I think our biggest need is a 2 guard. Camby and Nene (next year) could hold down the frontcourt if we trade K-Mart. Not to mention Melo is a solid post-up man. Problem right now is that you can just pack down low and take away all of our offense because we have no outside shooters. This is why either the Ben Gordon deal or the Frye deal work for me. Gordon would solve our 2-guard problem and the Frye deal would give us some flexibility this summer (Nickel's salary comes off the books this summer). The Frye deal really excites me because Frye could be another Marcus Camby. Agreed on Francis, but Dre is a solid defender. Not upper echilon, but a good defender.
Perhaps Francis can be had for merely expiring contracts?: http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_3486016 Nuggets eager for trade rumors to quit Karl says he'll be "more demanding" after deadline passes By Adam Thompson Denver Post Staff Writer Plenty of nutty things can happen between now and Feb. 23. The one thing Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe can predict with certainty is what happens Feb. 24, when the NBA's trade deadline has passed: The rumors will cease. "Just about every GM would like that," Vandeweghe said Tuesday after reiterating that his team had little cooking on the trade front. His insistence aside, rumors continue to circulate about a possible trade involving the Nuggets, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic that would send point guard Steve Francis to Denver. On Tuesday the New York Daily News introduced Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin's name into the mix and mentioned that Denver has talked with Chicago about Martin, too. At this point, any deal for Francis would almost have to include Martin for financial reasons. "I hear it every day," Martin said of the speculation. "Ain't nothing new. ... I don't spend time worrying about stuff I can't control. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen." One trade scenario has Martin and Earl Watson headed to New York with Francis and the Knicks' Channing Frye going to Denver and the Magic receiving New York guard Anfernee Hardaway in a salary dump. At least that one works under league salary cap rules. Rumored deals that involved the Knicks' Jamal Crawford instead of Hardaway or Frye do not. More realistically, New York would likely expect Denver to take back a hefty contract belonging to Maurice Taylor, Jerome James or newly acquired Jalen Rose for Martin. But Frye could remain a sticking point on the Nuggets' end. Nuggets coach George Karl welcomes the day when his players won't have to worry. He said: "We're human beings, and of course it affects you. You don't want to be talked about not being wanted or somebody wants to trade you." Karl predicted his staff would be "more demanding" once the trade deadline passes. While his team, which has lost five of six, continues to explore external solutions to its problems, he hopes to find some internal ones sooner. During the six-game stretch, the Nuggets have been outperformed by an average of 12.5 points and 10 rebounds. "We're doing some good stuff, but we're not rotating well enough to the 3-point line (on defense)," Karl said. "The nature of our offense, when we sacrifice, we play well. When we're selfish, we play badly. That's not only the nature of our game. That's the nature of probably every NBA team that is having some struggles. "But if we don't commit to each other and commit to the pass and playing as a team, we will probably be what we are right now. Last year when I came on to this team, you probably were writing about the same things. It's still there." The Nuggets' struggles peaked in the third quarter of their 122-114 loss Monday at Golden State when the Warriors went on a 24-1 run. "We're giving a lot of 30-point quarters up," point guard Andre Miller said. "Teams are shooting high percentages, getting a lot of easy baskets on us." Watson, the subject of trade rumors for weeks, preached calm. "Two weeks ago, everybody was talking about how we're one of the best teams in the NBA," said the guard, who is slumping along with his team. "It's amazing what a couple of games can do. At the same time, we know what our potential is." It should be easier for the players to know their roster's potential when they know once and for all who is on it.
Hilarious! Maybe there is still hope the Knicks can bring Frederick Weis out of retirement, while they are at it. He might be pyschologically healed by now from VC jumping over his head and dunking.
Knicks Willing To Take Kenyon, But Not For Frye 14th February, 2006 - 6:12 am New York Daily News - Isiah Thomas is willing to take on Kenyon Martin, his bad knees and his bad contract, but not if it means giving up Channing Frye. According to a league source, the Knicks have offered Penny Hardaway's expiring contract to Denver plus another player. The Knicks may be forced to part with rookie David Lee, but they insist on not giving up Frye. "It seems like everyone wants Frye," said one GM. "I think that's why the Knicks are going to keep him." Denver is working on several deals, including a trade for Orlando's Steve Francis. But in order to get Francis, the Nuggets want to rid themselves of Martin's contract, which calls for him to make $65 million over the next four years. With Carmelo Anthony looming as a restricted free agent, the Nuggets are reluctant to go over the luxury tax threshold in the future. The Knicks are willing to provide Denver with salary cap relief but not at the expense of losing Frye, their top rookie. A deal for Martin likely would include point guard Earl Watson and guard Voshon Lenard heading to New York, with Jamal Crawford and Trevor Ariza going to Orlando along with the Nuggets' Nene. The Nuggets would get Francis. Orlando, like the Knicks, is desperately trying to revamp its team. The Magic have another deal in place with the Pistons that includes Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo coming to Orlando in return for Kelvin Cato and a first-round pick. That deal is contingent on Orlando's three-team trade with the Knicks and Denver being completed. ------------------------------ I guess it helps Denver because they get rid of both Martin and Watson, but Stevie isn't exactly cheap, either. I don't know...I just don't see him being that cohesive with the rest of the Nuggets.
Cato to the Pistons??? Do they think Darko and Howard would be a good combo in Orlando I guess. . Darko at best will be what . . a jump shootin Center [not that we or anyone would know] but basically Orlando = + mililic, Arroyo, Jamal Crawford Trevor Ariza ' Nene = minus Francis and Cato and a Lotto pick almost a whole starting line up Denver = Francis hardaway and Lee [?] = minus Earl Watson Voshon Lenard and Nene NY = Earl Watson Voshon Lenard KMart = minus Jamal Crawford and Trevor Ariza and penny Piston = Cato and a pick [The rich keep getting richer ] = minus mililic and Arroyo Rocket River WHEW!
minus KMart for Denver as well.... I don't see how Denver can afford to lose any more front court players if they want to be competitive this year.
Miller - Francis - Anthony would be a potent offensive threat I think Francis will have a better time with Karl's defense than JVGs because all he would have to do is stand in the passing lanes and play zone [HATE KARL!!! ALWAYS WILL! ] Rocket River
I certainly did. He should be kicking at least 15% of his contract to Kidd. He's scrappy as hell and has bulldog-type fight in him, but he never averaged as much as 17.0 PPG in the Nets' high-octane offense. He's slightly undersized as a 4 and is only a fair rebounder (has never averaged double-digit boards in his career). He's a rugged defender, but is usually overmatched by elite bigs (like the way Duncan steamrolled Martin in the Finals before his free agency). Denver was chirping like they were getting a top 3 PF, when he was (and still is) a grade B one at best. Evan
That would be no better than the Washington Wizards, they would be nice and fun to watch but would never win anything...Denver would be making a big mistake.
Care to elaborate? How is Arenas-Butler/Daniels (formerly Hughes)-Jamison much different from Francis-Dre-Melo? If anything, the Wizards' trio can score more.
I think the Mix maybe better and I actually think that the Denver trio could score more I like Miller's dish ability and Melo can be unconscious at times Francis is Francis I know. . no matter what folx will denegrate and hate on what francis does. . so . . I generally have accepted to not get into those arguments too much anymore Rocket River
