Karl not expecting trade to be made
Kleiza, Najera were in rumored deal for Artest
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Nuggets coach George Karl isn't so certain the Kings truly wanted to trade Ron Artest (above).
Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza, wearing a boot on his sprained left ankle, was walking slowly Wednesday. Indications are, though, he won't soon have to hustle out of town.
With the NBA trade deadline at 1 p.m. today, Nuggets coach George Karl called it a "1 percent chance" Kleiza will be moved. Karl said he's "betting" against a trade.
Kleiza, who returned after being hurt in the first half Tuesday against Boston and is expected to play Friday at Chicago, has been a possibility to be dealt with forward Eduardo Najera to Sacramento for forward Ron Artest.
But a source close to the situation said the Nuggets remain opposed to dealing Kleiza, an intriguing young talent, in a deal for Artest, who can opt out of his contract this summer. The source believes that would kill any possible deal.
"If we have to throw (Kleiza) in to get (Tim) Duncan or (Kevin) Garnett or someone like that, we'd probably throw him in, but right now, I think there's a lot of gossip out there," Karl said.
Kleiza, 23, was flattered to hear it's unlikely he'll be dealt.
"I want to be here for a long time," said Kleiza, whom Karl expects to practice today after he did no work Wednesday. "I hope I'm still here."
Karl said Nuggets officials will continue to make calls. But he expects the deadline to pass without a move.
"If I was in Vegas, that's what I'd be betting," Karl said.
A source, though, said Denver is very much in the mix for Seattle guard Delonte West. Another guard possibly available is the Clippers' Sam Cassell.
The Nuggets have looked at Memphis guard Kyle Lowry, but agent Andy Miller said his client is "staying put." A source said Memphis also doesn't plan to deal Mike Miller, who's been linked to Denver.
The Nuggets are said to be looking to deal J.R. Smith, and Nene has been mentioned. But Kleiza and Najera are the names most often heard.
"I've tried to explain to both Eddie and L.K., because they're in so many of the trade (rumors), if it really gets hot, I'll come talk to them," Karl said.
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February 20, 2008
8:45 p.m.
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jbowen43 writes:
This team would be losing a part of its heart if they got rid of Najera.
February 20, 2008
8:55 p.m.
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duboisb writes:
George Karl .... dumbest man to ever coach basketball.
Not making a trade to get Artest basically costs us a championship.
Kleiza won't come into his own until Iverson is close to retiring. And I'd bet Carmelo starts getting disillusioned to see that the Nuggets have refused to content for a title now.
FIRE George Karl.
February 20, 2008
9:32 p.m.
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ramz writes:
Duboisb...
You are the moron...Karl has very little to do with pulling any trade trigger...The Nuggets are not organized like the Broncos..The coach is not the GM as well.
February 21, 2008
7:03 a.m.
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BirdonaWire writes:
I agree with the moron assessment. Artest is overrated and fills no need for the team. He plays the 2 or small forward. Gonna take our AI or Melo so Artest can play? Kleiza is our only low salary doing anything on the court. He has great upside, and I guess that putting 40 on the Jazz is excluded from "coming into his own."
Karl sucks but he isn't GM or owner. Oh yeah, they are already over the salary cap so any salary gains acquired via trades will be charged double via the luxury tax.
February 21, 2008
9:03 a.m.
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atfisher writes:
Artest wouldn't win us a championship this year. Trading Kleiza, really the only player the Nuggets have developed in years (Melo was pretty developed when drafted) really doesn't make sense for a 30 game rental. I'm glad we'd keep Kleiza. I hope we can get Mike Miller
February 21, 2008
10:03 a.m.
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mark79trans writes:
The Nuggets need two players to be contenders. They need a point guard who is an excellent perimeter shooter and a healthy power forward/center who can back up Camby. Martin is getting better (especially as his contract becomes closer to expiring), but they aren't going to win anything with Nene off the court with absolutely no low post presence. They have so much lost budget in Nene and Martin, they will not win...forget a championship until this problem is solved. The Nuggets don't need Najera and Kleiza. No basketball team needs to stack the small forward position three deep while the center and power forward position suffers. Additionally, with the exception of Najera and Kleiza, the bench is awful...this is ridiculous because the two good bench players they do have play the same position as the franchise player. With trades made in the West, the Nuggets will likely miss the playoffs...they just can't compete at a playoff level with the people they have; the talent just doesn't reflect the budget. As much as I hate to say it, Najera needs to go along with Nene. I felt as though they needed to buy out Martin and send him packing long ago along with letting go J.R. Smith. Carter, Kleiza, and Hunter are good bench players...get a power forward and a point guard (to control Anthony) and the team will be good. I don't know how much Cassell has left in him, but that would help a lot. They need to get away from the point guard by committee approach...this team does not pass well or play cohesively. In all honesty though, I think AI is at the point in his career where he needs to step back and become a true point guard so the Nuggets can go after a big-time 6'6" to 6'8" shooting guard...AI brings to Denver the same problems he brought to Philadelphia especially on the defensive end. As a true point guard, he could really propel the Nuggets to the next level.
Personally, I like Karl. Denver is lucky to have him...especially someone to work with and put up with Anthony's childish ****.
February 22, 2008
3:52 a.m.
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JasonM writes:
mark79trans...only one problem about Iverson becoming a "true point gaurd"...HE ISN'T ONE!! I'm not sure what part of that you people don't understand. He is a SG that is versitile enough to play point when need be. Why should he become something he is not. Would you ask all the other 2 gaurds in the league to play PG? Would you ask Kobe? T-Mac? D-Wade? Or just Iverson because he's 6 ft? Iverson is still playing at an elite level...the guy is only 32 years old, not 42. So why should he step back and become a pure pg? You want a guy that holds the 3rd highest PPG average in the HISTORY of the league (by the way, thats about as "BIG TIME" as you can get) to cut back on his scoring?! How does that make any sense to you? I swear some of you people are just backwards. They didn't make a trade for Iverson for him to be the PG, they made a trade for him to be what he is..a SG! Like I said, you don't make a major trade for a player of that caliber just to try to turn around and try to take away from what makes him special. They made the trade for the guy to score the ball. THE END.