"Classless..."

by Andrew Feinstein on Jul 22, 2008 5:22 PM MDT

So said former Nuggets center Marcus Camby when discussing the way the Nuggets handled "trading" the former Defensive Player of the Year and their starting center for the past five years.

According to Camby, neither head coach George Karl (who apparently didn't know about the trade himself until someone at HoopsWorld told him during a Summer League game) or anyone from the Nuggets front office bothered to pick up the phone and inform him that he'd been shipped to the Clippers for a trade exemption. I always knew Nuggets Vice President of Whatever Mark Warkentien was classless, his own record speaks clearly to this. But if its true that Karl didn't call Camby - and for now we only have Camby's word to go on - that's a stunner. I may have issues with Karl's X's and O's, lack of initiative and myriad of other coaching-related issues, but I've never accused Karl of being classless. I leave those accusations to be made by Ray Allen.

Camby has taken some lumps on this site and elsewhere from the commenters, but as we mourn his departure let me go on record as saying I was a big Camby fan. Yeah, his jump shot sucked, he had no low-post game and he settled for those stupid flip layups when they should have been dunks. But you know what? He gave the Nuggets - like the Knicks during his tenure there - everything he had when healthy. He always took the tough charge, made the extra pass, threw the selfless alley-oop and of course, pulled down an immeasurable number of big rebounds. Frankly, on a team full of "me first" guys, Camby was exactly what the Nuggets needed at center these past few years and if you think the Nuggets would have made five straight postseasons without him, you're deluding yourself.

Under normal circumstances I'd predict Camby will come back and haunt the Nuggets. But with the Clippers being more cursed than we are, don't be surprised if Camby gets hurt and misses 20 games.

Regardless of where you come down on the Camby trade debate, I think we all agree that the man deserved a phone call from the organization. Classless, indeed.

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I don't hate the man, he deserved a phone call from the organization... He gave it all he could, most of the time.

- Snake -

by Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 5:55 PM MDT reply actions

really, does anything our FO knuckleheads do surprise anyone? You got "Silent" Stanley, an owner who never says anything publicly about his floundering franchise, good or bad. You got Bearup, who doesn't even have an official title (is he even on the payroll?), yet somehow he's involved in making all important decisions. Then you've got Wark, who as Andy has pointed out, was instrumental in assembling the JailBlazers, yet he never gets held accountable for that pathetic roster, or the bang up job he's now doing on the Nuggs. And finally, you've got Chapman (whom I did like as player), who somehow managed to land a personnel director job after only 2 years of scouting in the NBA, but no FO experience. I mean seriously, when you've got a FO that doesn't communicate well with the public, and based on Karl's reactions, with each other, I can't believe Camby or anyone else is surprised that they couldn't manage to pick up the phone and give him a courtesy goodbye call.

by micb on Jul 22, 2008 6:29 PM MDT reply actions

what about jamaal magloire? he could be a solid backup. i'd trust magloire more than i would any of the other guys. he's a veteran. and i know he's off his game. but with a good pre-season under his belt. he could log in some solid minutes.

by andrew fisher on Jul 22, 2008 7:21 PM MDT reply actions

i believe magloire is an unrestricted free agent. with dallas at the end of last season.

others unrestricted FA are walter hermann. good argentine

randolph morris might be a good prospect. i doubt anyone would offer him big money. but if we want someone young.

i duno just throwing ideas out there guys. it's boring in the off-season lol

by andrew fisher on Jul 22, 2008 7:26 PM MDT reply actions

See, we should have kept our 2nd rounder and drafted Jawai. :P

by Julian from Australia on Jul 22, 2008 9:26 PM MDT reply actions

What an awful trade! I'm not a huge Marcus Camby fan, but trading him for nothing is ridiculus. Also, the Front Office does have no class for not giving him a phone call before the trade. Until Stan Kroenke hires a REAL GM and a REAL Coach, the Nuggets will continue to wallow in First Round exits.

by Murl on Jul 22, 2008 10:42 PM MDT reply actions

Or, Murl, wallow not making the playoffs, the way it's looking this year with this PATHETIC FO, Camby trade aside. Who in the holy mother****** gives this dik head Warkentien a job like that. Mark MY WORDS WE WILL NOT BE GOING ANYWHERE WITH THIS CANCER OF AN "ORGANISATION" UNTIL WE GET A DECENT FO AND COACH. STAN KROENKE IF YOUR READING THIS, AND WANT FANS... WHY DON'T YOU TRY UMMM I DUNNO... MAKING A LITTLE CHANGE AROUND HERE? ARGH!

by Jack on Jul 23, 2008 2:21 AM MDT reply actions

This is why I don't blame the Nuggets for under performing. Everyone says trade this guy or that guy, in the end it makes no difference. The Nuggets as an organization are not dedicated to winning period. And as a fan they might try to shift my frustration towards the players or even the coach, but I know deep down these guys are only thinking profit, and it disgusts me!

by j2y2k3 on Jul 23, 2008 5:21 AM MDT reply actions

That's the worst part of the Trade/Payrole dump.... Not even a phone call. That's like a kid finding out he's adopted from a grocery store clerk. I knew the FO was on the "short bus" side, but i had no idea they were this spineless. I am not a fan of this trade, and the fact that they did it all wrong aint helping much either.
Why can't this organization pull this kinda S*** mid season so we can at least whatch something to take our minds off of it.
And Andy is right the clippers are cursed a bit more than the Nuggs.

by djoel on Jul 23, 2008 11:35 AM MDT reply actions

I see his (Camby's) point that he thinks it looks like they are blaming him for the team's failure in the playoffs, but that would be true no matter how it went down or what they got in return. Because they took the bottom-line approach, it saves him from comparisons. They didn't make a change or a replacement, so it's not as if someone else was presented as an improvement. The brass determined that the team wasn't going to win as-is, and they bailed on Camby (and Najera, for that matter) because allowed them to spend less. Consider it a gift, Marcus, to get a fresh start.

by Mike on Jul 23, 2008 11:54 AM MDT reply actions

Rename the URL "markwarkenteinisapieceofshit.com"

by Marmatard on Jul 23, 2008 1:19 PM MDT reply actions

i was a nuggets fan all my life but after seeing what management is doing i am no longer a fan i am retiring from being a basketball fuck the nuggets they don't want to put a winning product on the floor you fuckers watch them not i they are clowns and if you keep supporting clowns they will think what they are doing is good and that is not what i will do fuck the nuggets and denver stiffs.com if they keep promoting the nuggets if you guys start to boycott i will be there but yall dont so fuck off Lakers 4 life

by ExNuggetsfan on Jul 23, 2008 4:50 PM MDT reply actions

Lakers are gay, so screw you xnuggets fan. get the fuck off this site if you don't want to contribute in a positive manner. also go back to california if you like the lakers so much, we have pleanty of people here in colorado, we don't need any more people from california anyway, or texas for that matter.

by Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 5:38 PM MDT reply actions

Classless- & Camby could've added CLUELESS, as well! I'm always astonished when I talk to Nuggs "fans", & the first words outta there mouths is "Melo's fault'! Why aren' these FO idiots ever held accountable? What exactly is the plan here? Because of Melo, AI, JR, & Nene, they'll probably fight for a playoff spot, & maybe even make it! But we've all seen that movie- one & done, then wait'll NEXT year! I'm so damn frustrated right now! We should seriously start a campaign to BOYCOTT this team, until changes, especially FO changes, are made! This SUCKS!!

by verbalkint on Jul 23, 2008 9:33 PM MDT reply actions

How many times in the past two seasons was Camby's name served up as trade bait. To me there is no surprise here.The way it went down is classless especially for a hands down class act off the court but I wasn't really a Camby fan. He tossed a great alley oop and rebounded well, cause no one else would, but the offense man ,that terrible offense and the jumper was awful, and game after game he continued to shoot that shot from the point with such precision ( banging the rim )and with time on the shot clock. I read that in practice he had no problem dropping the jumper. That was by far the biggest gripe I had. Hopefully he will make well of the Clippers. Truly, what a shame overall.

by markp on Jul 23, 2008 10:41 PM MDT reply actions

LOL @ the Clippers promising both Air Gordon and Marcus Camby the #23. Eric is the supremely talented player, so he'll probably get it. Camby wore #21 most of his life anyway - he has a better chance of getting that away from Josh Powell.

by Anonymous on Jul 24, 2008 11:38 AM MDT reply actions

Poor Marcus :( He makes 10 million a year playing basketball and got traded without anybody considering his feelings. ****ing grow up Camby it's a buisiness!

by the1brisisk on Jul 28, 2008 7:00 AM MDT reply actions

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