| 05 October 2010
Team Name: Denver Nuggets
Last Year’s Record: 53-29 (4th in the Western Conference)
Key Losses: Carmelo Anthony (Probably to major media market), Malik Allen (to Magic), Joey Graham (to Cavaliers), and Johan Petro (to Nets)
Key Additions: Al Harrington (from Knicks) and Sheldon Williams (from Celtics).
1. What Significant Moves were made during the off-season?
The Nuggets re-shuffled their front office this off-season by firing most of their previous brain trust (Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman) leaving just Brent Bearup remaining before inking a deal with former Director of International Scouting for the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri. Ujiri was a former Nugget scout before returning to Denver as their new General Manager. Nugget ownership also changed hands from Stan Kroenke to son Josh Kroenke to allow father Stan to become majority owner of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. It has been rumored that Masai will report directly to Josh Kroenke, who has injected himself into player personnel decisions and is expected to take a more active role than his father did in that area.
But wait… There were a few basketball moves made this off-season too. The Nuggets signed Al Harrington to a 34 million dollar contract over five years with the Denver. Harrington is coming off of a nice season last year with the Knicks with averages of 17.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Denver also acquired more size to its frontline in the form of Sheldon Williams from the Boston Celtics. The seldom used Williams averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in eleven minutes per game last season in Boston.
The 800lb gorilla in the room still remains Carmelo Anthony and his pending departure from Denver. Despite a convoluted off-season chalked full of rumors and trade speculations, the fact still remains that Carmelo has not signed the 65 million dollar contract extension that has been on the table for most of the summer now and still appears content to hold the Nuggets, and the city of Denver, hostage in fear of getting “LeBron’d” after the upcoming season. However, I do believe new GM Masai Ujiri learned his lesson after watching Chris Bosh leave Toronto high and dry and if it does come down to trading ‘Melo for the sake of the franchise so be it.
2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?
One of the Nuggets biggest strengths is their veteran leadership. This team can still (for the meantime) boast Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, and Chauncey Billups in their starting line-up and between the three of them are a lot of W’s combined over nearly 30 NBA seasons. Add in a healthy George Karl returning from a battle with throat cancer and this team is extremely deep in the leadership department.
3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
The biggest weakness facing the Nuggets this season is uncertainty. Will Carmelo remain in Denver? Will Kenyon Martin’s attitude sour long-term over a contract extension and prolong his rehabilitation? Will Chris “Birdman” Andersen ever soar as high as he did during Denver’s run to the Western Conference Finals? Can J.R. Smith become a night-in and night-out star? Will new addition Al Harrington be able to shoulder the load if indeed Carmelo splits town? These are the questions facing the Nuggets this season.
4. What are the goals for this team?
Again, depending on who is on this team for the entire season, I think you always strive to make the playoffs and build from there. This is still a very talented team that is capable of beating any team on any night. How new players mesh with who is healthy and left standing when the regular season starts is going to play a huge role in the outcome of this season.
5. You have :30 to pitch Carmelo to stay in Denver. Go.
‘Melo,
I truly believe the Nuggets are still just a piece or two away from being once again a real contender in the Western Conference. Last season was tough losing Coach George Karl to cancer and having key players go down with injuries entering the playoffs, but we still won 53 games last year and the future is bright.
Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith’s erratic attitudes and salaries are coming off the books after this season and Denver will be one of a handful of teams in the running for a headline free-agent this offseason. If winning is truly your #1 bullet point don’t leave town in hopes of greener pastures. Instead, work with the pieces you have been given and add more talent in the years to come.
In the meantime, take your well-deserved max contract and continue to build your legend in the Mile High City. The Nuggets will continue to be a perennial playoff team with your leadership and as you look deeper inside as a player the Nuggets will run deeper into the playoffs.
Sincerely,
The Nugg Doctor
Go Nuggets!
2010-11 Record Prediction
W/ Carmelo the whole season - (50-32)
W/out Carmelo the whole season - (32-50)
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