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LINCICOME: As draft roars by, Nuggets just grind gears

By Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 27, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.

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By sucking their thumbs through the NBA draft, the Nuggets allowed every other team in the West to get better - that is unless, right now, the Nuggets are figuring out how to get point guard Kirk Hinrich from the Bulls.

Oh, sure, the Nuggets did some swapping and swiping to end up with Sonny Weems of Arkansas, a talent too good to yawn over, so we are told, but who hasn't taken the change jar and played a scratcher every now and again?

The telltale stat on Weems is that he was a college senior, and that is a little like being the sixth pallbearer.

The good go young, and they would go younger if the NBA did not take a semi-principled stand by insisting that players go to college for at least a year. It doesn't make the players any smarter, or the league any more moral.

This makes a sham of both parties, the colleges so obviously a holding pen for the NBA and the NBA saving money and mistakes.

In this draft, 12 freshmen were picked, 10 in the first round, seven in the lottery, plus the whole Kansas team, essentially making the Jayhawks the Albany Patroons.

Here are the two tines of the Nuggets' philosophical fork. First, the Nuggets are good enough as they are. And, second, if they aren't, this is not the time to make them better.

One imagines a cruise ship passenger waving his tickets on the dock as the boat sails.

The question posed by one of the bunkered suits in charge of the Nuggets' tomorrows: How many rookies played a part in the NBA Finals? The answer is none.

In fact, when considering the important figures in the Finals, almost all were double digits in years in the league, Kobe Bryant having 12 years for the Lakers and the Boston Big Three a total of 35.

Thus, logic confirms that no rookie is worth bothering with, and the only way to win is to have a team of relics, which the Nuggets most certainly have.

Buy your '09 Finals tickets early.

(Not to bring up Magic Johnson winning it all as a rookie, or Tim Duncan in his second year, or Dwyane Wade in his third, or to remind anyone that Carmelo Anthony will be going into his sixth and LeBron James was in the Finals in his fourth.)

So, while the rest of basketball was delighted to pick over teenagers and assorted Serbs, Russians and Greeks, the Nuggets refused to tinker, assured that 50 victories was not a fluke and that again getting blown out early in the playoffs was.

Of the teams that finished behind the Nuggets in the division, Minnesota made the most noise, picking O.J. Mayo out of Southern Cal and swapping him for Kevin Love of UCLA and getting seasoned Mike Miller in the bargain.

Miller was picked fifth overall just a few years ago and has won the NBA Sixth Man Award. Just like that, no more aching for Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves got younger and tougher.

Portland, which took Greg Oden No. 1 just a year ago only to lose him to injury all season, still had last season's Rookie of the Year in guard Brandon Roy and maybe next year's in Jerryd Bayless, a freshman guard from Arizona.

And Seattle, with the worst record in the West and dickering about leaving for Oklahoma City, added UCLA guard Russell Westbrook to their own rookie of this year, Kevin Durant.

Out of the division and just below in the playoffs, Golden State added 18-year-old LSU forward Anthony Randolph, the Clippers got Indiana's top scorer in Eric Gordon who, even if he doesn't work out, will always have the honor of having played one of Michael Jordan's sons in Space Jam, and Sacramento got potential in Rider center Jason Thompson and a namesake in Patrick Ewing Jr.

In other words, teams behind the Nuggets seem to be moving up while the Nuggets are sitting still.

Even the Lakers, there at the top, can be considered to have had a great draft, since, though they picked 58th, the next-to-next-to-last pick, they really got their No. 1 and a trip to the Finals in the trade for Pau Gasol.

The ship is getting smaller and the sun is setting.

Comments

  • June 28, 2008

    9:13 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    flybys writes:

    Bernie gets ripped often but really, is he that far off the mark, especially on the draft?

    Brilliant idea on inquiring about Chicago point Kirk Hinrich. The former Jayhawk seems to be growing stale and with Derrick Rose guaranteed to start and Ben Gordon likely not to be happy as a backup, Hinrich or Larry Hughes seems destined to depart.

    Hinrich, while not the Gary Payton of old on defense, is much quicker than one might think and on offense would be the jet on offense that coach George Karl lusts for each game. Hinrich also plays hard, is a willing passer (hello!) and can shoot as well as, well, as well as Fat Lever could, which was effective enough not to be called a bricklayer.

    Is Hinrich worth a no. 1 pick?

    Yes.

    Will the Bulls accept a late first rounder?

    Maybe, if other considerations are thrown in.

    Are the Nuggets smart enough to call Chicago GM John Paxson and be creative and persevere through negotiations to make it happen?

    Hmmm.

  • June 29, 2008

    7:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jamaro writes:

    Well I don't see how #20 pick would have put the Nuggets over the top either. The trade with the Bobcats does bring in more ammo for say future moves with having an extra first rounder. Really the only name that I thought might have made an impact was Chalmers but should a, would a, could a.

    As for Hinrich, what makes the most sense is Camby for Hinrich. It really is the only way to bring Hinrich to Denver. Hinrich's salary $11,250,000, Camby's $10,000,000. Along with the money matching up Camby is the only other name that seems to draw interest from other teams outside of Melo. Now this deal would put everything on the health of K-Mart and Nene as with their saleries should be viewed as starters but the injury bug does not leave. Nene should bounce back this year.

    Back to the trade, Camby is the defense for the Nuggets and many people would hate to see him go. I want him to stay but to bring in a PG that everybody wants Camby would have to be the chip moved for Hinrich.

  • June 30, 2008

    10:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    JohnDowe writes:

    The Nuggets are over the cap and didn't want to pay guaranteed money to a first-round pick. It's understandable, considering the caliber of player at the 20th pick. Had the Nuggets kept their draft-spot and picked Ajinca (as Hibbert had gone at 17), or even Chalmers (who was a 2nd-rounder) -- Lincicome would have been ripping the Nuggets for not making a move to get better instead of wasting a 1st-round draft choice. You know it's true Bernie.

    I think that Hinrich could be a good option, and I wouldn't mind losing Camby for it. Camby is a great defender when he's allowed to roam, but that's not how Karl has the defense set-up. Granted, that may be because until the last week in the season the Nuggets had never worked on defense in practice. But one-on-one, Camby is beat to the basket almost every time. He's just not big enough to cover the ball in the post. Because of that, the Nuggets are always one rotation away from solid defense.

  • July 6, 2008

    9:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    patagonia writes:

    This column is brilliant. It is infuriating that the Nuggets remained idle during the draft! Do they think we are not paying attention?! What are they possibly doing to make our club better or younger?

    I may be mistaken, but haven't the Nuggets not had a draft pick since 2006, whom they traded and is now an NBA champion?

    Just checking.

    Thank you, Mr. Lincicome for this article. I hope the right people get the memo.

  • July 8, 2008

    1:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jamaro writes:

    Ya did Leon Powe win it all or Paul, KG, and Allen? He had one huge game and was a body off the bench. Don't think that means the Nuggets would have went all the way with Powe. As much as they say it did not impact their decision, I don't think the Nuggets wanted to pay a rookie 2-3 mil. They need role players but its not like the Nuggets have faired well in the draft anyway, and at #20. Julis Hodge anyone?