In the most outrageous transaction of the offseason, the Denver Nuggets have traded away the 20th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft to the Charlotte Bobcats for a protected future first round draft pick.
You can thank Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Wankentien for this.
As a Nuggets fan, I am at a loss of words.
Denver had a variety of choices to make even after Ty Lawson's decision to return to the University of North Carolina; here is a list:
JaVale McGee - An outstanding young prospect who has star potential and has shown flashes of dominance on both ends of the floor.
Chris Douglas-Roberts - One of the nation's best players. He was instrumental in the Memphis Tigers' impressive run to the National Championship, averaging over 22 PPG and 5 RPG.
Jason Thompson - These numbers speak for themselves 20.4 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 32.4% 3pt FG shooting.
Mario Chalmers - Led the Kansas Jayhawks charge past Memphis in their unforgettable comeback to become National Champions. Chalmers hit the game-tying three pointer that sent the game to overtime. He also is a good defender and a good floor general.
Nicolas Batum - A slender scorer who can score the basketball in a variety of ways, and plays the game similar to Manu Ginobili.
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Mareese Speights - A low-post banger who used his weight to overpower defenders during his freshman season at Florida. Mareese also dropped weight for the NBA in attempts to gain more explosiveness and become more agile.
However, there are two sides to look at the deal. So maybe, just maybe this swap is bittersweet.
Because of the trade, this means they can do a variety of things:
1. With the addition of the pick, the Nuggets will now have two draft picks in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft and one in the second round. This gives them a total of three picks to further bolster their roster.
2. This now means Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden, Darren Collison, Sam Young, Jeremy Pargo, Stephen Curry, or perhaps Ty Lawson again, are now all candidates to be chosen with the Nuggets' new found wealth.
3. The Nuggets can decide to blow the team up that offseason, as Marcus Camby, Linas Kleiza, and Allen Iverson will all be free agents.
Chances are Camby won't be returning because of age and decrease in skill. Kleiza will be demanding big money to remain the team's small forward, the position currently held by superstar Carmelo Anthony, and Denver will possibly be looking in a new direction after A.I.'s reign.
4. Shawn Marion, Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Lamar Odom, and Josh Howard are either free agents or have the option of opting out of their contracts. So Denver certainly will be in the running for several of these players.
Not to mention a possibility of several first round draft picks in the 2008 Draft becoming free agents.
My guess is Mike Conley, Josh Howard, and Rudy Gay will be the most sought after.
After much thought and thinking about the bigger picture, this trade is actually good for the Denver Nuggets.
And another thing. Just because the Denver Nuggets traded away all of their picks, it does not mean they can't acquire drafted players.
They have valuable assets including Marcus Camby, Linas Kleiza, Allen Iverson, and J.R. Smith (if he agrees to sign-trade deal), that can net a player drafted around the mid 15's down to the bottom of the first round.
If they are able to snag a player out of the draft, they will walk away big winners early on in the offseason.
Perhaps Wankentien isn't an idiot after all but rather a developing mastermind.
Now, they only need a coach: Avery Johnson anyone?
As I predicted, this is only the first step of major changes for the Nuggets' organization.
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about 1 month ago
The main problem here is this: It's a protected pick. If Charlotte is in the lottery, Denver doesn't get the pick that year, and Charlotte doesn't seem ready for a quick turn around, even in the weak eastern conference. It was a move for the future, and it seems that Denver will begin a lengthy rebuilding process soon.
from about 1 month ago
Rest assured the Nuggets will receive the pick next season. The Bobcats now have 2 first round draft picks and 1 in the 2nd round. Combine that with Jason Richardson, Raymond Felton, Emeka Okafor, and Gerald Wallace.
And as you mentioned before, they play in the Eastern Conference.
Its safe to say they won't be a lottery team next season.
about 1 month ago
Thats a big risk to take though, isn't it Sean? True the Bobcats have the ability to make it to the playoffs, but they haven't shown it yet.
As a Nuggets fan, I appreciate the optimism, but I am pretty unhappy right now. Why trade the pick the day before the draft? What if someone they covet falls in the draft to a reachable position? They just gave away a big bargaining chip. Then if nothing is there that they want, then trade it like they did.
The Nuggs better have something cooking, because it's been proven that with this roster, and this coach, they will not be contenders that we all hoped they can be.
from about 1 month ago
I feel your pain. I was looking forward to Javale McGee or Chris Douglas-Roberts.
There is a slim chance they acquire them on draft day, but don't bet on it.
My thinking is that the Nuggets will be big participants this offseason trade talks, but 2009 maybe the year they go out and make several blockbuster deals.
about 1 month ago
Well, the Nuggets did OK getting Weems in that trade, I gues, so they didn't really sit out draft day. I like Weems OK - he might be fun.
But the real issue for Nuggets fans to lament is that no major steps were taken in the offseason, and the current lineup of players just isn't going to get any better results than they did last year. You could reload that 07-08 Nuggets roster 10 years in a row and they still probably wouldn't get out of the first round.
When you look at it that way, it almost makes sense to blow this team up. Get rid of AI? You bet. Carmelo? Maybe, if we get something worthy in return. I have been cheering for this team since I was a little boy and they were the Denver Rockets, and it's shocking to ponder that the only hint of a championship we ever sniffed was in the ABA with David Thompson in that great finals vs. the Nets and Dr. J. I still remember Marvin Webster missing all those free throws.
This is arguably the most woebegone franchise in sports, and certainly has the most horrible history of futility in the NBA, if championships are the measuring sticks, which of course, they are.
about 1 month ago
I think that the Nuggets shoud do a sign and trade with A.I., but keep Carmelo Anthony. He has the tools to be a top 5 forward for a long time in this league.
about 1 month ago
I disagree with Chris. Due to the fact AI is a definite producer for the Nuggets yet Carmelo Anthony goes out and does very idiotic things
about 1 month ago
I completely agree with this article. The Nuggets really missed out on some very talented players in this years draft. Also, the draft pool for next year isn't too deep either. It doesn't look like the Nuggets made a good move here.
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