Golden Nuggets: When will 'then' be 'now'?

by Jeffrey Morton on Jan 26, 2012 1:01 PM MST in Denver Nuggets: Daily Links

STEVE YEATER - AP

Nene decides to use Danilo Gallinari's head as a hand-rest.

...soon

The Nuggets look to the future as they extend their (hopefully) star small forward Danilo Gallinari. What other big things does the future hold for our Denver Nuggets?

Extensions galore down at the Extension Depot, otherwise known as the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets extended both Gallo (4 years $42 million with additional incentives) and, surprisingly, Kosta Koufos (3 years $9 million) yesterday. This gives us pause to think about the direction the team is going in the next couple seasons. It's clear with the signing of Nene Hilario and Arron Afflalo that the Nuggets are committed to a core of talent centered around those three (including Gallo) but what does it mean for the rest of the roster. It goes without saying that Ty Lawson will be extended an offer soon (Ty still has one year of guaranteed salary, and a Qualifying offer the year after) and he is definitely part of the "core".

Decisions will need to be made about Rudy Fernandez, Andre Miller, Chris Andersen and Timofey Mozgov (who has a guaranteed salary for next season with no team or player option) in the next several months. The Nuggets must address their peripherals in to the next off season. So what should they do? Two things that are looking increasingly likely are the Birdman no longer being on the roster in the coming months (either through trade or amnesty) and letting Andre Miller go in free agency.

While some would argue that Bird's contract isn't prohibitive (which it isn't) and they might as well play him while he winds down his career with the Nuggets, it is clear that Bird no longer get's the minutes he used to and George Karl has lost a certain amount of trust in him (Bird has received a couple Did Not Play - Coaches Decision's this year). Couple that with the extension of Kosta Koufos and you increasingly have a marginalized Birdman. Unless Bird can miraculously escape father time and become the player he was 3 seasons ago I think the handwriting may be on the wall.

Andre Miller most likely will not re-sign. He has the desire to start, and the value of signing a aging vet only makes sense at a "team friendly" cost. If 'Dre won't agree to those terms them, I'm afraid, the Nuggets have to let him walk. This leaves us with Rudy and Moz. All signs point to Mozgov being retained after next season because the Nuggets love his upside (and his inclusion reportedly held up the Carmelo Anthony trade). Rudy will most likely be extended a qualifying offer next season, but it remains to be seen if he will accept. He could potentially get more money playing in Spain. The Nuggets like Rudy, and Rudy seems to enjoy playing in Denver. Hopefully something can be worked out.

All in all, Nuggets fans, the future is now. It seems that Gallo is determined to step it up this year, and played a fantastic game after he signed his new contract. It's starting look bright around here, be sure to bring your shades.

Spaceballs-When Will Then be Now? (via shadowclaw46)

On to the Links

Happy days are here again for Nuggets, minus Melo - Mark Kiszla, Denver Post
Ok folks, this is Kiszla so proceed at your own risk. However I believe he's pretty good in this particular article. Try to enjoy!

Denver Nuggets extend contracts of Danilo Gallinari, Kosta Koufos - Benjamin Hochman, Denver Post
Nuggets' beat writer Benjamin Hochman writes about the new extensions given to K2 and Gallo.

Nuggets' color announcer Scott Hastings answers fan man questions - Denver Post
Scott Hastings answers several questions in the Denver Posts' Fan Mail section. Topics include Gallo's new contract and Wilson Chandler.

Kroenke could be making a bid for the Dodgers - Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk.com
In the "hands in too many pies" portion of our program, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says that erstwhile Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke is making a bid to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. Good for him - we will keep Josh and Masai thank you

The Association: Denver Nuggets - NBA.com
For those who missed the first episode last night. Here is the The Association: Denver Nuggets. Good Stuff

Twitter: @jmorton78 https://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78

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0 recs | 335 comments

Denver Stiffs

Golden Nuggets: When will 'then' be 'now'?

Comments

let miller walk trade fernadez&birdman

For whom?

verajao

this

even a 2nd rounder for them

D12.

me 2

I think our biggest hole will be a quality backup to ty next season.

Julyan Stone

Miller has been incredible this year

I think then you have to consider your expectations

You never know

If Masai can trick a team in to taking birdman

Oh thank you thank you thank you for the Spaceballs clip

Second loving the clip

iswydt

The other implication of all this

I'm still scratching my head over Koufos getting extended though...

7 footer

and hair, and monster truck

Are you hinting that Andersen

yeah but three million a year for a back up center in the nba

cough cough FRENCHY cough cough

If Massai could trade Birdman

I bet Ujiri is on the phone right now with the Clippers about seeing if they want Bird

any team

clippers do have serious issues

Bird for a 2nd rounder is probably the best we can hope for!

I was thinking last night

Yeah

100%

maybe Knicks could take Birdman

Ya know who we haven't missed at all?

I miss AAA when I watch Brewer try to dribble, or finish

Disagree...

agree with your disagree

In stiffy's defense, it's hard to say you miss anyone when you get 92 pts. in the paint

What would you consider "coming on" exactly?

That's a lot of specuation... and we won anyway so....?

Here's another article fresh off the interwebz for yall

"its ludicrous the stuff that people write" - that the Nuggets are a regular season team

Agree with that

w.c.f. counts for nothing?

definitely a plus

wow that's so true

Me neither

so much of it depends on match ups and who gets hot at the right time

Well, I'm all in with us winning it all. No joke.

i do too

Absolutely

Regular Season Team Truth

the Nuggets were a regular season team with a super*

I read the title of the post

I am the son...and the heir

: )

Basic contract.

third year is a team option

Wait Jeff

I was wrong

as are we

Jeff wasn't the only one

According to The Association

Thanks!

Vet min.

Kroenke was just interviewed on The Fan...

Let me get this right

i like it too if Chandler is ok with it

Cory looks really confused when he handles the ball

i agree with this

me too.

yeah Bird's not looking so good.

credit where it's due

The fact that we have to point that out speaks volumes.

I'm not opposed to it

Hasn't this been the case since Bird came back?

He had an okay game against a subpar team

I almost like what Kroenke said about the Avs the most as far as what he's doing for the Nuggets....