Adding big man not Nuggets' in plans

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 12, 2008 at 5:28 p.m.

Text size  

• 7 Comments
• Email
• Print

Nuggets quick links

Drew on the NBA

Scores and statistics

• Nuggets statistics
• Nuggets schedule
• Nuggets roster
• NBA scoreboard
• NBA schedule

The Nuggets apparently aren't going to pick up another big man any time soon because of financial reasons.

But perhaps a collection could be started in the locker room.

Nene sounds as if he could be convinced to contribute if a hat is passed.

"We need one more big man," the Nuggets center said. "It's hard to play the post. We need to be prepared to play somebody."

Carmelo Anthony might just be willing to send in a donation.

"We don't have no big men," the 6-foot-8 Anthony said. "I was the big man (Tuesday at Charlotte when the small forward played some center). Why not (acquire another post player)? If there's somebody out there we can get, why not?"

Nuggets coach George Karl, his team having had only two players taller than 6-8 available Tuesday, has wondered the same thing.

Karl put in a "request" to re-sign 6-9 Juwan Howard, waived Nov. 3. But the request apparently was denied because owner Stan Kroenke is eyeing getting under the $71.15 million luxury-tax threshold (they're now about $900,000 over) by season's end.

Karl reiterated Wednesday the cavalry - or even Calvin Booth - won't be arriving soon.

"Right now, I think it's a no," he said.

The Nuggets already have lost 7-foot Steven Hunter long term because of knee trouble, and 6-10 Chris Andersen is out until late November because of a broken rib. At least 6-9 Kenyon Martin could return tonight at Cleveland after missing two games because of a sprained left wrist.

Even with Martin back, the Nuggets are very thin. Their only other true post men are 6-11 Nene and 7-1 Cheikh Samb, who has played 37 minutes in his entire NBA career, less than Nene now plays nightly.

The Nuggets, no doubt, didn't want to pile big minutes on Nene as he works his way back from testicular cancer last season.

But when Nene logged 38 minutes Sunday against Memphis and 39 at Charlotte, it marked the first time since April 10 and 12, 2004, he had played consecutive games of 38 minutes or more.

"I'll observe Nene and, if we can get away with not playing him 38 to 40 minutes, we will," Karl said. "If the cards in the game say you've got to play him, you play him."

Right now, the cards say the Nuggets need him. Then again, they always can use Anthony more at center.

• November 13, 2008

  6:10 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Hambone writes:

  Kenyon Martin is about as fragile as a china doll. Thanks alot for that one, Kiki! Three number 1 picks AND a max contract? uugghh.

• November 13, 2008

  7:34 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  The_KIMN_Chicken writes:

  What's with all the cheap skate owners in this town, if you don't want to spend the money to compete then get out of the sports business please.

• November 13, 2008

  8:45 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  WillyNilly writes:

  Stan Kroenke is no cheapskate. He's done his part, sunk plenty of money into this team only to be bounced out of the playoffs in the first round again and again. I can't blame him for not wanting to pay the luxury tax anymore. There's plenty of others to lay blame on for the Nuggets lack of playoff success, but Stan Kroenke is not one of them.

  That said, you have to wonder about his financial position right now. His $2.7 billion fortune is (or was) in real estate development. Maybe even Stan has to tighten his belt these days, who knows. After all, he does own the STL Rams, Avs, Nuggets, part of the Crush, the Pepsi Center, Dicks Sporting Goods park, the Mammoth (lacrosse), the Rapids, Altitude cable channel, and some Elnglish football club. That's just his sports investments. Quite a bit of money to be throwing around.

  Then again, his wife is Anne Walton. Yes, the Wal Mart Waltons. So maybe she could float him a couple of bucks if things get tight.

• November 13, 2008

  9:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Uno_Cinco writes:

  I thought the Monforts were cheap but come on Silent Stan pony up for at least Juwan Howard, Walmart make more then enough money for to pay the luxury tax for the Nuggets!

• November 13, 2008

  11:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Coltgm56 writes:

  6 million to McDyess to go away. I bet Sam Walton is turning in his grave. Sam always worked hard to get the most for his money and rewarded people that worked hard for him. Kronke should be ashamed of himself to give this much money to a lazy bum that did not want to work for it. I am sure Mr. Walton would be outraged if he knew how his money was spent paying this much for nothing. 6 mill. could have gotten us a quality big man.

• November 13, 2008

  11:24 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  deluxreverb writes:

  Let Cheikh Samb play. The guy can shoot pretty good. At 7'1" all he has to do is get near the basket and grab the ball. The guy nearly averaged 20 pts. and 10 rbs. in the D league. If he hurts the team take him out. The only way for him to get good is to play. It is not a big dangerous risk to give the guy a chance.

• November 13, 2008

  6:47 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  carryBIGstick writes:

  I can't blame Kroenke, He gave the team too much freedom with his money and did not get a good return on his investment. As a fan of the team, I'd like them to sign another insurance bigman, but it's his money, not mine so Kroenke's opinion matters more than mine or yours.

Featured

• DNC in Denver

  

  Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

• The Crevasse

  

  A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.

• Deadly denial

  

  Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.

• Final Salute

  

  The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.

• 'Colorado's burning'

  

  Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.

• Columbine shootings

  

  Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.

• The Crossing

  

  Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.

• Osveli's journey

  

  Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.

• Wake for an Indian warrior

  

  Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.