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Nuggets miss out on center Moore

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 24, 2009 at 2:11 p.m.
Updated February 24, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.

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The Nuggets tried very hard, but came up short in their pursuit of center Mikki Moore.

Mark Bartelstein, Moore’s agent, said Tuesday his client will sign with Boston after having cleared waivers earlier in the day.

Bartelstein said Moore, waived last week by Sacramento, seriously considered the Nuggets.

“To the Nuggets’ credit (vice president of basketball operations) Mark Warkentien, he worked his butt off on this thing,’’ Bartelstein said. “He did everything imaginable to sell us on Denver being the right place (for Moore).

“He drove to my office (in Chicago on Monday) from Indianapolis (where Bartelstein said Warkentein was scouting) to make a presentation.’’

Bartelstein said Nuggets coach George Karl called Moore on Monday to make a pitch. Ultimately, though, Moore agreed to sign a prorated minimum deal with the Celtics for the remainder of the season.

“He’s had a long relationship with (Boston coach) Doc Rivers, and he knows a lot of the players there,’’ Bartelstein said of Moore, who played briefly with the Celtics in 2002-03.

The Nuggets are looking to beef up their roster for the homestretch, and would like to sign a player in the next week, most likely a big man. They now are keeping their eyes on whether Oklahoma City might buy out forward Joe Smith.

Another possibility could be center Chris Mihm, who could be bought out by Memphis. Mihm was traded last week by the Lakers, and could be a help for any team that might meet the Lakers in the playoffs.

Bartelstein said he has continued to talk to the Nuggets about Aaron Williams and Scot Pollard, a pair of his big-men clients who haven’t played this season. A Nuggets source, though, has called them longshot targets.

Comments

  • February 24, 2009

    2:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ONEman writes:

    Bartelstein said Nuggets coach George Karl called Moore on Monday to make a pitch.

    How'd that work out for ya? You would have done better to have Rocky make that call. I doubt anyone is gonna be real excited to come and play for George. Doc Rivers and a ring or Clueless and an early vacation. Tough decision, must have been a tough dilemma for Mikki.

    What we absolutely need is another smart PG who can handle the ball and play perimeter defense. We will go nowhere if AC is the best we can do as a backup to ol' #7 who we are just beating to death. Man can he get some help?

  • February 24, 2009

    3:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    "The Nuggets Miss". Apropo. Apparently the ghosts of last night have not left the building!

  • February 24, 2009

    5:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ccorrea writes:

    Nuggets had there chances on the trade.
    And now L@@king for hand outs. Nuggs
    need both a Big and a PG that could knock
    down 3's to spread the floor and make plays.
    Hand outs, jersey you like that one !?!

  • February 24, 2009

    9:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SilentRunning writes:

    The Nuggets cannot actually expect anyone decent to want to come and play for this team if they have a choice of playing In Boston or somewhere they can expect to win. If the Nuggets front office believes that, they're dumber than I thought they were already.

    The front office had a prime chance to trade Kleiza last year and over the past summer and they balked. Since then, Kleiza has turned into a shell of his former self. He's not even remotely as attractive to other teams now. Huge mistake.

    But then, who would expect anything less from Denver?

  • February 25, 2009

    4:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TUBBYBEACH writes:

    I whole heartily agree with the ONEman. We need another point guard to back up Billups, not another big to ride the pine next to Karl. The more the season drags on, the worse #25 gets. The same deal happened last year and he was eventually benched mid playoff series. And all you people out there who write how Karl isn't the problem and how good their record is with him coaching will eventually see. All of his teams have faultered in the playoffs and underachieved. Look at the history he has and the rotations he's played. Vincent Askew with Seattle anyone? He falls in love with certain players and doesn't trust his bench. How can you start Balkman against Milwaukee and then give him a DNP in a blowout against the Celtics? Will it take another first round loss to finally get rid of Karl? I honestly hope not because I want to see this team do good, as fans we deserve it. I hope Karl wins a championship this year and all of you who backed him can blog how stupid and negative TUBBYBEACH was all year and I told you so. But friends, I have Karl's history on my side and he will be the downfall of this talented team.

  • February 25, 2009

    8:40 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    As much as I don't like Karl's coaching at times the problem with this team is quality depth and that is front office management and ownership's fault.They drafted good players in the second round and traded them away. Not Karl's fault.

  • February 25, 2009

    9:16 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    statik writes:

    Jebus, you guys were just waiting to come out of the woodwork, weren't you? Third place in the WC so you've kept it shut until now, and now you're using a couple of horrible games as an excuse to rant.
    Karl knows the team a helluva lot better than you guys do, and we're in THIRD PLACE IN THE WEST! Christ...

    Good players play well under a good coach, if Karl was a bad coach, we'd be batteling with mediocrety at this point.
    Noone is underperforming (except Kleiza) and we're in a great position. You CAN'T do that without a good coach.

  • February 25, 2009

    11:13 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    rbholcomb writes:

    The truth about the Nuggets is emerging. The whole emphasis is on saving money and the impact of the Chauncey arrival---coupled with a tremendous resurgence by Martin and Nene---were very lucky breaks. Now, as Houston and Utah are surging and Portland remains a threat to bypass the Nuggets as well, we have injuries and a thin, basically unreliable bench except for Andersen, another low budget surprise. Now, with injuries and no NBA-level back-ups for our bigs, the luck is running out and George Karl's inability (or unwillingness) to maintain a sensible rotation (Rolando who?) or help young players to grow up is yielding the typically mediocre results at both ends of the court. But, of course, he will be with us indefinitely because all this owner cares about is staying under the salary cap and not paying for his mistakes.

  • February 25, 2009

    11:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    ccorrea: The Nuggs need this and need that. So what! People in hell need ice water as well! Like it or not, and personally I don't, we did not opt to make a move so get over it already. The latest deadline has passed. Just play the hand that is dealt and re-evaluate the situation at season's end and hopefully make the necessary changes in improving. As fans, other than a total boycott, which you can forget about, it's all we can hope for! As for your "Hand outs, Jersey do you like that one"? FYI: As for your usage of.. T-H-E-R-E? It shows location/place and T-H-E-I-R shows ownership/possession. When you come at me...come correct or I'll rectify it for ya, pro bono! Peace!

  • February 25, 2009

    6:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SilentRunning writes:

    The bloom is almost completely off the Chauncey Billups rose.

    Other players have stopped listening to him.

    He gets nailed for a technical foul nearly every game now.

    He takes terrible shots every game.

    He has recently picked up a habit of getting tagged for offensive fouls.

    He is no longer the floor general, so to speak.

    Utah and Portland are both going to pass the Nuggets in the standings very soon. The Nuggets have blown their chance to put a stanglehold on the division. They are spent.

    And for all the people complaining about the recent schedule for the Nuggets and their 8 game road trip, you seemingly have conveniently forgotten the month of January, where the Nuggets had 12 out of 16 games at home, including a 7 game homestand.

    Quit your complaining.