Nuggets pulling a Costanza with offseason moves

September 16, 1:29 PMDenver Nuggets ExaminerMike Wolf

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Mark Warkentien does bear a slight resemblance to George Costanza
 (AP photo by David Zalubowski)

"Why did it all turn out for me this way?," asked George Costanza of friends Jerry and Elaine.  "I had so much promise...  Every instinct I've had has been wrong."  He hadn't exactly signed Nene to six years and $60 million but things were not going well for George.  He had given up hope.  It was at that moment that he decided to take matters into his own hands and grasp fate by the neck.

He then ordered chicken salad on rye.  Not exactly like trading away your best (some would argue only) defensive player for, um, potato salad and a cup of tea.  But a drastic move for such a creature of habit.

"My name is George.  I'm unemployed and I live with my parents," became his pickup line.

The Denver Nuggets, who (in true Costanza fashion) don't have a real GM, have had a curious offseason.  One wonders if they stumbled on to the classic episode of Seinfeld and decided to try their hand at "doing the opposite."

"We've always had Marcus to cover up everyone's defensive mistakes," Vice President of Player Personnel Rex Chapman might have said.  "Instead of getting some defensive help, let's do the opposite.  Trade him away for nothing and hope everyone starts playing better." 

Did they swing a trade with some of those huge contracts?  No.  Instead, they traded for the New York Knicks' ninth man and tried to convince their fans that with the Nuggets, Renaldo Balkman is more of a seventh or eighth man off the bench.  Now, I really like Renaldo Balkman as a player and believe the fans will love the way he plays.  But replace Marcus Camby he will not.

Eduardo Najera was a better three-point shooter last season (40%) and better defender than either of the Nuggets' starting guards.  Keep him around?  Nope, do the opposite.  Let him go and resign Anthony Carter, a tough point guard who obviously cannot get the Nuggets out of the first round.

Did I mention that a team with chemistry and character issues signed a guy who was just reinstated to the league after being banned for drug use?  Chris Anderson, formerly of the New Orleans Hornets, was always a fan favorite here in Denver.  But he has yet to prove that he's ready to play at the highest level again.  And I don't think we'll ever forgive him for that dunk contest.

Check back later this week and we'll look at which free agents are still available, and how the Rockies can get Griffey and Bonds in the same outfield without, you know, giving up too much.

Meanwhile, George Karl will be studying old Seattle Supersonics game films and working on his glutes as he apparently has decided that he'll be getting off the bench a few times this season.  Ahh, the opposite.  I'm beginning to like this idea.

As Elaine said, "Well, there's no telling what can happen from this."