Summer Shopping has Not Served Nuggets Well

While most NBA teams have their fair share of busts, the Denver Nuggets have a history of blunders that make Homer Simpson look like a master of his profession and Barney Fife the best deputy in the world.

Even without including its incredible draft blunders, in which the Nuggets have been the worst of all the NBA teams in the last thirty years, the team seems to be inept when it comes to making moves in the summer. While some mid-season moves such as trading for Allen Iverson have come with some success, for the most part the Nuggs summer dealing are filled with the likes of Kenyon Martin and trading away Jalen Rose.

Without a doubt, the biggest blunder in the Nuggets offseason move history was giving Kenyon Martin a 7-year $92 million contract along with giving away three first round picks to the New Jersey Nets. K-Mart, who had a history of leg injuries before he was drafted by the Nets, to this day has one of the worst contracts in league history and has only played in 60 percent of his potential games since becoming a Nugget.

While the three players who were drafted with those picks were far from world-beaters, Joey Graham, Marcus Williams and Renaldo Balkman, the money saved by having all three of them instead of K-Mart could help the Nuggets exponentially. In fact in this upcoming season, the 30-year old, injury-prone forward will make more money than Carmelo Anthony.

Another deal that scratches heads is when after two seasons with the club, the Nuggets shipped off 23-year-old Jalen Rose to Indiana for point guard Mark Jackson. Rose went on to play 14 more seasons in the NBA and averaged above 18 points per game six times in his career.

Not only did Jalen Rose become a very good player, the Nuggets decided to send Mark Jackson back to the Pacers at the trading deadline for two players who were both waived within four months. Jackson and Rose then both started for Pacers when they appeared in the NBA Finals four seasons later.

Trades are not the only facet in which the Nuggets have seemed to struggle. The art of free agency is one that seems to be beyond the grasp of Nuggets management. Some free agents Nuggets’ brass has signed include J.R. Rider, Mark Blount, and Cedric Ceballos. Not exactly the Harlem Globetrotters.

The best two signings of the free agent era for the Nuggets were Andre Miller in 2003 and Dale Ellis in 1994. Miller played three good seasons for Denver before being parlayed for Allen Iverson. However, Miller did sign with the Nuggets for $51 million. Pretty good money for a player who has never made an all star game.
Whether it be luck, bad planning or sheer stupidity, the Denver Nuggets are just not very good at offseason moves. So for anyone looking for the Nuggets to make a marquee trade or signing, don’t hold your breath.

For further reading on the Nuggets’ draft by Mike Donovan, click HERE.