NBA Free Agency: Denver Nuggets Need to Make a Splash

The Denver Nuggets have already lost Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin until March, with each signing a one year deal to play basketball in China. The team is in free fall, and it seems like so long ago when they were in the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets also have Nene and Arron Afflalo as free agents, and can't afford to lose anymore reliable players.

The Nuggets looked like they were headed in the right direction by trading superstar Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman to the New York Knicks for Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, three draft picks and cash, but they're going in the opposite direction now.

Felton was traded to the Portland Trailblazers for Andre Miller, Chandler is in China and Mozgov is relegated to a bench role. That leaves Danilo Gallinari as the lone contributor out of the four players acquired. Carmelo and Chauncey for Gallinari makes New York the obvious winner of the trade; right now at least.The Nuggets will have too much production lost unless they make a key free agent signing, and there's a couple free agents who match up well with the team.

David West is coming off a torn ACL, but prior to that, was known as a consistent mid-range shooter and a solid scoring threat. West is a little undersized (6'9"), but has always played bigger than he is, having averaged 7.3 rebounds for his career. He wouldn't cost as much since he's hurt, and would be an immediate contributor once healed. He makes up for the Kenyon Martin loss.

Shannon Brown is easily one of the best athletes in the NBA and has slowly worked to become a good basketball player (not just an athlete). Brown has worked hard on his shot, and now, defenders have to play him tighter or else he's hitting that jumper. When this is coupled with his uncanny ability to get in to the lane, it makes him a dangerous threat on offense. He is also an above average defender with long arms and good instincts in the passing lanes. He averaged 8.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, .8 steals in 19.1 minutes per game and was an instant spark off the bench for the Lakers. Brown replaces J.R. Smith in the line-up.

If the Nuggets could somehow get these two players and maybe another role player like Glen Davis (who wants out of Boston) or Shane Battier, they could be a Western Conference contender once again. Plus, imagine the team when Chandler, Smith and Martin come back in March. They could be one of the deepest teams in the league at that point. Regardless of what happens, the Nuggets need to make a move or two to ensure they don't fall from the elite.