Denver Nuggets 2009 Draft Preview: Trades Are A' Brewin'

The Denver Nuggets come into the 2009 draft as they do many years; with low expectations, and without a pick in the first round for the fourth consecutive year, the only one that matters in the NBA draft.

In fact, Denver didn’t have a single pick in any of the previous three drafts. The Nuggets basically have taken the style of building the team through trades, and free agent acquisitions, which has seemed to pay off.

But now, after a loss in the Western Conference Finals, their best season in 24 years, the Nuggets are beginning to age, and young talent is needed.

This year, the Nuggets actually have a pick, but it doesn’t come until No. 34, deep into this NBA draft that many are calling weak overall.

Denver has many question marks that surround their team when it comes to free agents. Because of that fact, I believe the Nuggets will make a package deal trade and move up in the draft for a young player.

First though, let’s assess the Nuggets players: whom they will keep, and whom they will trade.

Of the 14 players on the Nuggets' roster, six are free agents, including Chris “the Birdman” Andersen, Anthony Carter, Jason Hart, and Dahntay Jones, who are all unrestricted.

Linas Klieza is one of the restricted free agents for the Nuggets, and he will likely be re-signed for a $2.7 million team option. That would leave around $6 million to sign Denver’s unrestricted free agents.

Birdman was huge for Denver in 2008-09, as his 2.46 blocks per game were second best in the NBA behind Dwight Howard’s 2.92. All that, and Andersen came off the bench, averaging only 20 minutes a game!

Birdman, though, was a steal overall for $998,000 last season, and will likely look for closer to the $3 million-to-$4 million range, and a longer contract.

Really, he’s the one player of the group that Denver must keep, if not for his hard, hustling game play, then because he’s a fan favorite.

Also, his size gives the Nuggets a big man off the bench when K-Mart or Nene get into foul trouble, which it seems, one always does. Keeping Birdman though, leaves only $2 million-$3 million for the rest of the roster, which could cause problems for the Nuggets.

Dahntay Jones is the only starter on this list, but he was utilized there mainly for his defense, something that was officially emphasized this year in the Mile High City by George Karl.

Jones though, is a one-way player who isn’t even as good as a Bruce Bowen, so there’s no reason he should start. With J.R. Smith getting better year after year, and fans wondering why he didn’t start last year, he will start next year at SG.

Carter is the Nuggets’ backup point guard, one year removed from being Denver’s starting point guard, before Chauncey Billups arrived. While Carter is considered the Nuggets best perimeter defender by Karl, he is aging, and his decision making has been lacking lately.

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