RUMOR: Atkins to Orlando?
First off, one of the best blogs out there is Third Quarter Collapse, an Orlando Magic blog. If you're not reading it, do.
Now on their site, there's a post about the rumor sending Chucky Atkins to Orlando. There are a few different versions of this rumor, and you can read them all there. Basically, it's either:
* Atkins for Brian Cook
* Atkins for Keith Bogans
* Atkins for a $3 mil trade exemption
This rumor has been around for a few weeks, and my immediate thought was "let's do the Cook rumor" because he would give us size which we desperately need. Then I carefully watched Cook in a few games. You know how I was wrong about Birdman this year? I was even more wrong about Cook being competent. He looked horrible. So let's scratch that one off. While I like Bogans, I ultimately think the best thing we could do would be to dump Atkins for the exemption. It gets us under the luxury tax (huge plus for Stan) and frees up a roster spot so we can get Juwan back. We NEED size up front. I have been bitching about it for weeks. If we're going to keep Kleiza (shoot me now), we need to do something else that allows us to get another big up front. I love Balkman, but he's a three who can play spot minutes at the four. We're getting killed when he's our primary backup 4. And the lineup with LK at the four is even worse.
Thoughts?
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Bad Idea
While we would probably be able to get under the cap if we traded Chucky, I’m hesitant to give this deal a thumbs up because it would leave us even thinner at the PG – we would have only Chauncey (though, historically, he has been very stalwart) and AC.
That is a very thin frontcourt. I like having Atkins available as an “oh shit!” option, just in case disaster happens to Chauncey or AC.
On the other hand, If we lost either Chauncey or A.C. we would probably collapse, so I am not sure it would matter much. I think a better deal would be to package LK and Chucky to the Kings for Mikki Moore.
Young PG
I have been screaming for this all year. I’m a firm believer in treating the PG position like the QB position in football — always have a young one. If you don’t need him, you can always trade him for high value. Kyle Lowry is my dream (a younger, more talented version of of AC), but a cheaper option might be Sergio Rodriguez from Portland. I was hoping we could have gotten Kopponen from them this off-season, but that might not happen for a while now.
Honestly, I think big men is a greater need than PG. We have two PG’s. We only have 3 big men. That’s not good.
The artist formerly known as Nuggets4.
Do the deal and do it now
I think the Chucky for the trade exception would be a great deal because I believe it would add to the Nuggets front court depth. What am I talking about? That trade would get the Nuggets far enough under the tax level to allow them to bring back Juwan Howard without going back over the tax level.
As someone who never wanted Atkins on the roster in the first place you can sign me up for that deal.
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Problem is...
as Ben points out, that deal would put Orlando over the luxury tax. Speculation is that we would have to throw something in to get them to do that deal. I’m not sure it’s worth it.
The artist formerly known as Nuggets4.
Yea, I did not mention that, but I figured I would let Orlando worry about how to get under the tax level
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Stuckey
People have forgotten that Chauncey was losing minutes and being outplayed by Rodney Stuckey at times. This was why Dumars was so ready to lose their former finals MVP. Chauncey has historically struggled against fast PGs and I think AC has no place on the court
There is no indication
that Brian Cook will come to Denver. His name has never been in any serious discussion and it appeared because someone remembered George Karl at some stage saying he admired Cook’s game and physical tools. The deal that will happen is Chucky, Hunter and possibly a draft pick to Orlando in exchange for cap space. I personally would like to hang on to Steven Hunter. In fact, I think it’s unreasonable for Stan Kronke to still demand, despite our recent successes that we get under the luxury tax. At least give us a chance to see how far we can take this current squad with the momentum we have.
My initial reaction is that I don't like any of the options and would not approve of the trade...
…but I may need some time to really consider it.
GO BRONCOS!!!
I agree
I think we need some way to get a true back-up PF, one trade I might consider is seeing if we could get Channing Frye out of Portland, although not a true power foward,hehs good skills and isgod character guy.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
Mikki Moore (Sac)/Jeff Foster (Ind)
As I pointed out in the Sac game thread, those are my picks for an Atkins/Hunter combo. It would put us under the cap as well, I believe. An Atkins/Kleiza trade would also work for me, but we’d be bringing in more salary with that, so it would be less likely. Getting just a trade exception for Atkins doesn’t seem like a good idea, especially if we don’t plan to use it, and I don’t really see the Orlando players helping us much. I also don’t see an immediate need for another guard. Chauncey still has four years remaining, and we could hopefully get a young point through the draft in that time. Also, the only reason Juwan isn’t with the team now is money, as we currently only have a 14 player roster.
Mikki Moore
Why would Denver want another unskilled big? With Balkman, Birdman, Samb and Kenyon Martin at C/PF Nene is the only one whose skills extend to a jump hook let along midrange jumpers
Mainly cause they need another big, preferably over 6-10, since Nene and Martin are both a little small. Samb doesn’t really count right now, and calling Balkman a big is stretching it. That only really leaves Nene, Martin, and Andersen at PF/C. Moore could backup Nene, and Birdman for Martin. Someone needs to join the Nuggets, and pick up 10-15 min, so that the big three we already have don’t get burned out as the season progresses.

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