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Nugget owner Stan Kroenke should avoid the Monforts' tendencies
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Strange as it sounds, the Nuggets and the Rockies are in very similar situations.
The Nuggets, thanks largely to a major trade, are coming off their best season in franchise history; the nucleus of the team is young and loaded with potential. The Rockies, thanks largely to a managerial change, have just completed a sweep of the Washington Nationals and find themselves in the thick of the playoff race – one game out of position for a wild card berth.
The Rockies, presumably, will be in a position to improve their team as the second half of the season moves forward. For example, the Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly willing to listen to offers for star pitcher, and Colorado native, Roy Halladay. Will the Rockies go get him? Doubtful.
Like the Nuggets, Colorado’s nucleus is young and talented. Owner Dick Monfort told the Denver Post that the nucleus of the team will likely not be touched, no matter the chances for immediate improvement.
“So many teams want our young players,” said Monfort, “and if that's what it takes, it's not going to happen."
It’s easy to be skeptical regarding Dick Monfort and his brother, Charlie. Since being burned by signing Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle in 2000, arguably handcuffing themselves by giving an enormous contract to Todd Helton, the Rockies’ owners have been notorious for being hesitant, to put it mildly, to financially do what it takes to improve the team.
Heck, some might say they are unwilling to do what it takes to keep the great players (Matt Holliday, for example) that they already have. As long as the Monforts own the Rockies, it’s likely that fans will have to hope that the younger, less expensive players somehow manage to hold it together to make noise in September.
Manager Jim Tracy must continue to work his magic, because general manager Dan O’Dowd will likely not be empowered to work any of his. At least not if involves spending of the Monforts’ cash. The Monforts can certainly point to Rocktober of 2007 to argue that their spending model – or lack-there-of – works. Of course, given the Rockies’ lack of overall success both before and after that time period, Fluketober might be a more appropriate for the amazing run of 2007.
Nugget vice-president of player personnel Mark Warkentien received national acclaim, recently, for his ability to improve the team despite slashing payroll. Thanks to moves made by Denver’s front-office, the Nuggets jumped from being a consistent 7-to-8 seed in the Western Conference to a number two seed, and participant in the conference finals.
It seems, thus far, that increasing payroll in the interest of capitalizing on recent success is not high on owner E. Stanley Kroenke’s priority list.
Since their season-ending loss to the Lakers, the Nuggets have added rookie backup point guard Ty Lawson. Since negotiations with free agents began on July 1, the Nuggets have come to an agreement with, and re-signed back-up center Chris Andersen to a very Nugget-friendly contract.
These aren’t bad moves, they just grossly pale in comparison to moves made by the Nuggets’ chief adversaries in the Western Conference.
The Lakers have replaced Trevor Ariza with Ron Artest. The Spurs have replaced Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto with Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess. The Mavericks have re-signed Jason Kidd and are verging on replacing Jerry Stackhouse with Shawn Marion.
These are significant upgrades. Not to mention the Jazz will have Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur returning from injury plagued seasons and the Blazers are rumored to be active in pursuing new players of their own. The Nuggets still have to do something(s).
Kroenke, like the Monforts, has been saddled with unfortunate, overpriced contracts throughout his ownership of the Nuggets. He just managed the shed himself of Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby, and he patiently waits for the day he won’t have to shell out tens of millions of dollars to Kenyon Martin. Nugget fans can only hope he hasn’t let mistakes of the past impede his desire to do whatever it takes to win in the present.
David Lee and Grant Hill are still available. Not to mention Denver’s own free agents: Linas Kleiza and Anthony Carter. Dahntay Jones has signed with the Indiana Pacers. Paying the luxury tax looms as a distinct possibility for Denver. Will the Nuggets go for the gold or rest on their pocketbook-minded laurels?
We all know what the Rockies' owners would do, let’s hope Kroenke isn’t prepared to follow suit.
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