Some Nuggets Thoughts (mainly JR and Billups)
Okay I know both of these ideas have been greatly talked about here, but I want to add to the current thoughts. We all know Chauncey is looking slow and has had horrible shot selection so far, and I wanted to point out how much this looks like 2 years ago when Allen Iverson was on the team and he was looking slow and had a huge expiring deal, we hit a home run in a trade. Now ironically the situation is similar, but this time Billups is the neg impact player. Now I love Chauncey, but if he doesn't pick up his game (and I don't mean trying to drop 30 points, I mean playing how he should... passing the ball more, not shooting every shot he wants and not getting costly technicals) (and it isn't all his fault, his Playing time management has been horrendous, Karl, I'm looking at you) we should seriously entertain trading him. One trade idea that comes to mind is Udrih and Landry for Billups. It allows the Kings to get the perfect fit at PG next to Tyreke and Denver gets a good back up PG and a good, young PF. I'm not saying trade Chauncey, I'm just saying.. don't overvalue him and if you get a good offer, take it... cuz unless he's just in major slump (sadly doubtful, considering his pre-season and World Championship play) he is just taking Ty's minutes.
Now onto a similar topic, JR and his playing time. Now unlike CB, Smith has gotten his minutes drastically cut (playing only one minutes in the last three games, are you kidding me Karl?) and there's no point in having a talented player sit on the bench. Yes JR has some problems, but so does every player. If Karl isn't gonna use him, he should tell the FO so they could get a player he would actually play. Now I don't want to trade JR b/c I think he's a valuable part of this team, but if he isn't gonna play, then you gotta trade him. I posted this a comment, but some names I thought of are Anthony Randolph, Hasheem Thabeet, Tyrus Thomas, Jason Thompson (with Garcia, would be ideal IMO), Marcin Gortat, Amir Johnson (ugly contract), Posey and McRoberts, Brendan Wright, Brad Miller, Jermaine Oneil, Taj Gibson and Andris Biedrins… The only problem is that if you get a big for JR, then when Kenyon and Bird are back, there will be a major log jam at the Power Forward and Center positions...
I think considering our schedule and injuries, 6-6 isn't horrible... it's just frustrating considering we could've easily won 5 of those games (Dallas Melo missed the Game winner, Chicago and Portland could've been tied at the buzzer, and New Orleans and Phoenix could've been beaten had we made some better shots down the stretch)... if Denver can improve on it's closing out of games then we'll be fine... but I think once we get Bird/Kenyon back it will be easier to close out games mainly b/c it gives us more rebounding and defense which is key to closing out games, along with less foul trouble for our players and less fatigue for our bigs... so Idk how the schedule looks coming up, but seeing as how hard it was to begin with, it has to get easier at some point... all it takes is winning three games in a row and Denver Stiffs will stop panicking and jump back on the contender thoughts about this team (and we are contenders, IMO).
Okay, so thoughts.. opinions...
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I don't see them trading Billups
Billups has expressed the desire to retire a Nugget. Unless they get an offer they can’t refuse he’ll probably stay, even through a complete rebuild. His play so far is driving his trade value down, I would imagine. Plus, if the FO makes it appear that it’s fire sale time, which a Billups trade would be seen as in spite of his poor play, everyone’s trade value takes a hit.
I would rather they bring in a defensive minded coach than trade Chauncey. Is Mike Brown available? He started his career with the Nugs, maybe he would like to come back. I’ve lost faith in George Karl. Given the Nugs raw talent and in spite of injuries, 6-6 is just unacceptably bad. (And fed up with Melo, too; the Melodrama has put everyone under unbearable strain, and the cracks are showing for all to see.)
I think the Nugs are fucked.
No way in hell Denver fires/replaces Karl unless he willingly steps down and retires... Mike Brown would accept a head coach gig, I know Denver really wanted him as an assistant, but he declined...
But then again, Brown is 100% incompetent on offense… pure iso… The Nuggets need an all around coach… if Denver ran some legit plays then we’d be able to outscore everyone, it’s just Karl’s random bball doesn’t use too many plays… players like Afflalo, CB and JR would get a lot of open looks with a better playbook…
We should only trade Billups if we're committed to rebuilding
Because he doesn’t need to stick around for that. But if we still think we can convince Melo to stay then Billups should as well.
I'll reserve the optimism for the 17-win seasons; now is the time for scrutiny.
Josh McRoberts you STIFF!!!
chauncey should be traded before
or at a minimum at the same time as melo. otherwise we have zero leverage.
I don't see how Billups is "perfect" for Sacramento
I stated this in the other thread but why does a team that’s building around a 20 year old Demarcus Counsins and a 21 year old Tyreke Evans trade two solid, moderately priced players (who are at least equal, if not playing better than Chauncey already) for a 34 year old PG who’s playing like crap and makes as much both of them combined this year and guaranteed at least $3.5M next year for doing nothing. I doubt they’d trade Udrih straight up considering their production, age and contracts, much less throw in Landry for the sake of throwing him in. That’s like us trading Ty Lawson and AAA for Andre Miller. How fast would you hang up the phone on that offer?
The only possible teams that might be willing to take Chauncey at this point are fringe playoff contenders or better with a very short window that need a PG upgrade. From my point of view, that leaves Portland, ATL, Cleveland and possibly Charlotte. I can’t realistically see any scenario from any other team that would want an aging PG that’s playing like crap and willing to part with with even moderate assets. Portland could use an upgrade over Miller. ATL’s in the same boat with Bibby. Cleveland could move Williams back to 6th man where he’s probably a better fit. Charlotte might be interested even though they’re floundering at the moment and Augustine is playing no worse than Chaucey for 1/5 of the price.
People need to realize that at the moment, Billups has near zero trade value, considering his performance, age, and contract. Who wants a 34 year old player who’s playing like crap, probably extended his minutes way too long thanks to Karl and his summer basketball stint, is making $13M and change this year, is guaranteed $3.5M next year even if you cut him, and will make $14M next year if you keep him? Even when we traded Iverson at least he wasn’t playing as bad as Billups is now, his contract was truly expiring, and he was younger. Right now I’d assign Billup’s trade value similar to or lower than Andre Miller’s (who’s playing better and has a more palpable contract this year and next). I don’t see too many people flooding the Blazers with trade offers for Miller.
I think you are undervaluing Chauncey's reputation
Go over to Sactown Royality and make a fan post. Ask if they would do a JT and Udrih for Billups trade. You would be supprised. Actually looking in their weekly trade thread someone proposed a Beno, Landry and Greene for billups trade.
I agree with GN
You can’t deal Chauncey without knowing without a fraction of a doubt that Melo is leaving. If he is considering staying that would all go out the window if the team deals Chauncey.
Why live life on the edge, when you can jump off?
Quitter's People United Member #20
He's leaving
i know its hard to accept, but look at the signs he doesnt want to be here. Hes gone

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