Denver Stiffs

According to this weeks weekend dime on ESPN, AAA will not be eligible to be traded this year because he was signed too late. The info is clear at the bottom of the page.

CBA expert Larry Coon says that RFAs in China will have few options if they can't get back to the NBA before March 1.

In last night's game against the Houston Rockets, Danilo Gallinari suffered what is now called a "severe ankle sprain" after undergoing a CT scan and MRI. Apparently the chip fracture that was seen in x-ray's last night was from a long previous injury, most likely suffered before Gallo embarked on his pro playing career.

The reported contracts for both of these guys included all the bonuses they could potentially get, no matter how unlikely. Hoopshype appears to have the base numbers, which are generally used for cap purposes, etc. and are usually the numbers announced.

Nene's reported deal: 5 years, 67 million.
Actual: 5 years, 65 million.
Not much different, but I considered 13 million a year to be the max I'd have paid him, so this is right in line.

AAA's reported deal: 5 years, 43 million.
Actual: 5 years, 38 million.
A good chunk of change less, but still more than I would have paid. The last year also appears to be a player option.

Nuggets coach George Karl did admit his doubts in the Portland version of Fernandez.

"I saw some cuteness," Karl said, "but I didn't know he kind of understands the game of basketball a little bit like a point guard. He sees the game as a playmaker. I saw his cuteness, but I didn't know his habits were pretty first-class."

"He has the knack to find the open man," Karl said. "In American basketball, they read the defense after they catch it. In European basketball, they have a tendency to make the read before they catch it. I like the read before you catch it."

-Art Garcia

The Denver Nuggets come in at #21 on the list with the following stats:

Current value: $316 million
1-year change: 0%
Operating income: -$1.2 million