[ESPN] Nuggets quiet, but confident

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=spears_marc&id=2148859

By Marc J. Spears
Special to ESPN.com

The Denver Nuggets haven't done anything sexy this summer, but still have reason to feel very sexy.

The defending champion San Antonio Spurs have added Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel to a team that didn't lose any major pieces.

The Sacramento Kings added Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells.

The Houston Rockets added Stromile Swift and Derek Anderson.

The Los Angeles Clippers added Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley.

And the Memphis Grizzlies added Damon Stoudamire and Eddie Jones.

So what major moves have the Nuggets made to keep up with the Western Conference's great teams and quickly-improving teams? Nothing, unless you count the signing of Grizzlies point guard Earl Watson, who has agreed in principle to a deal. Even so, Denver isn't too worried.

"Before you make a major sort of move, I'd like to give this team a chance to play together," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "George really likes this team. He loves the core group of guys. And I like them a lot, too. Sometimes it's hard being patient and waiting. But sometimes that's the best thing to do."

The addition of Watson seems a little odd, considering Denver already has two other point guards in starter Andre Miller and 2005 Sixth Man of the Year candidate Earl Boykins. But the Nuggets like his toughness, ability to defend both guard positions and poise, which helped the Grizzlies win many games down the stretch last season.

When asked if the Nuggets could make three point guards work, Vandeweghe said: "Absolutely. [Former head coach] Doug Moe always had three point guards, and they played a lot."


The Nuggets also filled their hole at shooting guard. They were reportedly involved with a number of free-agent shooting guards this summer, including Finley, Mobley, Van Exel, Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Marko Jaric and Damien Wilkins. However, they found their needed free agent in one of their own: Voshon Lenard.

Lenard was the 2004 NBA 3-point champ and averaged 14.2 points during the 2003-04 season. But the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder, missed 79 regular-season games and the playoffs last season due to an Achilles injury. After much deliberation, the Nuggets opted to exercise a $3.52 million team option on Lenard for this season. And Denver is expecting the sharp-shooter to improve this team from the perimeter, where the team didn't have any player among the NBA's top 40 3-point shooters last season.

"What we've done is add a healthy Voshon Lenard," Vandeweghe said. "He basically is our free agent."

The Nuggets also agreed in principle to re-sign shooting guards Greg Buckner and DerMarr Johnson, and drafted guard Julius Hodge. Now they are in position to make a blockbuster trade with their guard and big men assets.


Meanwhile, the Nuggets will continue to monitor their players' health issues.

Last season, Kenyon Martin was stymied by knee problems and had left knee surgery after the playoffs. The 2004 NBA All-Star could begin playing again next week. Nene missed 27 games to left knee, right hip and left hamstring injuries.

Eduardo Najera was hampered by a right hand fracture that limited him during the playoffs and Marcus Camby missed 28 games with various injuries. Overall, Denver missed 260 games to injury last season.

"You sort of look at the last half of the [season]," Vandeweghe said. "This team wasn't together long. George did not have the benefit of a training camp. We never did have Voshon Lenard. Nene was never really healthy. Kenyon wasn't perfectly healthy. Najera had a broken hand. We weren't together as a team."

The Nuggets were 32-8 under coach George Karl in the final 40 regular-season games last season. The franchise is expecting the coach, who came on board in late January, to work his magic during the entire 2005-06 season. Karl, who overcame prostate surgery this offseason, will be back in time for training camp.

Said Karl: "I'm kind of the conservative guy in the office right now because I do like my team."

Especially with the expectations that forward Carmelo Anthony will emerge as an All-Star this season.

Anthony was hampered by a multitude of off-the-court issues last season and his conditioning was questioned. But the third pick in the 2003 Draft is in solid playing shape now with a trainer following him during his hectic offseason. Anthony has been watching and learning from a lot of game film, says he has learned from his off-court problems and wants to come back as more of a leader in his third season. The 21-year-old showed strong signs of being a leader when the Nuggets lost to the Spurs in the first round of the 2005 playoffs.

"In the middle of the season and toward the end I really came on strong," Anthony said. "The team came on strong. During the playoffs, I picked it up another notch. That was just the beginning. I was glad to see myself have a little pep in my step and get better."

The Nuggets definitely have reason to feel confident about being a strong West team and making the second round for the first time since 1994. Expect the Nuggets to fight with Seattle for the Northwest Division crown and be a tougher team under Karl, Carmelo and K-Mart. In an odd way, while the team has stayed more or less the same, they will be much better if they can stay healthy. But while the Nuggets will be tough, it will take a sexy move to put them in the same realm as the West's top models in San Antonio and Phoenix.

"We've looked at a lot of things," Vandeweghe said. "All our players are happy. We're a team that really improved dramatically. We have young players that are still getting better. Again, it's difficult not to do something. But sometimes that's the best thing to do."

Marc J. Spears, who covers the NBA for The Denver Post, is a contributor to ESPN.com.