Nuggets Search for More Moves to Make As 10th Day of Free Agency Passes

The Denver Nuggets have made two moves so far this off season, in drafting Ty Lawson, and re-signing backup big man Chris "Birdman" Andersen to a five-year deal. Also, ex-starter Dahntay Jones has left for the Indiana Pacers, creating another void on the squad.

After the Birdman deal, Nuggets VP of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien told the Denver Post, "I'm happy to talk about Chris, but the rest of the world? No."

Warkentien does not want to show his hand on what he and others in the front office might be planning, but added, "We're not done. We only have a 13-man roster."

With Jones' departure, Denver's currently only working with 12 players on the team. Since signing Lawson adds depth to the previous biggest need position at PG, the Nuggets must address their need for a backup big man now. Along with that, Denver has another glaring hole at the SG position as well.

There were many rumors floating around that Denver was eyeing old-timer Grant Hill to play SG, and Channing Frye as the big man. Now word has hit that the Suns are looking to lock up both players for the 2009-10 season.

But with them gone, where can the Nuggets now turn for players?

Drew Gooden is a free agent, but is likely too expensive for Denver.

Arron Afflalo, a 6' 5" combo-guard from the Pistons has been rumored today as a possible trade candidate for the Nuggets.

Afflalo is coming off his second year in the NBA and averaged 4.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 75 games last year. He has decent enough handling skills to play some at the point, but is an above-solid defender, much like the departed Jones.

Also rumored to be being looked at by the ballers in baby blue are Matt Barnes, Joe Smith, and Sheldon Williams.

Of the three, Williams is likely the best fit. Like Smith, Williams plays C/F, but he is over a decade younger, just coming off his third season in the NBA.

Williams could add much needed depth in the front court, and he could possibly learn from veterans Kenyon Martin and Nene.

The most interesting and intriguing player involving the Nuggets lately is Amare Stoudemire. It has been rumored that Denver could trade K-Mart and Linas Kleiza for Stoudemire, who has expressed his displeasure with the Suns.

Stoudemire averaged 21.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 2008-09 and is one of the best and most athletic big men in the game. Stoudemire can dunk, and does so emphatically, but can also run the floor well, and had a decent post game.

He also was the backup center for the NBA "Redeem Team," the 2008 USA Olympic Basketball Team, as he and would-be teammate Carmelo Anthony regained respect for USA basketball as a whole.

But, with all these talks and rumors, who will the Nuggets get? Likely, Denver will not pull off another blockbuster trade, grabbing Amare, but instead will sign multiple lower-dollar players.

A combination of Gooden, Barnes, and Williams would be sufficient though, and would fill major voids in the team's lineup.

Though, what the Nuggets do, and who they get are still huge question marks, as answers are likely to come in the next week.

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