OwnMyTeam Blog

The Nuggets recently gave Camby to the Clippers. K-Mart had a decent year, but his contract prevents most trades the Nuggets would like to do. The Pacers would make a good trade partner for the Nuggets. After trading Jermaine O’Neal the Pacers really need a PF/C who can come in and be the enforcer.  The Nuggets need a (pass first) point guard and a wing willing to play even a little defense (since JR Smith didn’t play any). The Nuggets know puting K-Mart, Kleiza, or Carter on top wings like Kobe or Pierce will not work, so trading for Marquis Daniels would make sense.

Larry Bird told the media he might waive Tinsley, so Tinsley’s trade value is really low right now. The Pacers could trade Tinsley and Daniels straight up for Kenyon Martin. The Nuggets would do this because they need both players, and for financial purposes as well. Martin and Tinsley’s contracts are the same length (this coming season + 2 years), but the Daniels contract will expire one year earlier. That means the Nuggets can break down Martin’s contract and save a year on the Daniels contract in the process.

If the Nugget’s are willing to give away Camby that leads me to assume they might be interested in moving Nene as well. Hopefully the Nuggets will at least get something for him. The Nuggets should look to a team that really could use him. Also, Linas Kleiza is in the final year of his contract, and on the open market he will command high dollars next summer. The Nuggets would be smart to trade him now before losing him next summer. This leads me to suggest a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. My official suggestion is Nene and Kleiza for Charlie Villanueva, Desmond Mason, and Luc Mbah a Moute. Now again this isn’t how I would run the team, but I’m using the tactics that the Nuggets front office are interested in. Villanueva and Mason’s contracts both expire next summer, so this deal would save the Nuggets a lot of cash. I would suggest the Nuggets at least try to ink Villanueva to a long term deal if they make this move. Charlie Villanueva’s value isn’t nearly as high as it could be next summer. Villanueva would be a compatible power forward with Carmelo at the small forward. With Jamaal Tinsley at point guard this fills three starting positions for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets should consider a trade deal with the Jazz for AK47. Iverson is an expiring contract as well as an excellent player, but I’m not sure if Jerry Sloan would approve this trade. With Deron Williams running the team, this might be a great fit for AI if he can handle taking less shots. The Jazz really need a two guard to try and compete with the Lakers next year. AK47 and Sloan have a frosty relationship, so maybe a trade with Denver is possible. Kyrylo Fesenko, Jarron Collins, Jason Hart, and Andrei Kirilenko for Allen Iverson works under the cap. Kirilenko has this season plus 2 left on his contract, but Collins and Hart both expire next summer. Fesenko is a quality talent that could be a future starting center for the Nuggets. The Jazz have Okur, so they might be willing to trade him in this package. If the Nuggets traded for AK47, then Villanueva would likely come off the bench.

James Posey recently signed with the Hornets, so Mo Peterson could be available in the right deal with the Nuggets. Peterson’s contract is one year longer than Steven Hunter and Chucky Atkins. Hilton Armstrong’s contract is the same length Atkins and Hunter. The Nuggets could send Atkins and Hunter to the Hornets for Peterson and Armstrong. The Hornets may want some kind of draft package in return as well (maybe 2 second round picks).

Because of the Marcus Camby trade the Nuggets would still be soft at the center position for next year. Nenad Krstic could be a stop gap for the Nuggets until Fesenko fully develops. I’m not sure how long of a contract he would want, but I would suspect the Nuggets would only want to offer him a two year deal. If he would take a two year deal (maybe with a 1 year mutual option) the Nuggets might sign him. If not, then the Nuggets would be looking at Kwame Brown or Chris “Birdman” Andersen. Now, let’s take a look at how the roster might shape up.

C- Nenad Krstic, Kyrylo Fesenko, David Harrison

PF- Carmelo Anthony, Charlie Villanueva, Hilton Armstrong

SF- Andrei Kirilenko, Desmond Mason, Luc Mbah a Moute

SG- Mo Peterson, Marquis Daniels, Sonny Weems

PG- Jamaal Tinsley, Anthony Carter, Shaun Livingston

I took the liberty of adding Shaun Livingtson and David Harrison as free agents. Adding Livingston is a risk, but he could be the point guard of the future for the Nuggets if he recovers. The team above really doesn’t look to bad for now and the future. AK47 and the rest of the core is likely to play better defense than last year’s club (really, could it get any worse?). Plus the team gets younger and the potiental increases. Playing Carmelo at the 4 (like he plays internationally) would cause plenty of mismatches as well. For instance, the Clippers would have to put Marcus Camby on him, and the Suns might have to match Amare Stoudamire on him. Offensively, Melo would destroy either of those defenders as they can’t handle his inside/outside game.

Related posts:

1. Blaze Endorsement: How I Would Run the Nuggets
2. K-Mart Can Be Traded
3. Iverson Will Not Opt Out
4. Wizards should cool on Arenas
5. Nuggets Ink Anthony Carter