Training camp preview...

by Andrew Feinstein on Sep 30, 2008 1:07 AM MDT

When you return to a state where you're already a registered sex offender, do you have to re-register? Or is your original registration good for life? This was the first question that came to mind when I read that Ruben "The Babysitter Raper" Patterson will be back with the Nuggets for training camp today.

Throw in a training camp invite to Smush Parker (that's right, SMUSH @#$%& PARKER) and it's apparent that Kroenke Crony Mark Warkentien's push to make the Nuggets the most undersized, one-dimensional, undisciplined and arrested team with the biggest "trainwreck" upside in the NBA this season is coming into full effect.

Including Patterson and Parker, of the Nuggets 18 training camp attendees eight have either been arrested, suspended by the NBA, yelled at their coach during a game, refused to re-enter a game, fought with teammates, skipped practice, or all of the above. I never thought I'd say this, but Warkentien is out-Warkentiening himself. Now that's playing chess, alright.

According to the other Kroenke Crony, Rex Chapman, it's still "up in the air" if the Nuggets keep more than 13 of the 18 players in training camp on the opening day roster. But let's pretend for a second that the Nuggets add two more players...who would you choose? Our choices are Mateen Cleaves, Nick Fazekas, James Mays, Patterson and Parker.

Note that Elton Brown - an NBDL and Summer League standout - didn't make the training camp roster. What gives?

Regardless of who fills out a potential 15-man roster, these last two players will join Dahntay Jones, Sonny Weems and Stephen Hunter in the "no-impact" department on the Nuggets roster. But with Kenyon Martin and Nene remaining injury prone, and Chucky Atkins out for a few months, you never know who will be called in for duty.

If I had to pick two of these guys, I'd go with Fazekas and Cleaves (and I'd send Parker home yesterday). Fazekas - born and raised in Arvada - would be the end-of-the-bench, big, white Stiff that the Nuggets have sorely missed since the departure of Mark Pope in 2005 and Dan McClintock in 2001. The Nuggets just aren't the same without a big Stiff on the bench, so this should be a shoe-in.

And my second choice would be Cleaves. Not because he's any good (he's not), but because the Nuggets are in short supply of solid citizens and it wouldn't hurt to have someone on the team who's a pass-first player. At least one.

Back to Patterson, with the Nuggets already committing to high energy guys like Renaldo Balkman and Chris Andersen, I see absolutely no need for the chemistry-poisoning, me-first Patterson to rejoin the franchise. Why even risk it?

Have I mentioned yet how excited I am for this season to start?!!

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Comments

Wow....When we referenced the JailBlazers, who would have thought it was just the beginning.

by danjustin on Sep 30, 2008 1:23 AM MDT reply actions

Maybe Elton Brown only predicted 55 wins, and was left off the roster because of his lack of confidence?

by john on Sep 30, 2008 7:22 AM MDT reply actions

the Nuggets will not win 40 games and we will all be spared a first round exit from the playoffs

then they will trade their late lottery pick to the Clippers for a conditional protected future 2nd rounder in 2013

by Dave on Sep 30, 2008 7:51 AM MDT reply actions

Seeing the Nuggets sign Patterson I feel like the doctor at the end of the movie Bridge on the River Kwai: "Madness".

by Anonymous on Sep 30, 2008 8:21 AM MDT reply actions

"You maniacs! Damn you, Damn you all to hell!"

At a time like this one can't express himself properly...

"You blew it all up"

I'm just happy that I don't hold season tix

by joelsopinion on Sep 30, 2008 8:35 AM MDT reply actions

Damn.....all you guys are being way too critical, wait till the season starts and give it about ten or 15 games, then be negative. Losing Camby and and Najera are not big losses. In no way should this affect our team that much. Camby sucked, all he could do is stand there like a dumbass and block a couple shots, Najera was good but he was a bench player, come on. We got the Birdman back! All is good!! haha

by LB47 on Sep 30, 2008 9:42 AM MDT reply actions

Elton Brown wasn't invited because Chicago already got him last week. Our FO apparently decided that he wasn't worth keeping around for training camp and didn't make a compelling case to his agent that he had a shot here. This will come back to bite us if/when we lose one of our beefier bigs (nene or kmart) to injury.

Don't expect the other guys to make the roster. Cleaves has the most chance and then Fazekas but that's it. They signed Jones and Weems and they'll probably stick as bench fodder. Patterson is rendered obsolete by Balkman.

The only interesting story in training camp is whether JR can establish himself as a starter over AC.

by Haig on Sep 30, 2008 12:33 PM MDT reply actions

Mateen Cleaves is a great cheerleader. Haven't you guys ever seen him on the bench of various NBA teams? You just can't measure heart like that!

by Chris C. on Sep 30, 2008 2:31 PM MDT reply actions

I almost forgot, Nuggets basketball is just a week and a half away for me. Don't ask me how I got talked into this, but my girlfriend thought it would be a great idea to make the trip to Palm Springs for the outdoor game. Should be fun, and at the very least it'll be a couple of sun-filled days in California away from work, etc. I'll report back on the 30 seconds the starters are sure to play.

by Chris C. on Sep 30, 2008 5:12 PM MDT reply actions

I loved the sarcasm about the chess, classic. But really, we all know the dudes running the Nuggets org. arn't the smartest people in the world, but how do you come up with Smush Parker and a convicted sex offender as your answers to your teams problems? I just want to know who is the one sitting there comming up with these ideas? They are horrible.

by Goldennugget on Sep 30, 2008 8:02 PM MDT reply actions

I have no idea what our front office is doing. I honestly don't.

by Anonymous on Sep 30, 2008 8:50 PM MDT reply actions

Carl is already putting AC as the starting pg. we are so hosed in fact I am going to boycott this team so long as AC is our pg.

by nickademus on Sep 30, 2008 9:23 PM MDT reply actions

As crazy as this sounds I think this could be a good year. Signing JR was big as he is going to bust out. Remember the dark ages folks before you write this season off. Let's enjoy winning seasons while they last. All positivity goes out the window in the first game if I see the same offensive system employed last year. Some call it the clear out. I call it the cough drop. Hack. Hack.

by Paterade on Sep 30, 2008 10:31 PM MDT reply actions

Why limit Ruben Patterson to a mere sex offender? Not only is Patterson a sex offender, but he's also a wife beater! The double threat. I think being a college teammate of K-Mart at Cincinnati should be warning enough... Bob Huggins is like the evil opposite of Dean Smith, building discontent rather than character (see, Nick the Quick, Danny Fortson). In all fairness, if you had to spend four years with Huggins you may be damaged as well.

by rauf is on fire on Oct 1, 2008 6:01 AM MDT reply actions

I'm surprised that Shawn Kemp hasn't been invited yet...

by Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 8:11 AM MDT reply actions

Im sorry but all the Elton Brown jock riding needs to stop. Sure he showed some upside in the Summer League and NBDL but honestly how often does that transfer? Doesn't a former Nugget by the name of Von Wafer hold the record for most points in a Summer League game? That sure got me excited at first until he couldn't buy a bucket in garbage time in the NBA.

I do agree with the AC at point debacle that Karl is creating. We are something like 20ish and 3 when Iverson has 10 or more dimes and he averaged a few more per game last year than AC. I really believe that Iverson is willing to do whatever it takes to win this year (i.e. sharing the rock) so with him at point and JR at the 2 we are a much more explosive team. Forget about this team playing defense because it just wont happen so we might as well put our highest scoring line up in and try and run it up on everyone.

by Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 10:54 AM MDT reply actions

I'm optimistic about this season. I think that if we can keep Kmart and Nene healthy, the rest will fall into place. With all the negative stuff in the press leading up to training camp, the recent comments in the papers from the team leave me with the feeling that they might start this season w/a chip on their shoulder. I’ll take that over a team that's touted as the potential winner of the Western Conference (as they were last year by some people, including Steven A. Smith) that never lived up to such lofty expectations. I can see JR and Kleiza stepping up another notch over last year, and that combined with the renewed emphasis on D might, MIGHT be enough to really turn this team into a top five Western Conference team. The proof will be in the play. I know I’m excited to watch what happens.

by alexridesbikes on Oct 1, 2008 2:09 PM MDT reply actions

i gotta agree wit alex.
Plus,everybody seems to forget that we got that $10 Million for that Camby trade,so if they see a hole,they might trade to fix that.

by Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 3:04 PM MDT reply actions

Dont Dilude your self there is no way they are going to spend the 10mil TE it will go away unused. I wish they would figure out what the bulls want for Hinrich I know alot of people dont really like him but he is Majic Freaking Johnson compaired to AC.

by nickademus on Oct 1, 2008 9:14 PM MDT reply actions

Just think if we hadn't re-signed Anthony Carter, we would almost be at some sort of ease here. Heck, we're better off starting Smush Parker than AC, because he SUCKS. George Karl will you wake the shit up to yourself? Who cares if he has a good ethic? He has pretty much no jump shot, and he just plain sucks I am absolutely stunned and bewildered at your stubbornness of starting him and keeping out J.R Smith aka the next Kobe Bryant. Start AI at the point and have your 5 best players on the court instead of having a D-Leaguer running it...

by Jack on Oct 1, 2008 10:29 PM MDT reply actions

I'm just scouring the net a bit and I've just read a HoopsVibe blog on which Shawn Kemp Jr. commented on... An anonymous guy above me said that he's not surprised that we have not gave an invite to Kemp.

In one of his comments, Kemp Jr. says that 2 teams have shown minor interest in him and makes reference to Steven Hunter.
Just wondering, does that mean Denver is one of those 2 teams? Probably a good thing to blog about Andrew... Thanks for doin this too man.

by Jack on Oct 2, 2008 4:34 AM MDT reply actions

You should do a post on what the top 10 Nuggets excuses will be for this season. I see Chucky "I get no minutes even when i'm healthy" Atkins injury as being in the top three.

by Anonymous on Oct 2, 2008 5:21 AM MDT reply actions

Mark my words the nuggets will be better and more exciting than last yr

Bamby didnt play like he was capable of consistently. that's game to game quarter to quarter- name it!!

He let so many layups past i could of scored on him.

Karl loved najera too much. Im glad he's gone to

Nuggets will be better defensively because of hustle. No lazy camby

by Anonymous on Oct 2, 2008 6:19 AM MDT reply actions

Smush Parker what a joke this organization is beyond unreal

by Iverson Warrior on Oct 2, 2008 6:48 AM MDT reply actions

So the getting arrested, insubordination and all i agree with that, but skipping practice?....c'mon man we're not even talking about a game here, we're talking about PRACTICE, i mean we're talking about...PRACTICE....haha just had to di it

by Zachm219 on Oct 2, 2008 11:04 AM MDT reply actions

If the NBA is anything like college football, arrests lead directly to wins. Look at Penn State and Alabama, they're off season was full arrests and they're pretty good.

by Anonymous on Oct 2, 2008 4:40 PM 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.