith is coming back (but we're assuming so), and we're even more unsure about Eduardo Najera. Likely to be back in Denver will be Nene, Linas Kleiza, Chucky Atkins, Stephen Hunter and whomever the Nuggets draft at month's end. But even assuming the Nuggets re-sign Smith and Najera, their current bench cost will remain significantly less than their ex-players' bench cost. EDGE: Current Nuggets.
So the total cost of the actively playing ex-Nuggets comes to about $80 million (LaFrentz's $12.7 million contract sure is a doozy!) whereas the current Nuggets roster is projected to be about $85 million. Given the negligible cost difference and the current Nuggets clearly winning out at small forward, center and off the bench, the overall edge goes to the current Nuggets.
But it sure would be nice to have those high character / tough defenders like McDyess, Billups, Mutombo and Posey back!
0 recs |
14 comments
Comments
Reckon we could get him back?
What if we traded Camby and Linas Kleiza and some picks (if necessary )
FOR
Andre Miller and Jason Smith...
I'm pretty sure that financially it works...
and Nene and Jason Smith are brother in laws if I'm not mistaken too!
What do you guys think?
by andrew fisher on Jun 17, 2008 6:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
by patrick t on Jun 17, 2008 9:06 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
-Mordecai
by Anonymous on Jun 17, 2008 9:09 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
by Zachm219 on Jun 17, 2008 10:24 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
by Zachm219 on Jun 17, 2008 10:26 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll also takes Billups over AI because Billups is among the best defensive guards in the league and Iverson is among the worst defensive guards in the league.
If you could somehow magically swap AI and Martin for Billups and McDyess, then I certain think it would make the Nuggets better and not just even.
by Victor on Jun 17, 2008 1:03 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Andrew, here's the latest news on Carmelo Anthony's legal status as well. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9604737?source=rss
by nataly on Jun 17, 2008 4:47 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
by Anonymous on Jun 17, 2008 5:50 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Second, we need to get Posey back cuz:
JAMES POSEY is the new ROBERT HORRY.
He did it with the Heat and now he did it with the celtics.
WE NEED TO GET POSEY BACK!!!!
by NoYPi on Jun 17, 2008 10:47 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you, but i don't think Linas can be productive and develop on a team full of scorers like Melo, JR and AI. JR was the best performer this offseason i believe. If JR is already coming off the bench, and working that role well, I have doubts whether Linas can fit into a consistent role on the team.
My one query with that trade i mentioned before is whether Philly would buy it. It would hand over PG duties to Louis Williams but would they want Linas Kleiza?
Meh I dunno. I'm just bored. The seasons over. What am i gonna do for 4 months! haha
by andrew fisher on Jun 18, 2008 2:05 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
PG- Rose
SG- JR
SF- Kleiza
PF- Nene/Martin (whoever decides they want to play this season)
C- Camby
ehhhhh it's not a bad lineup right, could win a championship in like 2011 or something
by Zachm219 on Jun 18, 2008 8:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
by Anonymous on Jun 18, 2008 9:13 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
by Djoel on Jun 18, 2008 12:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
by jose on Jun 19, 2008 8:50 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

by 













