Looks like the Miller/ Francis backcourt is not to be..... I'm pretty sure the majority of clutchcity posters had cooled on that idea a long time ago anyway. j
Here's the Denver article: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~1509818,00.html 6yr, $55m...a fair deal, but one the Clippers might well match....or at least I thought they might until I determined it starts at about $7.5m/yr (noting he's only eligible for 10% raises). That might be a little rich. But the Maggette deal...if the Clippers are serious about matching offers for anyone, that's an offer they'd be stupid not to match. And why on Earth would the Clippers take TJ Ford when they lack for shooters anyway? They have Jaric and Dooling to play point if Miller does leave. Even if it made sense, would you expect the Clippers to do it?
You can't see right now, but I'm dancing. Andre Miller has been one of my favorite players in the NBA for years, and I just assumed he would go to Utah while we pursued Arenas. However, Kiki apparently hid his hand and had Miller ranked #1 on his list. I'm so ecstatic right now it's not even funny.
I think everyone figured he'd be going to Utah for no other reason than he'd been there in college. I never saw any quotes saying he'd like to go back there. So what does Denver do with the rest of their money? All I've really heard was they were after Arenas and Miller. j
Not sure how much they have left...$7.5m initially to Miller, about $6m initially to Maggette, that takes away $13.5m. But, looking at their salaries, it looks like they may still have room for one more significant addition, i.e. one more player making close to the max. I think the Clippers will match Maggette's offer anyway, so I'd expect them to have room for more. Probably a center - i.e. Kandi.
I'm happy for Miller and I think last yr didn't do him any justice. I think what really hurt him was not having the ball in his hands because he had to share the duties with Jaric and Odom. The lineup Denver is assmbling is going to be pretty good, but i would have went after hamilton instead of Maggette. Its not to good to have too many slashers. A guy like hamilton would have been just what the dr. ordered, but i undrtand the stupid rule about 15days to match. They should knock that down to about 5days max.
Just as an aside, both Hamilton and Maggette are restricted FAs. Plus, I don't think Hamilton's really interested in leaving Detroit, where he's become the first option along with Chauncey Billups. He'd be leaving a winning team in the East for a much weaker team in the West. I could see him going to San Antonio, but not Denver.
Even some of the worst teams in the West like the Nuggets now have the talent to make the playoffs. pg-Miller sg-Maggette sf-Anthony/Tskitishvili pf-Camby c-Hillario/(Miller or Kandi)
I think Maggette's a natural 2 at 6'6" 225lb. He's one of the quickest players in the league and will defend the quicker of the team's opposing swingmen, but on the offensive end, I feel he's more of a shooting guard due to his size (and game to boot). Similarly, I think Carmelo's a natural small forward in game and size. He reminds me of a smaller, more athletic Shawn Marion in that he is a great rebounder yet also a great scorer and team player. But in today's NBA, the 2 and 3 spot position designations don't mean a whole lot. The level has been so blurred to the point that it's a fine line: an inch or two for the small forward, slightly better rebounding skills at SF, and slightly better shooting skills at SG.
Is Denver not going after any bigmen? Don't get me wrong, grabbing Maggette and Miller would be a big improvement, but then, it's not like the Clippers were great last year and they had Elton Brand as well. Anyway, if I was the Nuggets, I'd make an offer to someone like a Brad Miller type. Not that I want the Nuggets to get significantly better.
The Denver offseason could be looking pretty good with additions of Anthony, Maggette and Miller. That is your starting 1-2-3! I think the Nuggets are making the smart move in zeroing in on Andre Miller over Gilbert Arenas. Miller will cost less for one. I guess 9 million dollars a year versus 10 million (reportedly) to Arenas. I also think if you get Maggette and you already have Anthony you want a pass first PG which is what Miller is versus a combo PG which is what Arenas is. Miller is a better fit for the Nuggets team. Plus Miller already will have some chemistry with Maggette if he comes as well. Clearly the Clippers have to decide which of their restricted FAs they will keep and which ones they let go. NO WAY do the Clippers match a 9 million dollar a year offer for Miller. Miller is as good as gone to the Nuggets if that is the offer. Maggette's 7 million dollar a year offer is about right and something I am sure the Clippers will have to make a decision on. I think if I am the Clippers I keep Brand no matter what and then decided on EITHER Odom or Maggette. Chances are they will let Maggette walk and keep Odom. I think the Nuggets have targeted the two (of the 4) Clipper restricted FAs that they will decide not to match offers for. Good moves on the Nuggets part. Also, while the Nuggets DO need a center, I am not sure they will be able to get one that is of good value. They probably are better off getting Maggette and Miller and getting a center another year. Miller and Nesterovic will likely re-sign with their respective teams and Kandi seems like he will want more money than he is realistically worth. Just not good value there.
Kiki Vandeweghe is a really good GM. He consigned the team to rebuilding and has really come through for them. The b*stard. Hopefully no worthy free agents will sign with Utah. Nice to see the Jazz give up a playoff spot.
GREAT addition for the Nuggets! I never have been a big Miller fan, but I think that last year was a fluke. He should be back in the 8-10 assist range again this coming season....
Ah, I thought he was thinking the Nuggs overpaid for a pg. That makes sense, though I think the clipps are content with Jaric as their pg.
I think the plan for Denver is to groom Tskitishvili as 4, and therefore Nene as a 5. Assuming they land Maggette (which I don't think is a given, as I think Sterling will let Dunleavy keep some of these guys), that's a lineup of Miller-Maggette-Anthony-Tsika-Nene. Pretty nice if all the guys on the frontline develop, plus a guy like White off the bench. mfclark- More athletic than Shawn "The Matrix" Marion? I dunno about that, but I think Melo is significantly more skilled (shooting, ball handling). I can see him getting similar numbers (points, rebouds) to Marion, just in a different way.
