Nuggets players want Karl back next season

Chris Tomasson and Aaron J. Lopez

Monday, April 28, 2008

Karl has two years left on his contract.

Several Nuggets players have said they want George Karl back next season as coach. Forward Eduardo Najera, soon to be a free agent, went so far as to say he only would consider re-signing if Karl returns.

But, as far as Karl is concerned, the topic is a nonissue.

"It's never been talked about," Karl, whose team trails the Lakers 3-0 in a first- round series, said Sunday of speculation regarding his future. "Never has it tilted to even close to what you're saying. So I think it would be embarrassing to (Nuggets owner) Stan Kroenke and (executive) Mark (Warkentien) and everybody if I addressed it because they've always been supportive."

Asked Saturday if there's a chance Karl might not be back, Warkentien said "the question doesn't even merit a response."

A source close to the situation stressed Saturday that Karl, who has two years and $6 million left on his contract, will be Denver's coach next fall regardless of how the Lakers series concludes. But any decision ultimately is up to Kroenke.

"George Karl is our coach," Nuggets executive Rex Chapman said when asked about Karl's future.

Karl is getting support from players.

"He would be the only reason I would come back. He's the best coach that I've ever had," said Najera, a free agent July 1.

Center Marcus Camby said, "I hope he remains the coach." Guard Allen Iverson, despite being upset Karl benched him late in Saturday's 102-84 loss, said, "I wouldn't like to see him leave,"

Karl said it's "crazy to be talked about." But he called speculation "the nature of the beast" because of being in his fourth season.

"He knows of (the speculation)," said Karl's son, Lakers guard Coby Karl. "I go through everything with him. We're a close family and everyone's affected by it. But we've all been in the NBA long enough to understand the situation and to deal with it. I don't think it bothers him as much as losing games."

FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAMBY

Camby rarely is among the top four or five options for the Nuggets on offense, but he has become virtually invisible in three games against the Lakers.

After averaging 9.1 points during the regular season, Camby took only two shots and went scoreless in Game 3, leaving him with 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting in the series.

Lakers center Pau Gasol is averaging 22.7 points on 63 percent shooting (25-for-40).

"It's frustrating, especially when you've got a guy like Gasol who goes at you the whole game offensively and you can't go back at him," Camby said. "It's been tough. I'm not going to lie to you."

The Nuggets, who were 22-11 when Camby scored at least 10 points during the regular season, could use more balance on offense as the Lakers key on top scorers Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. The two combined to go 10-for-38 in Game 3.

"I understand this is Melo's and A.I.'s team offensively, but it gets frustrating at times," Camby said. "But I also don't let it distract me from doing my job, especially at the defensive end."

BEEN THERE, LOST THAT

Nobody in the series understands the Nuggets' frustration better than Gasol, who went 0-12 in the postseason while playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.

"Believe me, when I was with the Grizzlies and I was down 3-0 - three times, actually - it was not a great atmosphere because everybody's upset, everybody's frustrated and things are not working out and you're getting beat," he said. "That's not pleasant."

NAJERA WILL 'EXPLORE'

While Najera said whether Karl returns would play a role in what he might do, he stressed this summer he's "going to explore the market."

Najera will become a free agent after making $4.95 million in the fifth year of his contract. He realizes he might not be able to land a deal this summer for that amount.

"Based on my (expiring) contract, I saved some money, so I think I'm in a good position (this summer) to pick and choose," Najera said.

Najera said he will see what the Nuggets might offer. Wherever he goes, he wants to be on a winning team.

Also, by July 1, Iverson can opt out of a contract paying him $20.84 million next season and become a free agent. Iverson, who has talked before about possibly opting out and re-signing with the Nuggets, said he hasn't decided what he will do but wants agent Leon Rose to get "on it right after the season."

HE SAID IT

"Absolutely awesome. It felt like home. I was surprised. There's been a lot of my fans turning out during the regular season on the road. . . . They've all been coming out and they've been cheering all year, so it feels good."

Kobe Bryant, Lakers guard, on fans at the Pepsi Center yelling "MVP, MVP" to him during Game 3 on Saturday.

• April 28, 2008

  4:38 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  stop2006 writes:

  maybe the players get used and liked to be not coached. it's like your teacher tells the class do you want to study or just take the day off sure as lazy student i would prefer to take the day off. now I'm sure that the nuggets are going down.

• April 28, 2008

  12:22 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  paguy1955 writes:

  For the last three seasons i have been at more than 30 games per seasons.. On saturday I could not take it any more.. I left at the end of the third quarter after watching the team AND THE COACH quit on themselves, their teammates and the loyal fans. I am done! I worked hard to get those tickets and the least I would ask for is to play heard and leave it on the floor.. But it dosen't look like we will get that this season... So i guess I will have to find somewhere else to spend my 5000.00 on!

• April 28, 2008

  2:23 p.m.

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  JE writes:

  Is Marcus Camby really complaining about "not being able to go back at Gasol?" Is Camby really capable of going at Gasol on offense? Reality check, this team needs to make some changes. I'm one of the few people who think that AI and Melo have played their hearts out this whole season, and are asked to carry too much of the offensive burden night after night. It's hard to play defense when you have to always expend so much energy offensively.In large part, I think its a product of George Karl's offensive system. Melo simply can't get any easy baskets come playoff time. The "effective lob" has just resulted into many turnovers. I believe their needs to be a system change, or a point guard who can create easy opportunities for Melo, and other role players.