The Directionless Denver Nuggets

"With the 20th pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets select..."

Does it really matter? (In my best Stephen A. Smith voice)

This franchise is in complete disarray right now.  It must be the altitude, or the lack of air, because there is definitely something causing management to make terrible decisions. 

For a team that desperately needed defense last year, it was inexplicable how they passed on a steal of a deal that would have allowed them to acquire Ron Artest. And save the "he's a bad boy talk," because the guy has been a class act ever since he arrived in Sacramento.

Denver was swept in the first round of the playoffs—in large part, due to the inability to guard Kobe Bryant, who shot an unimpressive 40 percent (29-72) in four games versus Artest's Kings this season.

Now, the Nuggets brass finds itself surrounded by tons of pressing questions, and confronted with the uncomfortable reality that this team can very easily fall out of the top eight of the highly competitive Western Conference next season. 

First problem on the agenda? They have their 24-year-old superstar Carmelo Anthony angry at them because he has been dropped in the midst of trade rumors.

There's so many issues with this situation its ridiculous. Carmelo is the face of the franchise, an absolute stud. Steve Kroenke and them boys need to stop acting like players with Carmelo's talent grow on trees. People tend to forget too easily that he was averaging a smooth 31 points a game along with six rebounds when the brawl went down in New York, and Allen Iverson came to the "rescue".

Despite being paired with one of the most unique and hardest players to ever play the game, Carmelo still put up 25 points and seven rebounds per game. And Nuggets fans know that he battled through a lot of injuries this season.

But even if they inexplicably had come to the conclusion that Anthony should be traded, why put his name out there right now? Why not allow Melo to boost up his value playing for team USA, because you know he's going to play with fire for the red, white, and blue.

Also, why are they treating his agent like he's Robert E Lee? His agent is acting like a general, and management is following his commands. They should not give him any leverage or information about trades until they are truly imminent. Remember, Anthony's agent has his player's best interest at hand, not the team's.

So as Draft Day looms, who knows what management is thinking? Even though Allen Iverson has decided not to opt out of his contract, I'm not so sure if that guarantees he will be in a Nugget's uniform next season. If the Nuggets hold true to their word and keep Carmelo, many in Nuggets nation believe AI has to be the one to go.

Marcus Camby, one of few significant veterans on this team is highly believed to be the Nugget most likely to be traded. Yet doesn't trading possibly the most responsible captain contradict George Karl's vow to become a more professional team next season?

So will they draft big or small? Will they need a small forward to replace Carmelo? Do they need find a compliment for AI in the backcourt—and if so, what position will that player play? Are Kenyon Martin and Nene really dependable? Lastly, who is Chucky Atkins, and when is he really going to start playing for the Nuggets?

My best guess is that the Nuggets will draft a big player like Roy Hibbert, but I'm not really sure. In all honesty though, until the Nuggets management appears a little bit more certain of what direction they are heading, the pick does not matter.