Nuggets Trade Rumors

"Rumblings soon might start about whether Mike Dunlap eventually could succeed Lute Olson as coach at the University of Arizona. Olson would like to head them off at the pass. "We're getting way ahead of ourselves," Olson, 73, told the Rocky Mountain News on Tuesday about whether Dunlap, a Nuggets assistant the past two seasons, could be his successor. Olson said the ball is in Dunlap's court whether he'll become Arizona's associate head coach. Barring the unforeseen, he will."

"Nuggets assistant coach Mike Dunlap is likely headed to Lute Olson's staff at Arizona as associate head coach. "My arrow is pointed in that direction," Dunlap said, confirming the offer and his interest Tuesday. He said he has yet to sign a contract. "I've covered it with Coach (George Karl) and they know what's on the table," Dunlap said. "It's just a matter of going into Arizona and seeing Coach (Olson) one last time to complete everything." "

"Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap says he is a "dark horse" for the Chicago Bulls coaching job, but indications are he's a strong candidate for an associate coaching position at the University of Arizona under Lute Olson. Dunlap confirmed Monday he has interviewed for both jobs. Asked if Arizona has made an offer, he said, "No comment.""

"Nuggets assistant coach Mike Dunlap has interviewed for the Chicago Bulls' head coaching vacancy. "I guess the 'fit' part of it is — they're a really young team, and I have a lot of experience with that," Dunlap said. "That was a curiosity of them with me." ...Members of the Bulls' brass, including general manager John Paxson, met with Dunlap in Denver. "I understand there's a process," Dunlap said of the Bulls' coaching search. "But it was a good meeting." "

"While Bulls general manager John Paxson maintained his vow of silence with the media Monday concerning his coaching search, Paxson apparently is doing plenty of talking. After reportedly interviewing Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap on Saturday, Paxson was in Phoenix on Sunday and Monday to meet with Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. Word out of Phoenix is that D'Antoni told Paxson he wants to be the Bulls' next coach. New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh also traveled to Phoenix over the weekend to interview D'Antoni."

"Mike D'Antoni has told John Paxson he wants to be the Bulls' next coach, according to sources. Whether Paxson has the same wish remains to be seen after the Bulls' general manager spent parts of Sunday and Monday with the Suns' coach in Phoenix. If nothing else, Paxson is staying true to his word to keep this critically important search wide-ranging and open-ended. Not many searches travel from relatively anonymous Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap to the high-profile D'Antoni within a wild 24 hours."

"For now, the Nuggets will wait on Iverson. His camp has interest in Iverson opting out and signing a three-year deal but perhaps will seek to entice the Nuggets by saying he would take less money next season to somewhat relieve the payroll. But a source has said the Nuggets aren't likely to offer an extension, which would burden the payroll even more in following years. The source said it is highly unlikely Iverson would opt out and leave Denver, which would result in a pay cut."

"With a simple "Yeah," coach George Karl confirmed Wednesday that he will return to the Nuggets' bench next season. Karl already had the faith of the Nuggets' brass — and the strength of his contract — so Karl's reassurance of his own commitment was the final part of the equation. Karl has two years and $6 million left on his contract with Denver, but he often talked about the frustrations of coaching a team with such strong personalities. Speaking publicly for the first time since Monday's Game 4 loss to the Lakers, Karl was asked if he would return for sure. "Yeah," he said."

"Avery Johnson was fired by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, and Mike D’Antoni clung loosely to his job in Phoenix — their fates underscoring that success is no guarantee of security for N.B.A. head coaches. The Mavericks fired Johnson a day after his team was eliminated from the playoffs by the New Orleans Hornets. The Suns also lost their first-round series, to the San Antonio Spurs, amid widespread reports that D’Antoni would be replaced."

"Allen Iverson's camp has formulated some strategy. But will The Answer get the answer he wants? Gary Moore, personal manager for the Nuggets guard, said Iverson is looking into doing something similar to what New Jersey's Vince Carter did last summer."

"Eduardo Najera wants to be in Denver. But he said he'll do his due diligence and test the free-agent waters."

"Throughout the season, A.I. and his personal manager, Gary Moore, have said that opting out and re-signing a long-term contract with Denver is enticing. If he opts out to sign with a different team, it would be risky, because A.I. has a little over $20 million guaranteed for next season in Denver."

"A source close to the situation stressed Saturday that Karl, who has two years and $6 million left on his contract, will be Denver's coach next fall regardless of how the Lakers series concludes. But any decision ultimately is up to Kroenke. "George Karl is our coach," Nuggets executive Rex Chapman said when asked about Karl's future."

"With the Nuggets down 3-0 in their first-round playoff series to Los Angeles Lakers, a top Nuggets executive dismissed speculation about George Karl’s job future."

"The agent for Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said his client is a "viable candidate" to be New York's general manager, but he doesn't believe anything is imminent. Steve Kauffman, who represents Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Warkentien, said his understanding is Walsh will keep the current New York staff intact through the draft and likely won't look to bring in an executive until after that."

"What are the chances of Denver firing Karl and bringing in someone like Larry Brown? "

"Sacramento forward Ron Artest, who faces the Nuggets on Saturday for the first time since they considered acquiring him in February, said the Nuggets would be higher in the standings if he were with them. “(If) God put me in Denver, it’s no question they would be a better team,’’ Artest wrote in an e-mail Friday."

"The what-if game arrives today, with the Kings and Denver Nuggets finally facing off. Remaining is the question that's impossible to answer in every sense. What if Ron Artest were a member of the Denver Nuggets? It could have been brilliant. It could have been boneheaded. That's what the what-ifs are for."

"Legendary Cal coach Pete Newell gave his endorsement Saturday to Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap, calling him "the best teacher we have in basketball," and suggesting that if the Golden Bears made him their next coach "they wouldn't be missing on him, believe me.""

"I think the Nuggets will do what they can to keep A.I. He has been the heart of this team. He has been a delight for fans, for jersey sales, for his teammates."

"Though contract negotiations are far from completed, Bronx-born Donnie Walsh is headed to the Garden at season's end to become Knicks president and end the disastrous Isiah Thomas Era... If senior VP Glen Grunwald isn't retained, Walsh is expected to bring in a right-hand man to run the draft, with SI.com reporting Denver GM Mark Warkentien as a strong candidate. Warkentien drafted Zach Randolph in Portland and has a good relationship with him. Kiki Vandeweghe could join that mix, along with Detroit personnel men John Hammond and George David, and San Antonio's Dennis Lindsey all highly regarded."

"Although the Bulls believe they need an upgrade over Kirk Hinrich, the belief is they'd go for Beasley if they got first pick and Rose if they got the second... This Bulls team needs to be more like the Celtics of last season: package the pick with one or two players and perhaps pick up a veteran point guard like Andre Miller. I could also see them pursuing a star player in perhaps a sign-and-trade with Washington for Gilbert Arenas, sort of a go-for-broke summer. Perhaps Elton Brand tells the Clippers he won't re-sign and the Clippers cash in for a package that includes Hinrich, Andres Nocioni and the Bulls' first pick. And if Nene gets healthy, the Nuggets have to move someone."

"So it's no wonder that the Nets could only keep up with the fast-paced Nuggets for part of one quarter before being outrun, 125-114, at the Meadowlands. The loss knocked the Nets a half-game behind the idle Hawks in the race for the final playoff spot in the East."

"Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh met Friday with his team's co-owners, Herbert and Melvin Simon, to work out a deal that could keep Walsh in Indiana and prevent him from replacing Isiah Thomas in New York. The Simon brothers would prefer to keep Walsh and have him reassume control over personnel decisions from Pacers president Larry Bird... Other candidates include Nets assistant GM Kiki Vandeweghe, former Knick players Greg Anthony and Mark Jackson, former Sixers GM Billy King, Nuggets VP of basketball operations Mark Warkentien and perhaps even former Knicks president Ernie Grunfeld, who is with Washington."

"With J.R Smith's contract coming to an end at the end of the year, what's next for him? He obviously could start on another team, but is there interest from other teams to let him? He has kind of been an up-and-down player but yet still young. Nuggets interested in bringing him back? "

"Looks like the Nuggets might make a move, after all. Though Denver kept its rotation intact at the trading deadline, the Nuggets are in the running for Tyronn Lue, a veteran point guard who was waived by Sacramento."

"The timing was crucial for Lue, as Friday was the deadline by which players had to be waived to still be eligible for addition to a playoff roster. According to numerous sources close to the Kings, he might sign with Denver and back up starter Anthony Carter. Whether Lue lands there or elsewhere, he should be in a position to offer scoring and quickness off the bench."

"An NBA source said yesterday that Clippers owner Donald Sterling does not seem interested in buying out the final year of guard Sam Cassell's contract. Cassell's agent, David Falk, has given the Clippers a deadline of Saturday to complete the buyout so the 6-foot-3-inch, two-time NBA champion would be eligible for another team's postseason roster... The NBA source said the Celtics and possibly the Nuggets, both over the salary cap, would be interested in Cassell if he is bought out prior to Saturday's deadline."

"Sam Cassell could soon be wearing the green and white of the Boston Celtics. Or the purple and orange of the Phoenix Suns. Even the yellow and blue of the Denver Nuggets."

"Despite their respective faults, Curry and Randolph have trade value, according to rival executives. Milwaukee and Denver pursued Randolph before the deadline; Miami had interest in Curry. It is likely that one of them will be dealt this off-season, possibly before the June draft."

"Isiah Thomas is committed to exiling Zach Randolph and is in serious trade negotiations with the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks, the Daily News has learned... Also, a league source told The News that the Bucks' owner, Milwaukee Sen.Herb Kohl, yesterday rejected a trade that would have sent Randolph and either Fred Jones or Jared Jeffries to Milwaukee for a package including Bobby Simmons, Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric, who all have long-term contracts."

"One Internet report claimed the Nets and Nuggets were talking Jamaal Magloire and Bostjan Nachbar for Nene. Given Nene's medical condition (testicular cancer), any deal would be high risk. One source squashed it."

"Anything can happen by the NBA's 2 p.m. CST trade deadline. Then again, nothing is likely to occur regarding the Grizzlies. That was the tone within the organization late Wednesday with regard to potential deals, specifically regarding guards Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry."

"The "it" is a trade of the veteran point guard. The trading deadline is this afternoon, and Cassell was still with the Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples Center when they beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 100-86, in their first game since the All-Star break... Cassell's name has popped up in discussions among a slew of teams, including the Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets."

"With only second-round picks or cash (or both) to offer, the Suns are trying to pry 6-foot-6 guard Quinton Ross away from the Los Angeles Clippers... Sources with the team said players like Denver's Yakhouba Diawara and Seattle's Mickael Gelabale were now secondary on the list, leaving Ross as the main target with the deadline approaching."

"Phoenix was talking about sending at least a second-round pick to various teams for the likes of the Los Angeles Clippers' Quinton Ross, Denver's Yakhouba Diawara or Seattle's Mickael Gelabale. Each of those players earns less than $1 million, making his pro-rated salary a mild hit on the payroll and luxury tax."

"The league's trade deadline is Thursday afternoon, and Miller and Lowry figure prominently in speculation suggesting that the Griz could move them as a combo. Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers, who the Griz face tonight in the Staples Center, are the teams reportedly making a serious push for Miller and Lowry's services."

"The Nuggets and Knicks have discussed a multi-player deal with Randolph, but it's not expected to happen. Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien drafted Randolph in 2001 (19th overall) when he ran Portland's scouting department. Linas Kleiza is an up-and-coming young big man the Knicks have interest in, but Randolph's stock is not high enough to land him... Thomas wants a solid player and Ron Artest and Vince Carter have been on their radar for months."

"Meanwhile, the Nets will continue to wheel until Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline. Sources throughout the league say Kiki Vandeweghe is generating a heated rush of discussions involving Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Miller and Nene... With Kidd apparently spoken for, the player drawing the most attention from promising title contenders is Philly's Andre Miller. Nuggets, Cavaliers and Rockets are sincere suitors - Celtics feel they're first in line for Sam Cassell - but not serious enough to offer more than expiring contracts and a first-round pick in the 20s."

"The rumors that the Sixers are interested in Sacramento's Ron Artest won't amount to anything, according to a person familiar with both teams. . . . One basketball source suggested that Denver is showing interest in Seattle guard Delonte West, the former St. Joseph's star."

"A source close to Artest said his gut feeling is Artest will still be on the Kings' roster come Feb. 22, the day after the trading deadline. Sacramento, for now at least, wants good value for Artest, which would likely mean Denver's Linas Kleiza — who is playing well for a low salary. A newspaper report out of New York stated the Nuggets are interested in the Knicks' Zach Randolph, but a source close to Denver said that likely won't happen, because Randolph is a maximum-contract player and Denver would have to give up a lot to get him. "

"Yet Lue might not be long for Sacramento, as he has been pursued by Phoenix and Boston and could be used in any subsequent deals before Thursday's trade deadline. On that front, sources close to Denver said talks between the Kings and Nuggets about Ron Artest have recently restarted."

"The trade of Bibby paves the way for the Kings to continue to clean house by trading Ron Artest. Denver is considered the favorite, but Thomas has always been enamored with the idea of bringing the former St. John's star home."

"Forward Carmelo Anthony wouldn't mind if it's the Nuggets, saying for the second time in three seasons he'd love to have Ron Artest as a teammate... In addition to Artest, Anthony said he has heard rumors about Denver getting Memphis' Mike Miller."

"The success of the Blazers has hurt Zach Randolph's trade value, but there are rumblings the Nuggets and the Knicks have discussed a multi-player trade involving the disgruntled power forward."

"Sure, they'll consider Artest. It's hard to disregard the availability of one of the NBA's better defenders. But Artest is looking to sign for, likely, a $13 million-per-year contract this summer. Denver doesn't have the cap room for that (keep your eye on Philadelphia). So if the Nuggets deal for Artest, they will have to deal Linas Kleiza, who is playing well and still on his first contract, and maybe the 2008 draft pick, who if Denver kept, would, obviously, also be on his first contract."

"What you won’t miss are the near constant rumors that Miller is on the trading block. He tries to tune that out, but after being traded three times he knows anything is possible. Cleveland has been one rumored destination, and Denver, the team the Sixers acquired him from, is also reportedly looking for a point guard."

"The original rumor had the Nuggets swapping Nene for Artest, which would make them smaller while everyone else is getting bigger. But Nene is out indefinitely with testicular cancer, and more recent speculation has focused on a package including Eduardo Najera and possibly Linas Kleiza."

"For all the things he said that couldn't happen (last season's emotional wanderings of quitting the NBA to play in Europe) or wouldn't happen (reflexive declarations that the Kings will make the playoffs), this is the one that can and possibly will. Ron Artest recently said he sees his time in Sacramento ending, and for the first time, his comments are grounded in reality. This being Artest, the situation, naturally, is complicated."

"Kidd is still looking to go to Dallas, which just so happened to be at the Meadowlands last night. In name, anyway. The Nets surprisingly dominated one of the West's top teams, 101-82, but the bigger story came beforehand when Mavs owner Mark Cuban shot down a potential Kidd deal... Denver, with interest in Kidd, also could be forced to take action."