ESPN Sees the Nuggets Future
by RPN on Nov 10, 2009 2:10 PM MST
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http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-2-091110
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10. Denver Nuggets | Future Power Rating: 545
| PLAYERS | MANAGEMENT | MONEY | MARKET | DRAFT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254 (8th) | 134 (11th) | 85 (23rd) | 51 (16th) | 22 (28th) |
The Nuggets are largely a veteran team, but the future remains fairly rosy because their few young players are so good. Leading the way, of course, is Carmelo Anthony, who looks like an absolute monster this year and at 25 has several productive years ahead of him. Rookie guard Ty Lawson is another keeper, while if J.R. Smith (24) is a potential star if he can keep his head on straight. Meanwhile, Nene (27) provides a solid keeper in the middle, and Denver still has the rights to Linas Kleiza (24).
In these ratings, we had a difference of opinion on the Nuggets' management, with Denver's ability to unearth diamonds in the rough weighing in its favor but its history of assembling combustible chemistry working against it. On available money, however, we saw eye to eye, and that's Denver's biggest issue going forward. Denver could potentially have some cap space in 2011, when Kenyon Martin's onerous deal comes off the books, but the Nuggets will be a tax team next year with their starting five alone and don't have the kind of market that can profitably support such a large payroll.
Fortunately they're owned by Wal-Mart heir Stan Kroenke, but if things take a turn for the worse, the Nuggets could be forced into fire-sale mode, as they were a year ago with the Marcus Camby trade.
As with other highly ranked teams, Denver's one poor score came in the draft. It's difficult to imagine the Nuggets getting a high draft pick at any time in the near future.
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stan kroenke is NOT a wal-mart heir
his wife is and that is another subject for another time. kroenke sports enterprises owns the nuggets and other teams and venues. the big problem they are having now are the avalanche. at one point they were undefeated at home and are having a hard time drawing a crowd. nugs make a run at the nba finals kmart will be part of the team next year. cleveland would have taken him this summer. the fact he is here shows management’s commitment to winning for now. denver does not have three future first round draft picks. there is talent in the second round just ask dejuan blair and san antonio.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
by nohoops4u on Nov 10, 2009 4:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Camby trade
I can’t believe serious basketball analysts think that the Camby trade hurt the Nuggets. Camby can do some things well, but he was a terrible fit. His inability to rotate killed the team defense. And he is just brutal on the offensive end. Getting rid of him made the team better. Because Chauncey came in at the same time, everyone gives him all the credit. While he certainly has been huge as the player-coach of this team, I think Camby’s absence was also a significant contributing factor. The national media killed the move at the time, but all the serious Nuggets fans I talked to at the time were ok with it. And we did eventually get Afflalo with part of the trade exception, I believe, so we didn’t really give him away for nothing. If Wark wants to continue dumping players bringing the team down on other teams, I’m all for it. Anyone want to give us nothing for Anthony Carter?
by asdqqq on Nov 10, 2009 9:47 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Camby trade was great for the team. Although I loved Camby while he was he, he wasn’t hard to replace once we got Birdman. Camby was consistently out with injuries. I got weary of him towards the end of the stint in Denver. It was good to dump his salary and replace him with younger, more effective players.
As for trading AC, I don’t think anyone would be interested. After all, what does he do well? I don’t think he defends as well as people give him credit for, he has no offensive game, he can’t run an offense… I guess the only good thing to say about him is he works hard? Unfortunately, AC didn’t get much interest during free agency so I doubt anyone is looking to trade for him. Maybe we could include him in a bigger trade?
by higgyhoops12 on Nov 10, 2009 11:24 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
We traded JR for Camby...
I don’t remember who it was that said it but ultimately we traded Camby (his salary) for being able to re-sign JR. If we had kept Camby we would not have been able to tender JR the offer we did…
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
by Big Mickey D on Nov 11, 2009 12:07 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
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