What's Next for the Denver Nuggets?

On the night of May 29, the historical season of the Denver Nuggets came to a disappointing end. The NBA Juggernaut Los Angeles Lakers had embarrassed the Denver Nuggets in the Pepsi Center, leaving most Nugget fans' heart broken. From six games away from a parade in the Mile High City to what do we do next? 

As the offseason began with the NBA draft, the Denver Nuggets made a splash by trading a first-round pick (previously owned by Charlotte) for the rights to Ty Lawson to address the serious need of a young back-up point guard to take some minutes off of Chauncey Billups. 

Then The Nuggets traded away their second round selection for cash considerations and decided to pass on the chance of drafting DeJaun Blair, a beefy big man who can rebound and a player that could quite possibly fit the biggest need of the Denver Nuggets. But the Nuggets decided Blair was not worth the money or chance due to a history of knee injuries at a young age.

Then free agency and trades came and the contenders in the West had completely changed. San Antonio had added pieces such as Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, the Lakers had added Ron Artest, and the Mavericks had added Shawn Marion and re-signed Jason Kidd. 

Granted, LA had lost Trevor Ariza and quite possibly Lamar Odom, and San Antonio lost defensive specialist Bruce Bowen.  The Lakers, if they lose Odom as well, have slightly dropped in my opinion. The San Antonio Spurs have improved significantly, as have the Dallas Mavericks. 

While all this was going down, Denver did nothing but sit and watch. Sure, Denver re-signed Chris "Birdman" Anderson, which was an absolute must, but they didn't get any better. Denver watched Dahntay Jones leave for Indiana for the big bucks, then acquired Arron Afflalo to replace him. 

Afflalo is a great replacement for Jones due to his consistent defense and a viable three-point threat.  All Jones could do was defend or dunk, leaving the Nuggets basically playing offense with four players. 

Denver, now with a back-up PG and a back-up SG as well as having "Birdman" re-signed, is left with one seven-foot hole.  Myself and most Denver fans are all wondering what Denver is going to do next to address the serious need for a fourth big man to play in the rotation. 

The Denver Nuggets are already over the Luxury Tax, but still own roughly $10.9 million worth of trade exemptions and $2.1 million left of their mid-level exception.  The $3.4 billion question is will Stan Kronke pay for Denver to be the best?

For now we are going to pretend Mr. Kronke is willing to pay some money for "his biggest passion," the Denver Nuggets, and I'm going to lay out some possible players and chances of them coming to Denver. 

Lamar Odom

With LA taking the three-year, $27 million offer off the table, Odom is now seeking out other teams to get paid.  Odom is commanding $10 million a year over five years. 

Denver could acquire Odom with their TEP (trade exemption) for what he is asking, but the chances of this happening are very slim. 

First, it is highly unlikely that LA will make a sign-and-trade with Denver, seeing as Denver finished second in the west last year. 

Second, a $10 million contract ending up being $20 million after luxury tax is a very hefty price for a player who is about to turn 30. 

Odom can score from just about anywhere, play solid D, as well as rebound, which fits just about everything Denver is looking for, but I still see the chances of this deal happening being about as good as the Sacramento Kings being the 2009-20010 NBA Champions.

David Lee

Lee is the tough rebounding machine that Denver would love to have.  Lee came very close to coming to Denver last year for Linas Kleisa, but Denver wouldn't pull the trigger.  Lee, at 6'9", is a bit undersized for what Denver is looking at, but he plays like a seven-footer.

Lee would be a great addition to the Denver Nuggets, but, much like Odom, he is asking for a contract that is in the $8-10 million neighborhood and Denver could only acquire him via sign-and-trade, and $16-20 million for a big man off the bench is a lot of money for Mr. Kronke to dish out. 

Travis Heath of hoopsworld.com has said Lee to Denver is just about impossible.  He said Lee is asking for too much and if he dropped his price down at all New York would just re-sign him.

So as you can see, the chances of Lee to Denver are slim, but anything could happen.

Marc Gasol

The brother of "the big ugly" Pau Gasol would greatly help the Denver Nuggets at a very reasonable price.  Marc Gasol, at 7'0", can score in the post, defend opposing starting centers, and provide much needed minutes to rest Nene and Kenyon Martin. 

The Gasol scenario is interesting because Memphis drafted 7'4" Hasheem Thabeet as well as traded for the 6'11" Zach Randolph leaving Memphis with Gasol on the bench. 

Denver could offer the rebuilding Grizzlies Steven Hunter's expiring $3.8 million contract, along with a future first-round pick. Memphis could be hesitant on losing Gasol, but why would they keep him with Thabeet and Randolph?

I give the chances of this possibly happening 10 percent.

Drew Gooden

Gooden, an unrestricted free agent is a tough rebounder who can score.  Denver could offer Gooden the rest of the MLE remaining or acquire him in a sign-and-trade.  There are questions about Gooden's character, but with Billups running the squad I can't see Gooden being a problem.

I give the chances of this happening 20 percent.

Marcin Gortat

Gortat, at 7'0", is considered one of the best true centers in the 2009 free agency class.  Gortat is a solid defender who can score in the block and block shots. 

Orlando has recently matched the Dallas Mavericks' offer to bring Gortat back to Orlando, so the only way Denver could land Gortat is through a trade.

Could Kleisa's, Weems', and Hunter's expiring contracts get it done?  Is it too much?  Does Orlando not even want to listen to offers due to re-signing him?

Honestly, I don't see Denver having the right pieces to land Gortat, giving it about a five percent chance.

Jeff Foster

Foster, at 7'0", is a physical defender (ask Melo) who will bully any opposing big man or anyone who drives through the paint.  Travis Heath reported that Denver was also very close to landing Foster last year at the trade deadline, but Indiana and Denver couldn't agree on a deal. 

Now, I have heard Indiana is willing to basically give him away for nothing after drafting Hansbrough.  Denver could acquire Foster for some of their TEP, but Foster is making around $6 million, $12 million after luxury tax, and that is a lot to spend on a player of Foster's ability and skill.

Ronny Turiaf

Tuiaf is a large man who brings great energy to the floor.  Ronny is a very physical defender who can shoot, post up, and bully opposite bigs.  Turiaf would be a great player to throw on Pau Gasol or Tim Duncan. 

Denver could acquire Turiaf in a trade from Golden State, but what does Denver have to offer that Golden State would want?  Maybe Linas Kleisa to back up Maggette? 

Once again, it doesn't seem like Denver has the right pieces to acquire Turiaf leaving the chances of this deal happening at five percent.

Richard Hendrix

Hendrix is on the Nuggets' summer league roster and is a rookie out of Alabama.  Richard can score and is a rebounding machine posting a 12 points per game and 11 rebounds a game average in college, however, he is only 6'7" which is short of what Denver is looking for. 

If Hendrix has a monster summer league I could see him making the Nuggets' roster for a very small amount of money.

My chances of this happening are 40 percent.

Chris Wilcox

Yet another player discussed at the deadline, Wilcox is an unrestricted free agent and could possibly be had with the remaining MLE.  Wilcox is a tough big man who will give you solid defense and rebounds.  He could really help off the bench, but with his lack of scoring to go along with Anderson's lack of scoring would leave the Nuggets with a problem with bench points production.

With all that said, I give the chances of this happening 10 percent.

Andris Biedrins

Biedrins is a top-five center in the league with a great game down low in the post and a rebounding machine. 

At only 23, Biedrins is a superstar in the works.  The only real way I could see Denver getting Biedrins is giving up Nene, which would still leave the Nuggets without a fourth big man, but I would trade Nene and Weems for Biedrins in a heart beat. 

Chances of this happening: .1 percent.

With all the players I mentioned, I believe that the Nuggets will hold off on any trades or FA signings until the summer league is over. 

Denver could have the big man they need in Hendrix for a very cheap price.  If no big men from the summer league roster make the Nuggets line up I see Denver waiting until August or September to either sign a big man or make a trade for a big man. 

I would love to see any of those big men listed above suit up in powder blue. The question is, will Mr. Kronke be willing to spend the big bucks to land the player that will help Denver win the west and play for the title?

Mr. Kronke and Warkentin always seem to have some trick up their sleeves.  If they want there to be a parade in Denver, then spend the big bucks and bring in Odom or Lee.