Denver Nuggets (10-4) 2023-24 Season Thread: 11/22 @ Magic

[hankmoody]

http://wagesofwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/D12-trade-totals.png

 

[jumpman91023]

Yeeaaaaah Boy :x ,been trying to tell people the nuggets are more than legit we were two in the west before all the injuries last season. I see us being the third seed when the playoffs roll around if everyone stays healthy

 

[executive76]

The Nuggets traded the two worst contracts on their team in Al Harrington and Arron Afflalo and got Andre Iguodala. Is that not a good trade or what? Harrington, 32, did bounce back last season but he still has three years and $21 million left on his contract. Afflalo, overpaid to start last season in free agency, has four years and $30 million left on his deal. Iguodala is making $14.9 next season and has a player option in 2013-14 for $15.9 million. But that's still better than having Harrington and Afflalo combining for big bucks over the next three years.

-Chris Tomasson

Ken Berger ‏@KBergCBS
Per Magic release, Denver sends Orlando a 2013 second and a 2014 first from either the Nuggets or Knicks

 

[executive76]

Mark Kiszla: Denver Nuggets are better, but their gap has grown


New Nuggets forward Andre Iguodala will be paid $14.7 million during his first season in Denver.
LONDON — The only way forward Andre Iguodala and the Nuggets are going to get their mitts on the Larry O'Brien Trophy is if Dwight Howard sends Denver a small chunk of the prize as a thank-you note.

General manager Masai Ujiri has completed another brilliant trade on behalf of the Nuggets. In the process, Ujiri also greatly reduced Denver's chances of winning a championship.

The four-team trade facilitated by the Nuggets shipped Howard to Los Angeles, which already had an embarrassment of riches in Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and the Laker Girls.

Welcome to the NBA. This is a world owned by superstars and their egos. Iguodala is just a pawn in this game.

It was painfully clear he was less than thrilled to have his next career move dictated by the whims of Howard. "You take ups and downs in life, period," Iguodala said. "That's part of the game."

It's a part of the game that stinks.

Iguodala isn't asking anybody to feel sorry for him. As part of his reward for being a member of the U.S. Olympic team and an NBA all-star, the 28-year-old forward will be paid $14.7 million during his first season in Denver, which also could be his last. Iguodala can opt out of his contract in 2013 and seek a spot on one of those super teams that are all the rage.

"I'm happy to be in the NBA. Happy to still have a job," said Iguodala, a versatile player blessed with superb defensive skills who ultimately fell out of favor in Philadelphia because he never seemed comfortable being the man to strap a team on his back. "It's just a blessing, because only 400 guys get to play in the NBA. And I'm happy to be a player wanted by so many teams."

His words were pure, 100 percent fake sugar. The smile on his face seemed to be applied by paint. Iguodala is no doubt an ultimate professional. But, I had to know, was he really happy to be joining the Nuggets?

"I'm happy to play basketball," Iguodala replied, dryly. "I don't care if I was playing in Alaska."

Every minute of his eight-year pro career had been played with Philadelphia, where Iguodala averaged 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He's considered a valuable member of the U.S. Olympic team for his willingness to fill a secondary role on a roster dominated by LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Nuggets coach George Karl will love Iguodala, long on the radar of team management. He can be a point forward that Danilo Gallinari is not. It was a poorly guarded secret Ujiri has been scheming for a way to add Iguodala to Denver's roster. The 6-foot-6 swingman is a significant upgrade over Arron Afflalo, who departed along with Al Harrington to Orlando in the trade.

On the eve of Team USA's lopsided 109-83 Olympic semifinals victory against Argentina, Iguodala was informed he would be moving to a new NBA city upon his return home from the Summer Games. I believed it when Iguodala said the news unsettled family members but did not faze him, because he had been the topic of trade speculation for months.

"I've become immune to it. It's part of the business," said Iguodala, who scored two points in a little more than 11 minutes during the rout of Argentina. "With the way our game is now, you're not surprised by anything. You've got to expect the unexpected."

The blockbuster NBA trade overshadowed everything on the court, and became the talk of Olympic basketball venue. "No (joke)," said Lakers star Pau Gasol, who will lead Spain in the gold medal game against the United States.

When I tried asking Serge Ibaka how the deal would affect his Oklahoma City Thunder, he tersely said: "I'm not talking about that right now."

Iguodala added he knew when Howard forced the Magic to make a trade that a major market would benefit.

So, isn't that irritating to a player's competitive spirit?

"Right now, Team USA is the best in America," said Iguodala, smiling in his red, white and blue uniform.

Even tougher than the Miami Heat or the Lakers?

"Yeah," Iguodala told me, punctuating his response with laughter. "We'd be better than both of them."

It's funny now.

It won't be amusing when the NBA season begins.

Lawson/Miller
Iggy/Brewer/Fournier
Gallo/Chandler/Hamilton
Faried/Randolph
McGee/Mozgov/Koufos

I'm curious to see where Brewer fits into the rotation now along with Hamilton

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Hopefully Iguodala isn't actually down on playing/living in Denver. I'm counting on it just being more Kiszla BS.

I'm curious to see where Brewer fits into the rotation now along with Hamilton

It should be interesting. Knowing GK, Hamilton will have to prove himself before he's given regular minutes. Karl did refer to Brewer as "the hear & soul" of the Nuggets last season, so I don't see him falling out of the rotation anytime soon.

 

[executive76]

I don't see him falling out but what he brings is a lot like what Iggy does. Seems like distributing PT for the current squad is going to be harder. It's a lot easier to sit a guy like Afflalo.

 

[jumpman91023]

^ its easy to say that out of all the organizations that had to deal a superstar to a new city, our front office handled it the best. Jazz aren't really on the way up, hornets got fairly good pieces in return for cp3 and magic just got shafted with D12 being on his period way longer than a month. Can't wait for the season to start.

 

[aepps20]

I'm liking the squad. This team will be dangerous for a long time to come if guys keep getting better. With that said, I'm not sure that making this trade (helping the Lakers) was in the best interests of the team long term. Iggy is solid, but I'm not sure the team is that much better with him to warrant helping the Lakers.

 

[executive76]

I think It was about getting Iggy AND saving money which outweighed helping LA. The clock is ticking on Chandler.

 

[executive76]

GALLINARI STATUS UP IN AIR
12.08.2012
EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Uncertainty surrounds Italy's start to the EuroBasket Qualification Round, as forward Danilo Gallinari is not yet fully fit
Italy are hoping to have Danilo Gallinari available for Wednesday's EuroBasket Qualification Round opener against Portugal in Sassari, Sardinia.
The Denver Nuggets forward has missed all of Italy's preparation games this summer.
Gallinari has struggled with a back problem and a right shoulder injury and has been out of action for 20 days.
Italy lost 72-70 against Croatia in Porec on Friday for just their second defeat in eight preparation games this summer.
Simone Pianigiani's side had prevailed 78-70 last week against Croatia in Trieste.
Emporio Armani small forward Niccolo Melli, meanwhile, has been struggling with various knocks and is unlikely to feature for the Azzurri.
The 21-year-old has left the team's training camp.
A statement from the federation read: "Melli will continue the program he is currently undergoing and will be re-evaluated by the national team medical staff.
"In the meantime, the medical staff of Emporio Armani will keep the national team informed of Melli's clinical condition."
The Italians are in Group F alongside Turkey, the Czech Republic, Belarus and the Portuguese.

 

[blazers21ntnp]

It seems like Gallinari is destined to have an injury riddled career.

And, aepps, I initially felt the same way about the trade, in terms of helping out the Lakers. Might be just me, but one way or another Dwight was going to wind up in LA. If Ujiri felt he could better the team in the process, why not? If he didn't do it, somebody else would.

Iggy & Mozzy

 

[executive76]

Denver Nuggets ‏@denvernuggets
WELCOME ANDRE: #Nuggets will introduce @mindofAI9 during 11 a.m. press conference Thursday. It will be caried live on @AltitudeTV.

 

[executive76]

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Andre Iguodala says he wants a Denver Nuggets contract extension
POSTED: 08/16/2012 12:08:10 PM MDT
UPDATED: 08/16/2012 02:24:26 PM MDTBy Benjamin Hochman
The Denver Post

Carmelo Anthony knows. Say what you want about Carmelo's tenure in Denver, he knows what the Nuggets are all about. Melo knows the Nuggets' system.

And while in London for the Olympics, Melo told Andre Iguodala: "You'd be a perfect fit for Coach Karl."

Iguodala — the defensive-minded, fast-breaking swingman — is now in Denver and was literally in Denver on Thursday for his introductory news conference. The Nuggets, of course, acquired Iguodala from the 76ers earlier this month in the four-team trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers.

Iguodala made some news at the news conference, admitting that he wants to sign with Denver long-term. He is currently under contract for 2012-13 and has a player option for 2013-14.

"We weren't coming into this thinking this will be a one-year deal," Iguodala said.

Denver executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri were also at the news conference. Ujiri spoke about how the team would like to lock down "Iggy" to a long-term deal, something he will look into in the coming season.

Kroenke has actually known Iguodala for years. The Nuggets' president, a former college player at Missouri, is friends with numerous former players from Arizona, where Iggy played.

"He brings a veteran presence, a winning presence," Kroenke said. "He wants to win. He's going to bring that mentality to our team and instill it in a lot of our younger guys."

Iguodala said he spoke to Nuggets coach George Karl on the phone, and the coach "didn't sugarcoat anything," telling Iguodala that he needs him to improve getting to the foul line and making free throws.

It's understood that Iggy will be a good fit with Karl because of the swingman's dedication to getting down the floor in transition.

"Just run fast, it's pretty simple, especially with a great point guard," he said. "The pass ahead is really what gets it going. And I'll do the same thing getting the rebound and pushing it on the break."

 

[executive76]

That should be interesting with it probably being his last big contract.

 

[wavycrocket]

Nuggets can really use some outside shooting now. We lose 2 of our better 3 point shooters in this trade.

While I'm not happy about the iggy trade, I'm content and optimistic that he'll warm up to Denver and play well for us.

I just feel like we need to add a few shooters to spread the floor for Ty and Co.

 

[jumpman91023]

 

[Spectacular23]

 

[executive76]

 

[you big dummy]

 

[aepps20]

As great as the squad looks we all know GK is going to mess this up somehow.

 

[you big dummy]

 

[blazers21ntnp]

A pretty damn entertaining Top 10 from this past season...

 

[Bert.]

as much as i think Javale is an idiot i hope he learned a lot from Hakeem and does well this year. Im pulling for Denver to make it far this year.

 

[fadeballer]

Denver will make it to the finals..