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Nuggets report: Kleiza trade coming?

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 13, 2008 at 11:49 p.m.

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Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza heard trade rumors last season. He might be hearing them again as the Feb. 19 deadline approaches.

ESPN.com reported Kleiza could be possible trade bait for the Nuggets to land another big man. Kleiza last season was discussed as a possibility to go to Sacramento in a deal for Ron Artest before the Nuggets elected not to pull the trigger.

“This happened last year,’’ Kleiza said of trade rumors. “I think we all learned that this is a business, that you don’t know what is going to happen. We got Marcus (Camby) gone. We got (Allen Iverson) gone.

“One day, I wake up and I might be gone. That’s part of the business. Our biggest names have been traded. Whatever happens, happens. You can’t think about it. You can’t worry about it. You got to do what’s best for the team.’’

There are reasons why the Nuggets could elect to trade Kleiza:

* Kleiza has yet to make the strides many believed he would after his fine play in last summer’s Olympics. He’s averaging 9.3 points and shooting 41.7 percent after last season averaging 11.1 points and shooting 47.2 percent.

* There is the uncertainty of Kleiza becoming a restricted free agent next summer. The Nuggets, at the last instant, did not offer him in October a possible four-year, $25 million contract extension. The Nuggets would like to avoid the luxury tax next season, and it’s possible a Kleiza contract could land them above the tax threshold.

* Kleiza and his agent, Bill Duffy, have said there’s a chance Kleiza next summer could sign with a European team. If that happened, the Nuggets would maintain the rights they have on him as a restricted free agent, but they would lose him for nothing if he never returned to the NBA.

TEAM PLAYER NENE

There’s no “I’ in Nene. But there’s an “E’’ (two in fact) as in “team’’

The Nuggets center is leading the NBA in field-goal percentage at 63.3, in part, because he’s so unselfish. But there are times Nuggets coach George Karl wishes he would shed that trait just a little.

“There’s no question, he’s an interesting cat to coach,’’ Karl said. “In Sacramento, where he has the great game, (15 of his 16 points Dec. 6) in the first half, you almost couldn’t find him in the second half. And then I’m sure everybody says it was because I wasn’t trying (to get him the ball).

“There are times I try. He chooses the option of team almost all the time to where, ‘Man, Nene I want you to get on the low block.’ If the defense is tilted that way, he’ll go pick and roll or he’ll go backdoor . . . Most of the time, when you call a player’s number, they will force the option that gets them the ball.’’

Karl said he would like Nene to be “more aggressive when he has a rhythm and more aggressive in fourth quarters.’’

Nene, though, doesn’t believe that is the best word choice.

“I’m aggressive,’’ he said. “That is not the word. Maybe it’s more selfish because I’m aggressive.’’

OK, will Nene at times be more selfish?

“No,’’ he said. “That is not me. I am not going to change. I am a team player as far as somebody comes, I’m going to make somebody open . . . I can’t change myself about (being unselfish).’’

ETC.

Nuggets players Sonny Weems and Cheikh Samb, assigned Wednesday to the NBADL’s Colorado 14ers, made their debuts Friday. Weems scored seven points and Samb four. “I know more about a guard in Idaho than I do about Cheikh and Sonny’s performance,’’ said Karl, whose son, Coby Karl, plays for the NBADL’s Idaho Stampede . . . Asked about forward Carmelo Anthony’s continued progression, Karl said. “I think the maturity would be more credence on triple doubles than on 40-point games. How many triple-doubles lose games? Triple-doubles win games.’’ . . . Karl likes Golden State center Andris Biedrins. “If Golden State would like to trade Biedrins, I’d have some interest in him,’’ Karl said. “I don’t think that’s happening.’’

Comments

  • December 14, 2008

    2:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    lsider writes:

    im a karl basher, but i like biedrens to we should trade for him, depending on his character. how about a first rounder, atkins, and kleiza? The guys i wouldn't trade:nene,cb,melo, and jr That's a core that could win denver some championships yes, plural. jr melo and nene are all pre prime players who all have hall of fame potential. and chauncy chose to go to cu so we know hes committed. they should give nene some tapes of olajuwan and malone so he could develop more of a balanced offensive game.