Taking Stock – Pause for Reflection
July 6th, 2009 | by Bryan Douglass |It’s official.
Noted the emotional sickness provided by the state of sports during this time of year was inducing vomit over at the Stable, and now, as I investigate the headlines and rumors surrounding the NBA offseason, I have no sign of relief.
I refuse to believe this is happening… this is REALLY happening.
The minds at ESPN have officially put the Nuggets ahead of the Broncos as the team of choice in Denver. Chauncey Billups provided this writer with a moment of personal elation upon noticing the ominously quiet report that The Solution will be taking jersey #1 next season (a number that graced the back of J.R. Smith last season… think The Solution gave him the reach-around on that one, or was it prison-style occasion that put Smitty in his place?). Knowshon jerseys are starting to hit the racks, the weather continues to provide the wonderful gifts of cloud cover and rain in the Denver afternoons, the baseball season is reaching the mid-point of a season that lasts an eternity, and my friends at Kix and the City announced the pending release of the 2009 Retro True Blue Air Jordan III (I have a problem when it comes to Jordan apparel… I don’t own much, I yearn to own it all, and I follow these evolutions like the growth of my own children).
Then we move to the NBA…
Josh Childress is meeting with NBA teams to discuss his return.
The Mavs signed Jason Kidd and aren’t done shopping.
Jannero Pargo is looking to join the Bulls.
The Orlando Magic add Vince Carter.
The Hornets are hoping to sign Brandon Bass (that hurts).
The Cavs brought in Shaq and are working hard to do more.
Amare Stoudamire seems destined for Golden State.
Agent Mark Bartelstein reports a dozen teams are looking to deal with the Knicks to acquire David Lee (that hurts again).
Rasheed Wallace signs with the Boston Celtics.
Agent Jimmy “Chubby” Wells reports as many as a dozen teams are inquiring about Ramon Sessions.
Carlos Boozer and Memhet Okur returned to Utah and Paul Millsap may do the same (not that we had a shot, but still… it hurts).
Ron Artest signs with the Lakers.
Trevor Ariza signs with Houston (you HAVE to be kidding me).
The Spurs traded for Richard Jefferson and may be signing Big Baby Davis.
Search through those links my friends and together we will count the times “Denver” or “Nuggets” would be mentioned… and that would be zero. The Nuggets are doing nothing. Absolutely nothing. If you want to count Linas (signing the qualifying offer) go ahead. If you want to throw a meeting in L.A. with the Birdman into the tally, fine. They mean nothing. Linas is still free to field offers, and if he gets one of worth, he’ll be gone (I refuse to believe the Nuggets would match, and to be honest, I would hope they agree). They can offer the Bird the mid-level exception but the luxury tax will bite regardless, and as of today, nothing is certain. He’s an unrestricted free agent, as are Dahntay Jones (rumored to be headed to Indiana) and Anthony Carter (rumored to be headed to several spots), and they can do what they like.
Meanwhile EVERY team we could consider a worthy foe has improved. The defending champs added a defending superstar. You would hope the nuisance that was Trevor Ariza would fall out of the picture as a result, but he simply relocates to a team that should be on the decline. Now if they can get anything from McGrady and Yao they will be playoff bound. The Spurs are right back in the hunt and gave up nothing to get there. Add Golden State, Dallas, New Orleans, and Utah as teams in the West that stand as formidable opponents with new-found hope for next year. The Cavs, the Celtics, the Magic, and the Bulls all reside at the top of the East, and all have been working to progress.
Everyone is working to get in line for a tremendous 2009-10 NBA season… except your Denver Nuggets.
It is my worst nightmare, slowly unfolding through each painful day of existence. The only thing worse than a bad move is no move at all, and it appears the Nuggets are pushing forward with an ultra-conservative plan that may, at best, bring a roster already proven as a failure back to the court. It may be they are lurking in the shadows, pushing potential trade scenarios or choices such as these, or this, or this behind closed doors. Unfortunately, I do not work for the organization and am given the same view as you… and it’s a scene void of optimism.
The pessimist in me is not shocked. The Nuggets may simply be following a business model laid by the Colorado Rockies: enjoy the fruits of success, immediately turn the resulting opportunity into an excuse to horde cash, and watch it all crumble while raising ticket prices, concessions, and the hopes and dreams of an entire generation of would-be basketball fans.
The optimist in me refuses to believe this is true. This is not Stan Kroenke. Kroenke has never and will never formulate a business model that offensive, that disturbing, that… wrong. The majority of the teams listed above are just as strapped for cash as the Nuggets. All are facing severe consequences, in one form or another, for the decisions made (except Houston, for if we have learned anything, it is a resounding belief in the work of Daryl Morey). However, they all understand the reality of the situation: if you do not compete, you do not win, and if you do not win, you do not profit. That’s the bottom line and it seems difficult to imagine a man like Kroenke, a proven business mogul, would want anything less for this organization.
Unless…
… the peripheral works of this organization, the Kroenke Group are taking a toll. We warned this might happen. We brought the news of Kroenke’s efforts to buy back into the NFL to the virtual doorstep found directly above your keyboard. We told you there would pressures and potential sacrifices involved in the chase of the St. Louis Rams, and we warned that unknown, powerful influences could enter the picture and play a role in the evolution (or lack thereof) of your Denver Nuggets.
Again, we do not know this to be true. We do not work for the organization. I do not sit on the board at the Pepsi Center. I have no inside source, no hidden voice from the inner works, and no way to validate one assertion or the other.
But the silence is deafening.
We’ll bring Trade Speculation, Take 3 shortly. Thanks for stopping in.
Tags: Amare Stoudarmire, Big Baby Davis, Brandon Bass, Carlos Boozer, Chauncey Billups, David Lee, Denver Nuggets, Jannero Pargo, Jason Kidd, Josh Childress, Mehmet Okur, NBA Free Agencey, NBA Trade Market, Ramon Sessions, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Jefferson, Ron Artest, St. Louis Rams, Stan Kroenke, Trevor Ariza, Vince Carter
By Travis on Jul 7, 2009
Good grief, unfortunately I have to agree. Instead of seeing last year as a starting point toward an eventual championship, it may be seen as the closest we will get for another twenty years. At which point one must lament that the only course of action as a fan is to say to yourself, “At least I got to see them make it to the Western Conference Finals…” (holds breath for another twenty years)