I’m a little disappointed that the trade exception wasn’t used. I think we can all agree the Nuggets could use a bit more beef up front. Gasol would’ve been ideal, hell even Hibbert looks good, but those teams aren’t dumb and they’re not dumping cheap but effective centers.

The contract extension for Balkman makes you wonder what the Nuggets plan for him is. Did they extend him for themselves or for another team? He has proven to be quite effective when given minutes and he’s not very expensive. I’m still a bit baffled as to why he’s not playing. Could he be on his way out for someone a bit bigger?

I’d like to see the Nuggets continue to look at centers but i just don’t know who is available. The Twolves are holding a fire sale but they don’t even have any centers to trade (Al Jeff is technically a PF and i don’t think they’d trade him).

Haywood would be nice from the Wiz but they’ve got all their cards in this year in an attempt to win a championship. JaVale McGee is already in the doghouse though, and is affordable. Might he be an option?

Other players who might be available include Alexis Ajinca (Cha) (not an upgrade from Petro), Samuel Dalembert (overpaid), Dampier (in the last year of his contract but plays for a conference contender), Hamed Haddadi (self-proclaimed superstar), Patrick O’Bryant (see Ajinca) and maybe Kurt “Crazy eyes” Thomas (if the bucks suck). Not exactly game changers.

Balkman was kept because it was cheaper to extend him than not to. Same reason that Thabo Sefalosha got an extension in OKC. His cap hold next summer would have been higher than the salary he’s going to actually get paid thanks to the extension.

As for adding a big, as much as it would have been awesome to steal Marc Gasol, that wasn’t going to happen. As the season goes I would expect the Nuggets to play smaller with JR at the 4 and Melo at the 4 to soak up some minutes from KMart and Nene. And hopefully Balkman can work his way into 10 minutes a night, but until and unless someone gets hurt I can’t see the Nuggs adding salary in the form of an underachieving big man who isn’t going to play much…

Even though I would like to see another quality big, is there really anyone out there that can realistically fit the bill at this time? Names are thrown around, but did we really have any chance of getting any of them this early in the season?

Otherwise, the talent pool (available bad players) is slim and why mess with a rotation and chemistry that appears to be working?

Wait a few more months and see where we are and if anyone wants to make a good deal.

This is not a post-up team. This is not a team that will win massive amounts of games by beating up on teams from the paint. Sure, K-Mart is fairly agressive, and Nene is the best on-ball defensive post player in recent Nugget’s history (Shot-blockers are not on-ball defenders), but what wins Denver games is a combination of an immensely precise offensive set with the first unit (along with exceptional on-ball defense) and the supremacy of the rhythm change brought on by the second unit (Birdman and Lawson are chaos incarnate).

Slowing it down and banging in the post is something for lesser teams to worry about.

And really, Jeff Foster?

I just wish they could condition Nene to stuff the ball! Even though it’s early in the season, I just about lose it ever time he goes up soft and the ball drops off the rim. He also checks in and out of the game pouting about calls and loses focus. Granted, it would be great if he were taller, but he is a big body and can be very quick. I think his biggest problem is “bringing it” consistently and at least attempting to stuff it EVERY time he’s close to the rim! If he plays at the level he’s capable of consistently, he could be pretty dominate.

disappointed that nothing happened