The Denver Nuggets have had no choice but to wallow in the unhappy ending to their 2009-20010 season over the last two months. Will they be able to right the ship by cashing in on the richest free agent market in NBA history?
With a suddenly glaring weakness at power forward, the Denver Nuggets need to make a move to compete in the loaded Western Conference next season.
Denver is in a heck of a bind after their playoff flop versus Utah.
An unfortunate combination of injuries, circumstance, and poor decision-making by the Nuggets’ front office have Denver on the edge of irrelevance as the rest of the West grows inexorably bigger and stronger across the board.
Kenyon Martin & Chris Andersen both had offseason knee surgeries, with K-Mart likely to miss training and preseason work with the team. The Nuggets’ formerly formidable power forward corps look suddenly paper thin.
Carmelo Anthony is unwilling to sign a contract extension without guaranteed help from free agency that may never come. Melo’s current deal is up in 2011, and the Nuggets have expressed a willingness to trade him instead of losing him to free agency next year.
It is most likely, however, that Denver and Carmelo will find a way to work out a deal for an extension under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement that will pay Anthony much more over the next four or five years than he could make here or anywhere else after the current CBA expires at the end of next season.
George Karl’s coaching future is still up in the air despite assertions from his family that his road to recovery is firmly on track. Without Karl’s practiced hand steadying these Nuggets, they are simply not a reasonable contender for the Conference Finals or better.
And the Nuggets gained nothing from a loaded 2010 NBA Draft class that featured a cadre of qualified big men. Even a lesser pick from the 2nd Round could have helped to shoulder the crushing low post burden. Kenyon has been unable to play a full season since coming to Denver, and there is little chance that next season will be any different.
The good news is yet to come. (It has to.)
Word is that Denver did fish for a trade partner to bust into last week’s draft, but nothing materialized that was worth the asking price. (Denver’s unfortunate recent draft history left them without a 2010 pick.)
That leaves the Nuggets’ front office with continued draft-related failure since nabbing Nene and Carmelo Anthony in consecutive drafts from 2002-2003. (The book is still out on Ty Lawson.) Denver has instead opted to do its fishing in the free agent pool, and this season the big fish are biting.
While the Nuggets have not been mentioned by rumor mills like ESPN as suitors for any of the big names in the 2010 Free Agent Class, Stan Kroenke & Co. have been notorious for playing their cards close to the vest.
Do not be surprised to see one of the available power forwards come to Denver, paired with the exit of Kenyon Martin’s expiring contract.
Read more about Denver's options in this loaded Free Agent Power Forward class:
Chris Bosh
The Big Bosh surprise? How Chris Bosh could end up in Denver
Amare For the Win. Why Amare Stoudemire would fit in Denver
Carlos Boozer
The Most Unlikely Signing That Ever Wasn't: Carlos Boozer in Denver
The Rumor Mill
Trade Rumor: Nuggets' Kenyon Martin to Warriors for Andreis Biedrins
Don’t waste your breath, Dirk’s goin’ nowhere.
The last power forward on the Big List (see below) is Dirk Nowitzki. The big German sensation could make the Nuggets a Title Contender immediately with his rare combination of strength, speed, rebounding ability and shooting touch.
However, despite Dirk’s announcement yesterday that he would opt out of the final year of his current contract, Nowitzki is staying in Dallas. Doubtless, Dirk decided to opt out that he might garner a more favorable contract under the current CBA than if he had waited until next season. Like Carmelo, Nowitzki wants to stay where he is… he just wants to be rewarded handsomely for his loyalty.
The Big List: Top Ten 2010 NBA Free Agents
Lebron James (SF)
Dwyane Wade (SG)
Chris Bosh (PF)
Joe Johnson (SG)
Dirk Nowitzki (PF)
Paul Pierce (SF)
Amare Stoudemire (PF)
Carlos Boozer (PF)
David Lee (C)
Rudy Gay (SF)
Best Wishes to Melo & Lala
Carmelo Anthony and longtime girlfriend Lala Vazquez will finally tie the knot next Saturday, July 10th.
While the rest of the NBA world goes gaga over the big free agent frenzy, Melo & Lala will be saying their vows in New York City. The wedding is accompanied by a VH1 Reality TV Show that premieres in September and focuses on the months leading up to the wedding. The finale will be a 90-minute detail of the wedding itself.
So congrats to Melo & Lala. May their marriage and Carmelo’s career in Denver both last well into a bright ‘n shiny future.
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