Denver Post has some interesting speculation about DJ and a one year contract offer for Buckner .... Denver unlikely Finley destination By Marc J. Spears Denver Post Staff Writer DenverPost.com Michael Finley has been let go by the Dallas Mavericks, but the NBA veteran isn't expected to join the Nuggets. The Mavericks used a one-time amnesty rule Monday night to waive Finley, 32, saving them $51.8 million in league luxury taxes over the next three years. While the Nuggets have interest in Finley, general manager Kiki Vandeweghe confirmed Finley is expected to go elsewhere. Miami and Phoenix are projected to be the front-runners for Finley, who will need seven days to clear waivers before officially becoming a free agent. "I don't think it's very likely," Vandeweghe said Monday night of Finley coming to Denver. Vandeweghe, however, remains interested in Nuggets free agents Greg Buckner and DerMarr Johnson. Denver has offered Buckner a one-year contract worth $1.7 million. WOAI.com reported Johnson is among the shooting guards the San Antonio Spurs are interested in. The Nuggets also have shooting guard Voshon Lenard, who was limited to three games last season because of an Achilles injury, and rookie swingman Julius Hodge on the roster. Vandeweghe said Nuggets coach George Karl likes the way the team is set up. "We have Voshon Lenard. We are still hopeful that we can get Buck and D.J. back," Vande- weghe said. "That's a team that with the addition of Voshon Lenard that we like." Vandeweghe is interested in adding a backup small forward and could re-sign free agent Wesley Person. The Nuggets have 11 players with guaranteed contracts and hold a team option on point guard Luis Flores. "We're looking at one or two things, shooting guards and backup small forwards. We've got a lot of guys already," Vande- weghe said. Free-agent shooting guards on Denver's radar are Charlotte's Keith Bogans and Seattle's Flip Murray. Bogans' agent, Mike Harrison, said his client is interested in Denver, but there are other teams interested as well. "There's mutual strong interest on both sides of the equation. We'll wait and talk to Kiki (today)," Harrison said. "But (myself and Bogans) are going to move relatively quickly over the next 48 hours. Keith has a strong desire to be in Denver." Link: http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_2945273
If San Antonio wants DerMarr then that is a good and a bad sign. Good in that San Antonio are good talent evaluators on a limited budget but bad in that they still have about 1/2 their MLE (2.5M).
That's kinda interesting if they sign him. Maybe then he gets Devin Brown's minutes and we can make a run at Devin. I think Brown would be a good fit here too.
It is kind of weird, SA has talked with Johnson and Evans, but it seems they (particularly Evans) are kind of similar to Brown. Denver has talked to Bogans, who is a poor mans Buckner/Johnson. Remember both Denver guys are unrestricted and Denver does not have rights, except for those guys knowing their teammates and around the city, Denver has no advantage in trying to re-sign them. I think we should just target Buckner with a 2 year LLE (3.5mil) with a player option. That is better than what Denver is offering, they would have to 2 mil plus per year or 3+ years to beat us--forcing them to break into their MLE. If that does not work (Den does committ to part of the MLE to Buckner) we have softened them up to take Johnson if we want him (looks like Bogans might be his replacement for the min), or we can get Evans or Brown depending on SA's moves. It is kind of a big merry go round with SA and Denver having 1st cracks, there should be some solid left overs who could help us for a modest price. I 100% agree. Payton's spot up shooting is worse than our current guards, including Sura, and he no longer has the athleticism to kill you. No thanks, even before getting to chemistry issues. The only PG I would take over the guys in this thread left it Watson, and I expect him to get double or more of what an LLE is worth. I think we should focus on SG/SFs--all these guys I think offer more in the short term and much more potential for a solid role player medium/long term.
Here's a name that hasn't really come up: Jumaine Jones. JJ's in the last year of his deal with the Lakers, and with Odom possibly moving to the 3 and Devean George coming back from injury, LA may be willing to trade him. Jones, IMO, would be a wonderful fit here as a backup 2/3/4. He can hit the 3 with regularity, he rebounds, and he plays tough defense. Absolutely no ballhandling ability whatsoever, but he's an explosive athlete who runs the floor well. Very, very underrated player. Would LA be willing to part with him for an expiring contract and a few 2nd rounders? To be honest, I don't really think so (probably for a lottery protected 1st, though)... But he's still definitely someone I'd be interested in. I hope CD keeps an eye on him. At the very least, he'd be a great guy to pick up next offseason for half the MLE...
