Denver Nuggets 2009-10 Facts:
- Western Conference: 4th Place
- Northwest Division: 1st Place
- Record: 53 Wins 29 Loses
- Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round by the Utah Jazz in six games.
Key Moves:
Incoming
- F Al Harrington
- F Shelden Williams
Outgoing
- C Johan Petro
- F Joey Graham
- F Malik Allen
What will the Nuggets do with Carmelo Anthony? Will the Nuggets make a huge trade to compete for a title or will they look to rebuild this season? The Nuggets will likely trade Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, or J.R. Smith by the end of the season. I don't see the Nuggets making a trade to keep Anthony happy and help the them compete of a title. Billups will likely ask for a trade if Melo is traded. Smith and Martin will likely be traded by the deadline because the Nuggets don't want to renew there contracts. By December we will probably have a better idea on what the Nuggets want to do, but if they are struggling look for a lot of trades to go down.
The one spot the Nuggets don't have to worry about is point guard. Chauncey Billups is still one of the most productive point guards in the NBA and will have another solid season. Ty Lawson will be Billups backup and see his role at point guard increase this season. Lawson has a lot of speed and can be a game changer when he's on the floor. Anthony Carter is a defensive minded point guard and will recieve limited minutes unless someone gets injured. Arron Afflalo will likely start at shooting guard again this season. Afflalo is a solid defender who can hit open shots and is rarely used for anthing else. J.R. Smith is the difference maker on the Nuggets and will need to have a breakout year this season. Smith needs to be more produtive on offense and play better defense if the Nuggets have any chance of making it to the playoffs. Less dribbling and more playmaking will earn Smith major minutes this season.
Carmelo Anthony might be playing his last few months in a Nuggets uniform. If Anthony is traded the Nuggets have no shot at the playoffs, however if he plays out the whole season they will likely get a low seed. Nene will return as the starting center, but he's undersized for the position. Nene has solid low post moves, however he can't defend the top centers in the league. Until Kenyon Martin returns from injury, Al Harrington will likely start at power forward. Harrington can score from all over the court, but he can't defend power forwards for 30 minutes a night. Chris Andersen will be the back up center and will have to bring energy off the bench for the Nuggets to succeed. When the Nuggets made it the Western Conference finals Andersen was a huge reason, he was blocking shots and was a game changer. Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams will likely see limited minutes this season, but can bring energy off the bench when called on.
- 2010-11 Predictions:
- Center: Nene
- Power Forward: Al Harrington
- Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony
- Shooting Guard: Arron Afflalo
- Point Guard: Chauncey Billups
- Sixth Man: J.R. Smith
Bench: Chris Andersen, Renaldo Balkman, Eric Boateng, Anthony Carter, Shane Edwards, Melvin Ely, Gary Forbes, Ty Lawson, Kenyon Martin,Courtney Sims, and Shelden Williams.
- All Star Player: Carmelo Anthony
- Best Veteran: Chauncey Billups
- Best Asset: Carmelo Anthony
- Best New Addition: Al Harrington
- Key Player: J.R Smith
- Western Conference: 9th Place
- Northwest Division: 4th Place
The Nuggets will likely trade Carmelo Anthony before the deadline and just barely miss the playoffs. By next season the Nuggets will look like a whole new time with J.R. Smith, Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, and Carmelo Anthony all leaving. This could be the final stand for them to make a run for the championship.
