[Izulde]

Three Rings, More Questions

Now that the initial euphoria of the Denver Nuggets' third straight championship has waned, it's time to take a look at some questions for next season and who, if anybody, is likely to be moved.

1. Is there still a starting PG controversy?
Not if you ask the two players involved. Nolan Hill and Carlton Goree both have said they're fine with either starting or coming off the bench as the 6th man. On the other hand, GM Jestor is extremely high on Goree, who comes at a third of the price tag. Hill's a better passer and ballhandler, Goree's got the edge as a shooter. On defense, they're both about the same. It's quite possible that Hill could be traded during the offseason, as he's a very valuable trade chip. Goree, of course, is staying.

2. What's going to be done about David Jackson's starting demand?
There's not really much chance of the Nuggets dealing Jackson. For all his potential disruption and all his off-court antics, he's a fan favorite and he adds a certain character to the locker room. While Jestor has never been adverse to moving fan favorites (see Zelipe Gama, Marcelino Augusto as the most recent examples), we don't really see Jackson going out the door.

Victor Gipson, the man 50 Ninja's agitating to replace in the lineup, might go somewhere, but we're not entirely sold on that idea either. Jestor loves big men who play tough and the 7'2, 303 lb, shot-blocker maestro is certainly that. Then again, Gipson isn't really -all- that talented and in truth, Jackson's a better all-around player.

A much more likely possibility, surprising though it seems, is the trade of Mike Vines. Yes, his defense was an integral part of the Nuggets' second-half run and he was on fire down the stretch, but he's an extremely inconsistent shooter who turns 32 next year and has a hefty contract. The front office is particularly worried about his shooting slump during the playoffs and they may decide to move him while they can still get good value for him.

3. The Nuggets' most important players are all in their 30s. What is the team going to do to try and get younger?
A very important question and the answer isn't fully known yet, but it would seem that trading Hill, Gipson, Vines, some combination of the three, or even another player such as Tzvetan Kishishev in the mix is going to be a large part of it. Also, don't discount the possibility of some of the extra 1st rounders lying around being included in a package if there's a particularly attractive young player.

4. What's the team's greatest weak spot besides age?
Rebounding, especially on the defensive glass. Jones is the only top-flight rebounder on both ends of the floor. Gipson and Jackson do an excellent job of grabbing second-chance boards, but there's nobody outside of Jones who can really prevent second opportunities for the opposing team. It's particularly a problem on the bench, where it's either Jackson or Gipson capable of rebounding and that's it. Chezley McCleary won't be back next season in all likelihood, though he's a phenomenal rebounder off the bench and a great defender. Kishishev can't rebound to save his life, the biggest hole in his game.

5. How much longer can Mateen Yeaton play at the level he has?
Nobody knows. But now that the Nuggets have their future PG settled as one of either Hill or Goree, they can continue injecting high-quality youth into the rest of the team. Our guess is that the front office won't try for a hotshot young SG, because then Yeaton would be shifted to the 3, where he's never been nearly as good or comfortable as at the 2.