Denver Nuggets (10-4) 2023-24 Season Thread: 11/22 @ Magic

[blazers21ntnp]

Fan Jam highlights from Friday night...



Nuggets decide to not use amnesty this season...

NUGGETS BRIEFS
[h1]"Amnesty" decision no option for Denver[/h1]
POSTED: 12/17/2011 1:00:00 AM MST

As the Nuggets prepare for future flexibility, they decided that the best move is no move.

Denver decided to bypass using its "amnesty" provision Friday, which means it could have cut a player and not have the money go against their salary cap. (The Nuggets would still have to pay the player.) Al Harrington ($6.2 million) was a possible candidate, but the Nuggets held on to their amnesty as a chip to use in future roster restructuring.

And so, Harrington is still here.

"I planned on being here," Harrington said. "If it happened, it happened."

Harrington battled foot pain for much of last season, shooting 41.6 percent from the field and averaging 10.5 points a game.

"I just want to play my game," he said. "Last year I wasn't in the shape I am in now — the shape I'm usually in — so I'm just ready to show how good a player I really am."

Nuggets coach George Karl said Harrington has had "one of the top five camps. He's come back with a good attitude and good conditioning. How it'll fall into place, I can't tell you, but early in the season, there will be some serious responsibility on the veteran guys. Hopefully he'll make shots."

Don't forget. The Nuggets will have another roster chip come springtime. Unlike J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin, fellow former-Nugget-in-China Wilson Chandler is a restricted free agent. So, when the season ends over there in March, the Nuggets can match any offer for Chandler or possibly work out a trade.

"Our first option is to bring Chandler back to Denver," Denver executive Masai Ujiri said. "It's a huge (piece). Chandler is huge for us. He's restricted, I've been in touch with him and his agent."

Tough to crack. The Nuggets are deep, which means it will be tough for rookies to crack the rotation. Rookies Kenneth Faried and Jordan Hamilton have, understandably, had up-and-down camps. Asked about playing the rookies, Karl said: "Who do you want me to sit down to play the draft picks? Kosta (Koufos)? Chris Andersen? Al? Nene is going to get 35 minutes, Timo (Mozgov) has got to get 25. But the rookies are NBA skilled players. They're good draft picks."

Numerous Nuggets have praised Faried's tenacity on the boards. Said Andersen: "Kenneth, you got to box him out. I learned."

New Nugget. Corey Brewer, nabbed from Dallas this week in a trade, is hoping to resuscitate his career after some lackluster seasons.

"It's a good situation I'm coming into, young guys in George Karl's system, getting up and down (the court)," said Brewer, a former Florida standout. "I feel I can bring a lot of energy — and some defense. That's what I like to do."

Asked which position he plays, the slender 6-foot-9 Brewer smiled and said: "Two, three, four, I play everything. I guard a lot of different positions, from points to fours. Wherever I can get on the court."

Confidence men? Karl was asked an interesting question — and, in typical Karl fashion, gave an interesting answer. He was asked to name his biggest challenge this season.

"I think the biggest challenge is to get your young kids to play with confidence," he said. "Ty (Lawson) did it for 27 games, which is great, but there's a big difference between 27 and 66. Ty has been great. The most-energizing thing of camp is (point guards) Andre Miller and Ty battling each other on every possession. ... There's a hunger for everybody, including the coaching staff."

Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post

 

[kingjay718]

I could've sworn he said he wanted to win...

 

[jaysfiend23]

im so bummed that team china nuggets cant opt out, this is gunna be an interesting season...plus i already bought my knicks vs nuggets tix for the 21st ugh

 

[executive76]

Nuggets only have ONE player in China though.

This squad can run a lot of teams out of the gym. 

 

[executive76]

Game is today...any idea on what's up with the Affalo situation?

2011 NBA Free Agency Winners and Losers

http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/33901004

Arron Afflalo: Afflalo hasn't signed yet, which isn't a problem but the fact that no team was willing to bother with making him an offer knowing the Nuggets would match means he may not sign for as much as he could have. Bear in mind DeAndre Jordan is a less established player than Afflalo and was helped by the Warriors' attempt to free him from Los Angeles. Afflalo could have likely wound up with top dollar as an unrestricted free agent. Denver may wind up as the best thing for his career, though.

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Originally Posted by Executive76

Game is today...any idea on what's up with the Affalo situation?

Tomorrow. Who knows, looks like he doesn't really have any options other than the Nuggets at this point. He definitely has no leverage, so I don't know what he's waiting for.

 

[executive76]

Idk how I got that mixed up...

Lopez_Nuggets Aaron J. Lopez 

Sounds like #Nuggets coach George Karl will start @TyLawson3 and Andre Miller together Tuesday vs @PhoenixSuns.

Lopez_Nuggets Aaron J. Lopez 

#Nuggets big man Nene says he plans to play two quarters Tuesday vs @PhoenixSuns. Expect the same for others veterans.

 

[jhobson5]

Originally Posted by aepps20

Michael Ruffin is coming HOME! Cherry Creek High School's Finest.

  

I was thinking the same thing...Cherry Creek High School Alum here 04' baby.

 

[aepps20]

I knew my dude Jhobson knew what the deal was. My cousin hooped with Ruffin at Creek back in the day and dude was a celebrity back then. Him and Darnell McDonald were the most famous Colorado products back in the mid to late 90s

 

[executive76]

Just going up on ESPN online: Sources say Nuggets and restricted free agent Arron Afflalo agree to five-year deal in excess of $43 million

 

[blazers21ntnp]

[h1]http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_19580851[/h1]

[h1]Arron Afflalo agrees to contract extension with Nuggets; for five years and $43 million[/h1]
Posted: 12/19/2011 06:02:53 PM MST
Updated: 12/19/2011 06:58:09 PM MST
By Benjamin Hochman
The Denver Post


The Nuggets got their guy. Now they got their other guy.

Almost a week after the Nuggets re-signed Nene, Denver agreed to a contract with its starting shooting guard Arron Afflalo — for five years and as much as $43 million, a league source said — locking in one of the NBA's budding shooting guards.

Afflalo averaged 12.6 points per game last season for Denver, while showcasing gritty defense and intensity. The 6-foot-5 Afflalo is 26-years-old. Denver coach George Karl is a huge advocate of Afflalo, whom Karl has continually called one of his favorite players he ever has coached.

When the lockout ended, Denver's two priorities were to bring back those two players — both who could receive the enticing fifth contractual year that all the other teams couldn't offer. Nene signed for five years, $67 million.

Right after the playoffs, Afflalo said he wanted to re-sign with Denver and Nuggets executive Masai Ujiri said he wanted to bring back Triple-A. But negotiations took awhile, especially after Sacramento splurged on a shooting guard, Marcus Thornton, who raised the price of shooting guards of his caliber, after signing a four-year, $33 million deal.

Afflalo likely will start at shooting guard alongside Ty Lawson - the same backcourt duo that spearheaded Denver's 18-7 run following the February trade with New York. Down the stretch, Afflalo suffered a hamstring injury, which kept him sidelined and forced him to miss some of the playoffs against Oklahoma City.

Denver also acquired Rudy Fernandez, who will fill the "J.R. Smith" role off the bench — a confident gunslinger who can also attack the basket.

So, Denver's backcourt quartet will be Lawson and Afflalo, followed by reserves Andre Miller and Fernandez. The Nuggets have their first of two preseason games Tuesday night against Phoenix at Pepsi Center, and Karl said Lawson and Miller will be the backcourt starters.

The Nuggets also have the rights to restricted free agent Wilson Chandler, who is currently playing in China. His season overseas will likely end — depending on the Chinese Basketball Association playoffs — in mid-March. If the Nuggets re-sign him (they have the right to match any offer), he would give Denver another option heading into the playoff push. Because of the lockout, the playoffs won't begin until late April, as opposed to mid-April.

The Nuggets' first game is Dec. 26 at Dallas.

The Nuggets got Afflalo for just a second-round pick from Detroit, back in the summer of 2009. After averaging 4.9 points the previous season, Afflalo averaged 8.8 in 2009-10 with Denver, followed up by his 12.6 last season.

 

[executive76]

Still have to do something with Chandler...think teams might stay away like with Affalo figuring the FO will match?

 

[jhobson5]

Originally Posted by aepps20

I knew my dude Jhobson knew what the deal was. My cousin hooped with Ruffin at Creek back in the day and dude was a celebrity back then. Him and Darnell McDonald were the most famous Colorado products back in the mid to late 90s

Big Darnell. Good dude! Played football with his younger brother Darren at Creek when he was a sophomore and I was a senior.  Sad part is I think he brother would have been a better football player but he never commited to it and wanted to play baseball.
  

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Nuggets looked pretty good from the highlights last night. Faried is a beast, that's for sure. Hopefully Karl will give him some meaningful minutes this season, although I have a feeling that won't happen.

https://twitter.com/#!/Lopez_Nuggets

Aaron J. Lopez @Lopez_Nuggets
#Nuggets PG @TyLawson3 left practice with a sprained left ankle. Big man Nene has right hamstring tightness. Both are day-to-day.

Also dinged up for #Nuggets: @rudy5fernandez and Al Harrington. They might sit out Thursday at PHX.

https://twitter.com/#!/denvernuggets

Denver Nuggets @denvernuggets
#Nuggets guard @Arron_Afflalo happy with first practice. "It was a good first day. I'm happy to be back." AAA will play Thurs at PHX.

 

[executive76]

I watched the second half and really like Julyian Stone's game his court vision is 

Faried has that Blake Griffin-esque no regard for his own safety while attacking the rim but he wasn't getting back on defense (too busy celebrating) once he corrects that he can take minutes from somebody. His motor is way too high to ride the bench for long

Lawson's passing hasn't improved

The game was sloppy and PHX is pretty bad so it's hard to tell where the squad is really at.

 

[executive76]

DENVER (AP)—The Denver Nuggets have waived guard Cory Higgins and forward Michael Ruffin.

Higgins was an undrafted free agent who played at Colorado and signed with Denver on Dec. 9. His father is former NBA player Rod Higgins, who was once coached by the Nuggets’ George Karl when they were both with Golden State.

Higgins played briefly in two preseason games with the Nuggets.

Ruffin joined the Nuggets on Dec. 15 but didn’t appear in any preseason games.

 

[blazers21ntnp]

I'm glad to see Stone make the roster. I don't think there was any real possibility of Ruffin being kept, and Higgins didn't play well enough during camp to grab a roster spot.

Can't wait for tomorrow night!

 

[jc08]

Hi all, just moved to Denver a few months ago. Just wondering where the best places to get tickets are?

 

[executive76]

Lets go

 

[executive76]

Wasn't too bad overall. Not enough attacking the rim.

 

[markster555]

Nuggets are deep this year, definitely gonna have to come down from CSU for some games this season 

 

[hankmoody]

I'm going to have a blast watching this team all year.

 

[blazers21ntnp]

For the first game of the season, that was a great performance.

Lawson was unbelievable, and Harrington provided some unreal instant offense off the bench. Hopefully he can stay consistent this season.

 

[executive76]

The hustle plays

 

[aepps20]