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Nuggets in need of another deal?

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Ron Artest, David Lee and Raymond Felton have been on Denver's wish list in the past. Any of them would look good in a Nuggets uniform. But let's be honest: Getting even one big deal done for any of them could prove extremely difficult. What's more, Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke would have to again agree to deficit spending, less than a year after his demands forced the team to take great pains to reduce its payroll. If Denver wants to keep pace with up-and-coming Portland or avoid getting kicked by the ornery old San Antonio Spurs, much less seriously challenge the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Kobe Bryant scowls his way to success, the Nuggets will have to make another move as bold as the one that landed them Billups in trade.

Denver Post

Ron Artest, AP Ron Artest, AP
June 2, 2009  07:26 AM ET

I might be crazy for saying this but here goes. I don't think the Nuggets need another major move they should resign Anderson who filled the defensive place of Camby well and tell J.R. Smith to get his head out of his arse. He is too damn talented to essentially be a 3-point specialist. He has the size and strength to be a good defender on the wing but is over aggressive and picks up cheap fouls. With his athletic ability he should attack the rim more and get to the foul line. Hopefully with a more mature Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups he wakes up and takes his game to the next level instead of being a streak shooting underachiever.

June 2, 2009  08:06 AM ET

Trade JR Smith and Leinas Kleiza for David Lee.

June 2, 2009  08:13 AM ET
QUOTE(#2):

Trade JR Smith and Leinas Kleiza for David Lee.

pfffft.

June 2, 2009  08:26 AM ET

Adding any of those players would be fine just as long as they don't lose any of their main players. They need to continue w/ the group of guys they have and they will be a lot scarier next year. They might need a bigger backup center. They don't really have a true center. Nene is a PF naturally. Birdman and KMart are not centers also. I've got a feeling Coach Karl will mess up the lineup next season. He has done it in the past w/ other teams. He got lucky w/ CBill.

June 2, 2009  09:00 AM ET

"the Nuggets will have to make another move as bold as the one that landed them Billups in trade"

Huh?
they are just fine as presently constructed-
a TWEAK here & there and they'll be fine as long as Melo
continues to TRY and play defnese and improves-
as he did this year....

if anyone should be moved though- it's JR Smith- while his value
is still high (after a real nice playoffs)- he strikes me as having
the same intelligence (low) as Nate Robinson-
these guys can be real productive- but are too inconsistent and
too unpredictable to be part of a serious contender

June 2, 2009  09:12 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

JR Smith

I kinda agree. With his talent he should be a starter, but comes off the bench for obvious reasons.

June 2, 2009  09:18 AM ET

Nuggets really don't necessarily need another trade. They need a better backup 1 and an athletic wing defender so they can avoid constantly doubling a great guard like Kobe except to crowd the paint.

Draft a good pg (Collison!) or long guy on the wing that can play defense, thus making Dante Jones expendable.

Comment #8 has been removed
June 2, 2009  10:03 AM ET

Get rid of Kenyon Martin, pleeeaase! That would be a start!

June 2, 2009  10:31 AM ET

I can Guarantee the lakers make a run at this guy & let Odom go if they get him.

June 2, 2009  11:03 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

"the Nuggets will have to make another move as bold as the one that landed them Billups in trade"Huh?they are just fine as presently constructed-a TWEAK here & there and they'll be fine as long as Melocontinues to TRY and play defnese and improves-as he did this year....if anyone should be moved though- it's JR Smith- while his valueis still high (after a real nice playoffs)- he strikes me as having the same intelligence (low) as Nate Robinson- these guys can be real productive- but are too inconsistent and too unpredictable to be part of a serious contender

totally agree, Smith is the one that really is the **** in the Nuggs armor he needs to be replaced and if anyone signs Artest from the West's playoff teams they are automatically championship contenders even Houston because Tmac and Yao have to atleast have one full healthy season together in 5 tries hopefully....

June 2, 2009  11:19 AM ET

jr smith for rip hamilton perfect it doesnt work in salary cap world though

June 2, 2009  12:29 PM ET
QUOTE:

Denver only has OKC 2rd pick #34 : unless Denver buy a pick in the 1st round

Oops well yeah guess they better look at some trades.

June 2, 2009  12:38 PM ET

Denver doesn't have much time to build a championship team. Billups has 3 years tops.

June 2, 2009  12:40 PM ET
QUOTE(#2):

Trade JR Smith and Leinas Kleiza for David Lee.

even the knicks aren't that dumb.

June 2, 2009  12:42 PM ET

Are you all ready for this?
One player: Ruben Patterson. They missed his play/defense on Kobe. ;)

Gotcha!

June 2, 2009  12:42 PM ET
QUOTE(#5):

"the Nuggets will have to make another move as bold as the one that landed them Billups in trade"Huh?they are just fine as presently constructed-a TWEAK here & there and they'll be fine as long as Melocontinues to TRY and play defnese and improves-as he did this year....if anyone should be moved though- it's JR Smith- while his valueis still high (after a real nice playoffs)- he strikes me as having the same intelligence (low) as Nate Robinson- these guys can be real productive- but are too inconsistent and too unpredictable to be part of a serious contender

agree with everything except nuggets have enough to get over the top. they need another piece or two. but billups is a winner and if i'm owner of that team i take a shot at contending while i have him.

June 2, 2009  12:44 PM ET
QUOTE(#12):

jr smith for rip hamilton perfect it doesnt work in salary cap world though

no one is giving up hamilton for jr smith. least of all dumars after that ai for billups fiasco.

June 2, 2009  01:00 PM ET
QUOTE(#12):

jr smith for rip hamilton perfect it doesnt work in salary cap world though

I tried soooo hard to put up an outrageous joke of a post (Ruben Patterson)! But somehow you beat my post AND you didn't even seem to be joking!!!

 
June 2, 2009  01:24 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

They might need a bigger backup center. They don't really have a true center. Nene is a PF naturally. Birdman and KMart are not centers also.

Good point Guam. The Nuggets play 3 power forwards. They should round out their big man crew with a 7-footer.

The Nuggets are already over the cap, so in order to sign a free agent, it has to fit into an exception. Artest and Lee won't be playing for the mid-level exception. They could also use a young point guard to learn from Billups and Carter as they age, however, Felton is too expensive for a backup point guard. So the best option for Denver is to resign their own free agents.

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