Nuggets report: Trade talk

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 29, 2008 at 1:39 a.m.

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With the Nuggets having talked to Oklahoma City about possibly acquiring one of its big men, Thunder forward Chris Wilcox doesn't rule out his team making some sort of move if New Jersey doesn't match Oklahoma City's offer sheet on Nenad Krstic.

"Right now, we've got nine big men. . . . Something has got to happen," Wilcox said.

If the Thunder doesn't deal forward Joe Smith by the Feb. 19 trade deadline, some believe his contract could be bought out.

"Whatever happens, happens," said Smith, a former Denver player who said he hasn't thought about whether he has interest in returning.

Coach George Karl said the Nuggets could use another big man if they were to get a certain playoff matchup, but he doesn't have to "predict it (until) the trade deadline."

SMITH BACK TO BENCH

J.R. Smith returned to the bench Sunday at New York after starting three Nuggets games because of forward Carmelo Anthony's elbow injury.

While Karl has admitted he has thought about replacing guard Dahntay Jones with Smith, no move appears imminent. That's fine with Smith.

"It doesn't really matter," Smith said of starting. "Once you get the same amount of minutes, it's all the same."

HE SAID IT

"The kid has never given in to the dark side of what's going to happen. . . . I think we believed with him, but he's probably believed more than anybody that he was going to come back and be a player. . . . I'm sure he's probably not going to make the All-Star team, but he's close to an All-Star player."

Karl, on center Nene coming back from testicular cancer last season.

• December 29, 2008

  4:31 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  warrengfunk7 writes:

  Mutumbo, sign him. He wants to play rest of season on a team with a chance and then retire. What better place to do this, than where it all began in Denver?

• December 29, 2008

  9:33 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  haha. Mutumbo is too old now. Granted it would be nice to see him in a Denver uniform again, it's just too late.

  I wish they would put JR in the starting lineup. Dahntay Jones is good defensively, but he's not great on the offensive side.

  Also, does anybody else just about faint when Kenyon Martin hits those ugly shots he throws up? haha. He seems to make a lot of them but they don't look pretty.

  GO NUGS!

• December 29, 2008

  12:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  ccorrea writes:

  I don't Know , But Mutombo played good when he
  step in for Yao for a half a season, and those was long
  minutes. If the Nuggs could pick up Wilcox ( Rumors)
  from the Thunders that would be nice against the
  Lakers, Spurs, Celtics and the Cav's ILgauskas.
  Wilcox is tough and quick on his feet.

  Yes I do find myself holding my breath when Kenyon
  shoot from the outside. When K-mart shoot he looks stiff
  and it looks like he's throwing a rock threw a window.
  Thats another reason why the Nuggs need a Big that can
  post but also shoot from the outside. ILgauskas would be
  great,doubt that will happen. Dirk Nowitski may be next
  season when he's a free agent. Chris Kaman , Kleiza would
  have to be in the mix with Draft picks this year or wait
  till Kamans a free agent next season. But Wilcox can fit
  with the Nuggs !

• December 29, 2008

  2:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  brisisk writes:

  I hope Smith can keep a good attitude about coming of the bench. As we have all seen with Ginobili in San Antonio, having an elite scorer coming in with the second unit is very advantagous. We all know JR is more talented than Jones and in the end he usually gets more minutes. So who cares if he is in the lineup for the opening tip as long as JR doesn't let it get into his head.

• December 29, 2008

  3:44 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  lsider writes:

  why didn't phil jackson bring mj or pippen off the bench? or how about shaq or kobe? why doesn't jerry sloan bring williams and boozer off the bench? or maybe stockton or malone should have been reserves. i think better players should play especially to start games, getting off to fast starts will improve our shot of winning game, not to mention, make the other team force shots instead of melo getting to have the honors. correct me if i'm wrong but i think the spurs won championships before benching ginobli. oh yeah, it helps that the spurs have a former all star in michael finley. how many all star appearences does dahntay jones have? george karl should give greg popovich half his salary if he's going to base our lineup on whatever the spurs are doing. maybe he'll throw in a championship ring since karl will probably never earn one on his own merits. unless, the lakers call coby back this year and he gives his ring to daddy.

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