Originally posted by Freddie
Even though he wasn't great in the playoffs this year, Bibby is still the only guy who wants the ball in crunch time. Bibby is a much better shooter than Kidd, but Kidd is a better passer. Kidd would make Sacramento a great regular season team, but they would get ousted by the Lakers or Spurs in a seven game series.
See I think Sacramento would be the perfect fit for Jason Kidd. They would be enough talent around him to compensate for his poor shooting, and they could probably run even better than the New Jersey Nets.
How about these rumors from a Denver columnist? I think this guy is off his rocker. I don't even think league rules allow for some of the trades he suggests (negotiating rights to Elton Brand). I also think that while Arenas and Ford would be exciting on offense they would get destroyed on the other end of the court because they would be so undersized. - Joe Mama
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~111~1462038,00.html
Selecting Anthony is uncool
By Woody Paige, Post Sports Columnist
Mellow out, Denver. 'Melo out, Nuggets.
As the lone dissenter of the universe, regretfully I must announce that Carmelo Anthony is not the way to the future. No 'weghe.
Everyone was so goo-gah over Anthony's brief manifestation in Our Fair City and is drooling to pick him, without quarrel, in the No. 3 spot in the NBA draft next week.
Not so fast, hoopoafs.
The Nuggets can do better in the draft and get better in the NBA.
Adding a 19-year-old, 6-foot-7 forward who possesses a swell shot and nice ballhandling skills is not enough. Anthony has an ordinary vertical leap, is not quick off the dribble, can't rebound, isn't effective inside, won't play defense and hasn't shown a strong work ethic. He won't lead the Nuggets to the playoffs next season or to the NBA championship - ever.
The Nuggets shouldn't wrap themselves in Carmelo, but I'm afraid Kiki Vandeweghe will because the Orangeman from Syracuse is the safe, simple choice.
You can shake the trees, and small forwards who shoot, but offer little else, will fall like horseapples.
There are alternatives that make more sense.
The Nuggets desperately need a point guard and a power forward.
(And a new coach, of course, but the junior high school gym teacher on the bench will be dismissed sometime next season when the general manager finally realizes just how clueless he is. You can hire someone to dress him up, but you can't take this guy anywhere in the Western Conference.) The Nuggets can't afford another screwup like Kiki's Karma of last year in the draft at No. 5.
So they have to trade the third.
It's not as if Anthony has sold any season tickets or sold any of the NBA experts in America on the notion that he's the next Michael Jordan. Instead, we're supposed to be thrilled that another all-star game is coming to town. (Give me the old ABA All-Star Game with the first slam-dunk contest, and a Nuggets front line of David Thompson, Bobby Jones and Dan Issel.) The draft-downsizing deal has several intriguing possibilities, and by the end of this column, you will agree.
The Nuggets should cut a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, who have the sixth overall selection, or the Chicago Bulls, who follow at No. 7.
Vandeweghe admitted Monday he is willing to listen to proposals. Anthony's name was not glued permanently on a cubicle in the Nuggets' locker room.
No matter what deal the Nuggets pull off, they must use their available salary cap millions to sign guard Gilbert Arenas - who can play point or shooting guard - and make a run at one of two 7-footers: Brad Miller or Michael Olowokandi.
* Trade 1: The Nuggets send the rights to Anthony and veteran Marcus Camby to the Bulls for the No. 7 pick, plus guard Jay Williams (the second pick in the 2002 draft) and power forward Marcus Fizer.
Marcus for Marcus. This trade has been speculated around the league. Williams generally was considered a bust in his first season, but he did lead all rookies in assists, and there's still genuine belief that he eventually will be an outstanding point guard. Fizer was rated among the league's premier sixth men until tearing his ACL on Jan. 31. The legitimate power forward (6-8, 260 pounds) has been pronounced fit to begin workouts again and should be ready for training camp.
The Nuggets' pick at No. 7 would be point guard T.J. Ford.
* Trade 2: The Nuggets trade the third pick to the Bulls for the seventh pick and one of two young big men - Eddy Curry or Tyson Chandler. Curry and Chandler both passed up college, but their careers have progressed rather quickly and impressively.
(Ford still would be the pick unless 18-year-old Russian Pavel Podkolzin - who is 7-4 and weighs 303 - slips to seventh.)
* Trade 3: The Nuggets trade that No. 3 to the Clippers for the sixth pick and negotiating rights to power forward (6-8, 265) Elton Brand, who is a restricted free agent. (Once another club makes an offer, the Nuggets would have 15 days to match it.) His status will be unrestricted next season, but the Nuggets could sign him now to a long-term contract. Ford would be there at No. 6.
* Trade 4: I've already suggested the Nuggets trade the No. 3 for Toronto's Vince Carter.
Toronto has the fourth pick. The Nuggets could swap places with the Raptors if Toronto gave them power forward Antonio Davis.
Trade 3 is my favorite. Here's what the Nuggets could end up with:
Point guard - Ford. The University of Texas sophomore will be an all-star guard (in Denver in 2005). He is special, and the Nuggets haven't played with a big-time point guard since Fat Lever.
W. PAIGE ON ESPN
Woody Paige can be seen regularly on "Around the Horn," which airs daily at 3 p.m. on ESPN and 12:30 a.m. on ESPN2. He can be heard from 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays on ESPN radio 560 AM. He can be e-mailed here and called at 303-820-1938.
Shooting guard - Arenas. He was voted most improved in the league with Golden State. He can play either backcourt position with class and talent.
Power forward - Brand. He averaged 18.5 points and 11.3 rebounds a game last season, and he's a good guy and a team player.
Center - Nene. Like Pele and Madonna. If he can take another step up from his rookie season, Nene won't be a one-name or one-year wonder.
Small forward - Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Tsk, Tsk as a rookie. If he continues to be a Georgia pit instead of peach, other small forwards will be easy to find. Just shake the trees.
The Nuggets would have Camby and Olowokandi as two more big men in reserve with an assortment of little men.
That team (with a new coach) sells hope and playoff tickets and a potential title.
Or the Nuggets can try to sell Denver on another placid draft pick.
