Re: Denver repeating history
Well, to be fair - visiting Alonzo Mourning doesn't really count as heavy pursuit in my opinion. Kidd never visited at all.
Basically, it doesn't hurt to ask the top free agents, and that's what they did. Not surprisingly, they all said "no, thank you".
Brad Miller would have come to Denver if the Kings had not come in with the huge sign-and-trade deal at the last minute. This was reported by numerous outlets.
Denver wanted Corey Maggette badly, and Maggette wanted to come to Denver, but he took Utah's higher offer, hoping the Clippers wouldn't match. Denver sensed LA would, so they backed off in their pursuit, and at this moment, it looks like the Clippers will indeed match Maggette, leaving the Jazz holding the bag.
This is not to say they did everything right.
Arenas would have played in Denver if they would've put up the cash - and they didn't.
Olowokandi repeatedly stated that Denver was his first choice - he never got an offer from Denver, and went to Minnesota for a comparative bargain.
Essentially, Denver could've spent a little more money and landed Arenas and Olowokandi for not much more (in NBA terms) than they'll likely get Andre Miller for. Arenas would've been a significantly better fit for Denver, too...
That said, it is hard to get good players to come to a bad team, and the fact that Andre Miller will probably be a Nugget isn't a bad haul for them, considering the circumstances.
They're better off spending money wisely, and if that means they have to wait until next year, so be it. The West is loaded anyway, and Denver wouldn't have had a chance this year no matter what they did in free agency.
Their goal this year should be to improve dramatically, and help change the perception of the franchise. With Carmelo, Nene, Miller, and other promising young players - if Denver plays respectably this season, they'll look like a team on the come - get another lottery pick, and have a lot of money available for free agents again.
At that point, they may look a lot more enticing...
It's a tough gig; rebuilding. Remember, "New Jeru" (or whatever we're calling the swamps of Jersey now) was a "no-man's-land" for nearly two decades between Dr. J and Jason Kidd. All it takes is one superstar to change everyone's perception.
Do you think NBA players think of Cleveland as "no-man's-land" with LeBron in town now? You can bet they don't.
So as Carmelo Anthony goes, so does Denver.
Well, to be fair - visiting Alonzo Mourning doesn't really count as heavy pursuit in my opinion. Kidd never visited at all.
Basically, it doesn't hurt to ask the top free agents, and that's what they did. Not surprisingly, they all said "no, thank you".
Brad Miller would have come to Denver if the Kings had not come in with the huge sign-and-trade deal at the last minute. This was reported by numerous outlets.
Denver wanted Corey Maggette badly, and Maggette wanted to come to Denver, but he took Utah's higher offer, hoping the Clippers wouldn't match. Denver sensed LA would, so they backed off in their pursuit, and at this moment, it looks like the Clippers will indeed match Maggette, leaving the Jazz holding the bag.
This is not to say they did everything right.
Arenas would have played in Denver if they would've put up the cash - and they didn't.
Olowokandi repeatedly stated that Denver was his first choice - he never got an offer from Denver, and went to Minnesota for a comparative bargain.
Essentially, Denver could've spent a little more money and landed Arenas and Olowokandi for not much more (in NBA terms) than they'll likely get Andre Miller for. Arenas would've been a significantly better fit for Denver, too...
That said, it is hard to get good players to come to a bad team, and the fact that Andre Miller will probably be a Nugget isn't a bad haul for them, considering the circumstances.
They're better off spending money wisely, and if that means they have to wait until next year, so be it. The West is loaded anyway, and Denver wouldn't have had a chance this year no matter what they did in free agency.
Their goal this year should be to improve dramatically, and help change the perception of the franchise. With Carmelo, Nene, Miller, and other promising young players - if Denver plays respectably this season, they'll look like a team on the come - get another lottery pick, and have a lot of money available for free agents again.
At that point, they may look a lot more enticing...
It's a tough gig; rebuilding. Remember, "New Jeru" (or whatever we're calling the swamps of Jersey now) was a "no-man's-land" for nearly two decades between Dr. J and Jason Kidd. All it takes is one superstar to change everyone's perception.
Do you think NBA players think of Cleveland as "no-man's-land" with LeBron in town now? You can bet they don't.
So as Carmelo Anthony goes, so does Denver.
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