Mourning on agenda, sources say Nuggets to begin quest to woo Miami center The Nuggets plan to start the free-agent shopping period today by meeting with Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning, according to NBA sources. During a 10-year career, Mourning averaged 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds. The 6-foot-10, 261-pounder, however, has been plagued by a kidney ailment since the 2000 season and did not play this past season. Mourning, 33, was cleared to play in early May and is an unrestricted free agent. Miami, Dallas and New York also are expected to show interest. Free agents can sign beginning July 16. Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, coach Jeff Bzdelik and assistant general managers David Fredman and Jeff Weltman are hoping to meet Mourning today in Miami, the first day teams can talk with prospective free agents. "I plan on being active the next two weeks," Vandeweghe said. "The order of visits is not as important as it is to get the guy. The players that we have interest in or have interest in us, we have to let them know that." Teams are not allowed to comment on free agents until today. The Nuggets' biggest need is point guard, with Gilbert Arenas of Golden State and Andre Miller of the Los Angeles Clippers the two most prominent targets, with New Jersey's Jason Kidd considered all but out of reach. In addition, the Nuggets are expected to show interest in Nuggets forward Juwan Howard, New Orleans Hornets forward-center P.J. Brown, San Antonio Spurs guard Speedy Claxton, Washington Wizards guard Tyronn Lue, Clippers guard Corey Maggette, Clippers forward Lamar Odom and Clippers center Michael Olowokandi. Claxton and Lue are viewed as alternatives to Arenas and Miller. "I have a great relationship with Kiki," Arenas said Monday. "They have a young team that is hungry. I'm a hungry young player, too. That would be a good fit for me." Arenas, 21, is a restricted free agent, but Golden State currently can pay no more than the mid-level exception, which is expected to be about $4.7 million. The 6-3, 191-pounder averaged 18.3 points, 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals last season and was named the NBA's most improved player. Miller is a restricted free agent who averaged 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists last season. If the 6-2, 200-pounder signs an offer sheet, the Clippers would have 15 days to match it. Miller said Monday he'll look at several teams in consultation with his agent, Lon Babby. "I am keeping my options open. We are going to consider (the Nuggets). I don't know the plans now." Mourning, meanwhile, is the Nuggets' first choice to court. He is familiar with Bzdelik, a Heat assistant coach from 1995-2001. Mourning's agent, Jeffrey Wechsler, said Monday he would not comment on his client's impending free agency. While Dallas and New York could offer a contract using the mid-level exception, the Heat and Nuggets could offer much more. Denver has about $18 million to spend during free agency. "Zo's going to have a great market out there," Heat coach Pat Riley told The Miami Herald. "I think people are probably a little bit concerned (about his health) and are going to be careful, but when you look at Zo he's really right in his prime and can still play this game." The Nuggets have several free agents of their own, with Howard topping the list. Howard led the Nuggets last season in scoring (18.4), rebounding (7.6) and free-throw percentage (80.3). He recently said the Nuggets are on his list of candidates. The Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit, Seattle, Chicago and Orlando are expected to have interest, but only Denver can pay more than the mid-level exception. "There is interest from both sides. I don't know where it all ends up," Vandeweghe said. "From Juwan's side, he may want to take the mid-level and go to another team. I understand." Other Nuggets free agents include: forward Donnell Harvey, guard Shammond Williams, guard Junior Harrington (restricted), guard Vincent Yarbrough (restricted), guard Predrag Savovic (restricted), forward Chris Andersen (restricted) and guard Adam Harrington. "Obviously, we are going to change some things," Vandeweghe said. "We are going to lose some players. I don't think it's realistic to think that everyone could be back."
I thought the Nuggets were re-building now theyre going after some top free agents. They ought to just rebuild with Melo Skitzi Arenas (FA) Nene. If they sign a few top FA's all it will do is stunt their young players growth, makes little sense for a up and coming team
You can't blame us for going after Kidd. If you can get (arguably) the 2nd best player in the game, you go for it. He wants to play with Mourning. Mourning won't get a lot ($5 mil at the MAX), but he'd be a GREAT influence on this team. Mourning is nothing but a professional, and his tutoring could really help Nene out. That said, I still think we're going to end up with Arenas, Maggette and a cheap big man to last the year. Then, next season, we get some old contracts off the books freeing $4 million, and Camby's contract comes off the books, so all of a sudden we have another $11 million to spend (hello Elton Brand).
I'm not saying the Nuggest can never be good. But when in the past have you landed the big fish. Just doesn't seem like a possibility.
Denver can put together an interesting team if they get a top free agent to sign on. They have enough room to add a max free agent and then another significant one. I was thinking along the lines of Kidd and GP but they would need a big. If Denver was willing to give Mourning a multi-year deal maybe they could squeeze Payton in...that might be a stretch though. Kidd GP Anthony Whoever Mourning isn't a bad team...assuming Mourning returns to anything approaching what he used to be the last time he played.
When in the past have we had $8 million more in cap room than any other team out there? When in the past did we have a GM that was respected around the league? When in the past did we have a top-notch facility? Things are going up in Denver. $18 million this off season, $11 million next.
They will be lucky to land one of them definately not all 3 they want to win a championship. Except for Mourning the other two have good chances of resigning. WHY WOULD THEY GO TO THE WEST? To have to face Lakers Kings Spurs Etc.
I think Denver's going to have the same problem that Chicago did after their championship years when they cleared all that cap space. I think old Jerry "Crumb" Krause had been watching Field of Dreams too many times, because he thought, "if you build it, they will come." The only free agent the Bulls got was mediocre swingman Ron Mercer, not the T-Mac/ Duncan tandem they had planned. Denver could be in the same boat and frankly I don't get why? Denver is a fun place to live and besides, you will definitely have the best homecourt advantage in the league (the altitude, not the fans!). I think one thing different from when Chi-town was rebuilding is that they actually have a couple of pieces (Carmelo and Nene, maybe that Georgian 7-footer Tskitishvili can be considered a important piece later on) to build around and act as a magnet for free agents. I'd really like to see them return to respectability, because I don't wish what they've gone through on anyone, not even the Lakers (maybe I do...) and the Spurs.
what the hell do u watch basketball? 3 veteran all stars going to one team right! Whoever guy is their best player from last year and he is youngest , nene hilario. You must like denver
