Give this man a training camp invite already...

by Andrew Feinstein on Jul 19, 2008 1:12 AM MDT

While assessing who might be the backup to Marcus Camby's replacement - presumably Nene - we didn't get a chance to discuss who will fill in at the backup power forward spot when Nene moves to starting center.

If the Nuggets bring back Chris Andersen, he'd certainly be one choice. But with the Nuggets going to "small ball," Andersen will probably play a lot of backup center minutes.

Readers of this blog know that we've been on the Elton Brown bandwagon since before the Vegas Summer League began. And even though I haven't been able to really watch a Nuggets Summer League game (thanks to NBATV and Altitude totally screwing Nuggets fans by not showing any on TV), after reviewing Brown's four game log, I'm convinced...bring this guy into training camp already!

In last night's 105-104 "victory" over the Houston Rockets summer squad, Brown had his best performance thus far: 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds (9 offensive!). I know it's Summer League and most of these guys rarely amount to much, but if the Nuggets are truly in cost cutting mode, why wouldn't they bring this guy into camp?

Oh, and Dahntay Jones continues to produce. Well, at least points-wise, anyway. In four games, he's had two assists. That's right: two! If anything, he's been consistent with his career average of a whopping 0.6 assists per game. As well as Jones is playing offensively, I'd still rather go with Brown (if I had to choose between the two).

On a side note, if you happened to miss this SI.com story about George Karl and potential Nuggets Interim Head Coach Hall of Fame inductee Nick Van Exel, it's kind of funny and worth a quick read (way down at the bottom of the page).

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

woo first comment, i don't think there is any doubt that elton deserves to get his shot at making the team in training camp, especially with the loss of camby and Najera, which leaves us critically thin at the bigs positions. Also just a note, taureen green, a man i had high hopes for this summer league, put up the massive goose egg in the last game, leaving us also critically thin at point guard, which i think, despite the weak depth in the front court, is our most serious problem going into next season

by Zachm219 on Jul 19, 2008 1:46 AM MDT reply actions

Yeah, Elton Brown has to be in the roster as our bench C.
I'm pretty confident that Nene Hilario will play very well as an starter.

by Lucas Navarrete on Jul 19, 2008 6:27 AM MDT reply actions

nene is obviously starting.

just get elton brown and chris andersen. stuff the rest.

we lost eddy and marcus. pick up another two. elton and birdman.

sall good

by andrew fisher on Jul 19, 2008 7:10 AM MDT reply actions

When I watched him in the first game agaisnt the Sixers, I was convinced. Two seven footers, Jason Smith and Marreese Speights were all over him and did not give him an inch to get a rebound, but he fought off those two and grabbed them rebounds. They couldn't contain him.

He has high awareness of positioning himself in the paint, his hands are active, he never fails to box out every time a Nugget shoots, something you can't say about Camby/ Nene/ KMart. Not only that, he also has high awareness in positioning offensively. He has good hands and soft touch with either hand. Good free throw shooter too and knows how to get to the line.

He just needs to do what he's been doing in the regular season games now and if Karl will give him minutes!!!

- Snake -

by Anonymous on Jul 19, 2008 9:10 AM MDT reply actions

I've watched a couple summer league games on nba.com and agree that Brown is a legit option at PF. Not sure of his real height but looks to be about 6'8" and big body. He an Nene would present a front with a lot of beef, though not the tallest. He's definitely got a nose for rebounds which is a competency we haven't had on the nuggets since the joker.

D. Jones is all about himself. He takes it to the whole without conscience or considering a pass. Notice how many FT attempts he's getting in summer league. We already have that in Iverson. So, he's not really a good fit right now. But if we trade Iverson in February, he'd be a decent pickup down the road as bench material.

by Haig on Jul 19, 2008 10:54 AM MDT reply actions

I don't understand this fascination with Birdman as the backup center. The guy weighs 228 lbs, and he's not a legitimate center! I remember when he was here and Duncan worked him like a baby back rib in the paint (of course Duncan works almost everyone). Point is, in the west, we need some beef in the paint as our center will have to guard Yao, Duncan, Bynum, Gasol, Oden, and Shaq. If you think about, Camby couldn't really stop most of these guys one on one as he was only 235 lbs. At least Harrison is a legitimate seven footer, and at 280 lbs, he could hold his own (if he doesn't foul out in 10 min or less). I'm all about bringing Brown on board. He reminds me a lot of Reggie Evans, except he seems to have touch around the basket. Again, not sold on D. Jones, we already have enough guys to jack up shots, we need guys who can pass and play perimeter D.

by micb on Jul 19, 2008 12:42 PM MDT reply actions

I also agree with the overall sentiment on Jones. His game is good for this time of year's games: summer league. In the real regular season games, with real defense and real seven footers protecting the rims and merciless refs, he wouldn't get all these calls.

Imo, Weems the rookie would outplay him although he doesn't have experience.

- Snake -

by Anonymous on Jul 19, 2008 12:46 PM MDT reply actions

micb I'm with you on Birdman. He's a sideshow at best and we already have enough of those. I would take him over Elson though...

He needs to make up with his mamma though!

by Eric on Jul 20, 2008 9:10 AM MDT reply actions

Hunter is a decent backup center. Not the strongest post defender but he has length to alter shots.

I'm not sure the Elson is much of an upgrade over Hunter. He was a fan favorite though. Hands of stone but at least he hustles. Can't bang inside though.

Birdman isn't a center. He's a PF who can offer help defense. Much like Camby. Birdman could fit IF he's playing next to a healthy Nene who demands post attention himself.

We get into trouble when both our C and our PF have don't pose an interior offensive threat. So, if Nene's in, we could have a birdman or an Elson play PF next to him. And if Elton Brown is in at PF, he's going to demand attention there and that's where I'd see Hunter playing nicely beside him - as an athletic big to help clear space for Brown to work in.

Point is, having a diverse set of bigs is nice. But you've got to have at least 1 of them with a real post game on the floor - or else the other team will have the luxury of focusing on perimeter defense.

by Haig on Jul 20, 2008 1:14 PM MDT reply actions

http://www.chrisandersenfiles.com/2008/01/pick-up-big.html

by Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 8:39 AM MDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

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.