Denver: The New Old Option

by Tom Ziller on Jul 16, 2008 10:13 AM PDT

Let's get the media hook on this out of the way. Sam Amick of The Bee got in touch with Nuggets coach -- and the guy who reportedly blocked the Artest-Kleiza deal -- George Karl.

"We're not happy," Nuggets coach George Karl said of his team. "We're going to pursue things and change it up or figure it out and be better come October, but I don't think you'll see us overreact either."

Asked if Artest's comments might make Denver pause, Karl said no.

"I don't think Ron would be as good a player if he wasn't Ron," he said. "He's emotional. He's passionate. He's angry, and it makes him play the way he plays.

"Ron plays the game the right way, and plays with very high intensity."

So apparently, Ron-Ron's comments this week don't matter. (I suspect Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson also carry enough credibility to get Artest to be happy if he heard he was being traded to Denver.)

What does matter: Denver now has a fat trade exception, $10 million. They could take Artest straight-up for picks, or for a lower priced player (like Linas Kleiza). Neither is a better option than what else is reportedly on the table (Odom, Marion), but it's an option. Kleiza does move the team further from the luxury tax, though, which would allow better flexibility in other deals.

Personally, I think Denver is looking to either move for one of these restricted FAs (Okafor would be an interesting target, if Charlotte's low-balling him) or a point guard (they might be able to get Hinrich for nothing but a pick with this exception).

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Question

If the Nuggets wanted to do a salary dump they went about it the right way. If they wanted to get flexibility to make a trade they went about it the right way with an available trade exception. (The only problem is that they can’t include a player with a trade exception. It makes me think they wanted to deal Camby, without necessarily taking a longer contract back than his.)

On the other hand George Karl could be just saying that so that the Nuggets don’t look like a team desperate to dump salary. Only time will tell what the Nuggets will do, but I would bet against them (unless they add a 1st rounder) taking on Artest after having just dumped Camby. But I’m too old to believe anything until it’s sure it won’t happen.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jul 16, 2008 10:27 AM PDT reply actions

I don't see how this makes sense

I thought it was pretty clear that Petrie’s priority in trading Artest at this point is getting rid of one of our bad contracts with him (since Artest is so underpaid for his talent), and Denver has made clear that their priority right now is dumping salary to start to completely re-structure their team, so I don’t see how those two things could possibly allow for a deal to be done between these teams. Though, when has it ever been safe to make assumptions about what Petrie is thinking? But I don’t know enough about Kleiza and how he would fit into our long-term plans to have a good feeling either way on whether Petrie would swap him straight-up for Artest.

by AnotherStupidSN on Jul 16, 2008 10:56 AM PDT reply actions

The February trade

Remember that the proposed February trade with the Nuggets didn’t include the Kings dumping a contract. Acquiring young players or draft picks is probably more important than dumping contracts. The key thing is that the trade needs to include at least one of those factors (dump bad contract, promising young player, draft pick).

by Carl on Jul 16, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Priorities

The top priority is getting young and valuable talent like Linas Kleiza, David Lee or Michael Beasley, Felton etc.

I’d trade for Beasley if Miami wanted to dump Blount and Banks.

If we’re trading for an expensive vet like Odom, Marion etc. than dumping Kenny is important.

BOOK IT!

by kingme18 on Jul 16, 2008 11:54 AM PDT reply actions

Is Kleiza

Really a starting SF in this league?

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jul 16, 2008 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

Excellent Question

I would submit it’s a matter of opinion, but the Nuggets believe he can play PF too.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jul 16, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions