Thursday, July 31, 2003 Clippers not expected to match Miller offer sheet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press DENVER -- The Los Angeles Clippers will not try to keep free agent guard Andre Miller, clearing the way for him to join the Denver Nuggets, The Denver Post reported on its Web site Thursday. The Nuggets signed Miller to a six-year, $51 million offer sheet earlier this month. The Clippers had 15 days to match the offer, but Miller's agent said the team told him they aren't interested. If the Clippers don't match the deal Thursday, then Miller will be a Nugget. "He's going to be very happy," agent Lon Babby told the Post. Nuggets spokesman Eric Sebastian did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press. The offer for Miller, a four-year NBA veteran, includes a $10 million signing bonus and performance bonuses that could push its total value to more than $55 million. The Nuggets tied Cleveland for the worst record in the league at 17-65 and lost leading scorer and rebounder Juwan Howard in free agency. But they have a good, young core group of players. Brazilian forward Nene Hilario was a member of the NBA's All-Rookie team last season, while forward Rodney White showed glimpses of why the Detroit Pistons used a lottery pick on him two years ago. The Nuggets also have Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony, who they took with the third pick in this year's draft. Miller was one of the top free agent targets for the Nuggets, who have $18 million in salary cap space for next season. Denver has struggled at the point guard since Nick Van Exel was traded to Dallas in February 2002, with eight players filling that spot last season. Miller would give the Nuggets instant stability at the point. He led the league in assists with Cleveland in 2001-02, averaging 10.9 along with 16.5 points per game. Miller struggled with injuries last season after being traded to the Clippers and his averages dropped to 13.6 points and 6.7 assists. So.....who will start for the Clippers as PG? Keyon Dooling or Marko Jaric?
Nuggets could be pretty good next year. Nene, 'Melo, Dre...who else do they have? I think they'll win 35-40 games.
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! Dre is a stud!!!
Nugs4, from what you have seen, has Tskita improved and how do you think he will go this year. it will be great to actually see one the "he's the next Dirk" actually perform
Congrats on your revamped team, Nuggets4. Kiki should run for governor in Colorado. That being said, Dre is a great match for the Nuggets, much better than Arenas. Dre will be able to get everyone involved, from the post presence of Nene, to the outside shooting of Tskita, and even the slashing of Melo. Just one question though, Nuggets4: who do you see as the "all-star" on your team, the go-to guy?
no doubt that the Nugz are Melo's team. he may not lead them in pts this season (although I think he will) but he really is a breed apart from most rooks. tj ford was the best player in the ncaa's this year, but Melo was by far the best player we faced. what he did to us in the 2nd half of the final four shouldn't be allowed to happen.
IS Dre more than Moochie with court-vision? Inquiring minds want to know! Somehow, I think Melo and Mags need the ball with more than 5 seconds left. Good luck. Hope they can cut without the ball. That's a damn hard skill to depend on.
The terms "team" & "Clippers" are like oil & water. Keep that in mind when you judge Miller's stay in LA, that "team" was just a collection of players playing for the next contract\team. I think he'll do great in Denver. I'm assuming that this will be Denver's 6 man next year: PG - Miller SG - Yarborough SF - Melo or Tskita PF - Camby C - Nene 6th - Melo or Tskita Not bad.
Andre Miller is extremely overrated. He's not that quick, not that athletic, not a great defender, and not a good shooter. He's nothing more than a poor man's Mark Jackson in my opinion.
From what I've seen and heard (mostly heard), he looks TONS better this off-season. Last year, his main problem was confidence. This year, he's more confident. He's up to 240 lbs. (from 220 from last season) and is now a PF, not a SF anymore. He likes the PF position more because he can pull his man away from the basket and then drive by him. He had trouble guarding faster SF's, so this is a good move. That said, I'm still expecting a season of him getting time off of the bench scoring 7 ppg most of the season. 2004-05 is when he'll start to show his stuff. As for this season, we're looking (right now) at a lineup of: PG - Miller / Boykins / Harrington SG - White / Tregpanier / Yarborough SF - Melo / Bowen PF - Nene / Skita / Andersen C - Camby (ugh) / Elson I still think we'll sign one or two smaller free agents to one year deals to complete the roster. Translation -- still a lottery team, but a hell of a lot better than last year.
You mean the Mark Jackson that has the second most assists in NBA history? Yeah, I'll settle for that.
And you keep in mind Miller was a flat out bad fit for the Clipps and not worth anywhere close to the max(for them). A ball hogging pg who can't hit an outside j is not what they need. With dre on the team, you can freely double the post, which was the clipp's strength. Jaric is a better pg for them. I think he'll do better in Denver, but still wont put up the numbers he did in Cleveland because: 1. there aren't really any shooters like there was in Cleveland. 2. If it's not apparrent right away, Melo will eventually distance himself as the number one option.
Point taken. However, I wouldn't totally bet against him posting high assist #s in Denver, especially if they get out & run. 'Poor man's Mark Jackson'? Maybe a more athletic Mark Jackson, but that's not a bad thing you know. And the Nuggets got him for the same amount that the Rocks are giving to MoT.
More along these lines: 1-Miller/ Boykins 2-Stephen Jackson/Trepagnier 3-Melo/White 4-Tskita/Bowen 5-Nene/Camby(great investment )
Man, I hope the Nuggets are stupid enough to throw a big contract Jackson's way. Yarborough is younger, cheaper, and has more upside, just let him develop.
I tell you one thing if they do get Stephen Jax as planned they are going to be hell on the break with Miller or 'Melo bringing up the rock. I expect Carmelo Anthony to take the ROY honors and finish on a better team than Lebron.
You don't think I would know my own team a little better than you? First of all, Bowen is NOT a 4 and Skita is NOT a starter. As for the great investment Camby, we gave up McDyess who is hurt as much for Camby and Nene. Considering Camby comes off our books this next year, giving us $7 mil more in cap room, I think that it's well worth putting up with him for another year. Nugs won't overpay for Jax. He'll probably be in Utah next season.
Yeah, but I did say "poor man's" Mark Jackson. And while Mark Jackson was a good player, I don't think he's someone you would really call a difference maker or get all that excited about acquiring...he was more like a SOLID role player. Plus, Mark Jackson was solid in pressure/playoff situations, Miller has never really had to perform in those type of situations yet...well, except for when the U.S. got pummeled in the World Championships last summer. Basically, I just think Miller is overrated. Most people would probably say he's better than Mark Jackson. Not true, in my opinion.
