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The Denver Nuggets reduced their roster to 15 players by waiving forward Damion James, general manager/executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced today.
James, signed as a non-roster invitee, averaged 3.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in seven preseason games for Denver. He went 8-for-23 from the field.
The Nuggets open the regular season Oct. 30 at Sacramento.
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The Nuggets have a more difficult decision to make on [Jordan] Hamilton. He has a team option that needs to be picked up by Oct. 31. Picking up that option will guarantee Hamilton is back and paid more than $2 million next season. But, the Nuggets have to ask themselves whether that is a cost-effective move.
Hamilton plays small forward — where the Nuggets have Danilo Gallinari (when he returns from a torn ACL), Wilson Chandler, Miller and Anthony Randolph, who has opened eyes in training camp. This decision, then, ultimately comes down to if the Nuggets A) see him in their future and/or B) want to retain him as an asset that can be used for trade purposes.
Reported by Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post
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The days became months and years, and Anthony Randolph was beginning to square himself with the fact that a legitimate chance to play significant minutes might never come again.
So forgive him if he was a little skeptical when new Nuggets coach Brian Shaw arrived in town preaching competition all over the court.
But a funny thing happened: Shaw wasn’t playing. The competition was on. And because of that, something else is happening: Randolph is playing himself into the lineup.
He arguably has been the biggest surprise of camp, though he’ll tell you he has always had it in him. Signed by the Nuggets in 2012 for depth, he’s making a serious push to be in the regular rotation when the season begins in eight days.
Reported by Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post
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Denver Nuggets guard Nate Robinson has been fined $10,000 for pushing Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams from behind and striking him in the chest, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 109-81 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
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The Denver Nuggets have waived forward Reginald Becton-Buckner and guard Kyle Fogg, general manager/executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced today.
Fogg appeared in one preseason game for the Nuggets, scoring one point in two minutes against the San Antonio Spurs. Becton did not play in any of Denver’s first four preseason games.
The Nuggets now have 16 players on their training camp roster.
As NBA preseason continues, many more players around the league who were signed to non-guaranteed “training camp contracts” will be let go by their teams.
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“It was a tough season last year,” Miller said. “In the regular season, we kind of burned ourselves out. Going into the playoffs, we just didn’t have the legs to play like we played for 82 games. That’s tough to do. I can’t worry about the trade rumors. I do my job every day. Regardless, I show up to work, practice. I’ve never missed a game as a Nugget. I couldn’t care less what people say as far as my preparation and what I do on the court.”
His preparation in the summer was simple. He rested. He’s aiming to play until he’s 40 — and that requires two more seasons beyond this one.
To do that, he’ll have to show the new coaching staff he has the staying power. Teammates believe he can do it.
“He has youthful legs,” guard Ty Lawson said. “You can see when people are getting old. With Dre, you can’t see that.”
Reported by Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post
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Nuggets center JaVale McGee was on his last-one-out grind. On Tuesday: free throws well after most everyone left the Pepsi Center practice court. On Thursday, post-practice offensive work, followed by full-court sprints with assistant coach Patrick Mutombo.
It is all by design.
No one does everything right in the first week of training camp, but McGee is going after it, from improving his skills on the low block to getting a better handle on his conditioning. The seriousness of his approach is in stark contrast to a year ago, when his sluggish training camp cost him a starting job — and ultimately significant playing time — just weeks after he signed a four-year, $44 million contract extension.
This McGee doesn’t resemble that McGee. And for Nuggets first-year coach Brian Shaw, who wants to play inside-out on offense, it’s a good sign. For an organization that desperately wants its faith, and investment, in McGee to be validated, it’s a good sign.
Reported by Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post
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If you’re wondering if the Phil Jackson pupil has sought the advice of Phil Jackson, the answer is yes.
To a point.
Nuggets coach Brian Shaw has reached out to the former Lakers coach, a man he played for and coached with during his time in Los Angeles, and the best piece of advice he received from Jackson was patience.
“I’m laid back by nature, anyway,” Shaw said. “Phil had a lot of patience and he allowed for the players to kind of figure some things out on their own. I’ve been kind of trying to do the same thing, not spoon feeding them everything, but just enough and see who has the ability to figure out what they need to do.”
Reported by Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post
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“Regardless of how it ended, I don’t have any regrets,” Shaw said. “Those were some of the best times that I experienced. I will always cherish them.”
Asked if there were any hard feelings lingering now, two years after being passed over for the head coaching job with the Lakers after Jackson’s retirement in 2011, Shaw said: “No, no. You know, it’s the nature of the business. I found that out pretty quickly. I preach to our players to get on to the next play; let that last play go, and I try to do the same thing, too. Every decision is not my decision. It’s not going to work out the way I want it to work out. So I’ve just got to move on.”
Shaw not only moved on, he also flourished with the Pacers. Indiana coach Frank Vogel was big on giving his assistants a significant voice. Shaw ran with that responsibility. The Pacers’ success during his two years there vaulted him into a select group of “next in line” for a head coaching job.
The Nuggets landed him after firing George Karl following the team’s first-round playoff ouster.
Reported by Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post
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Forget 57 regular-season wins for the Nuggets. That’s not going to happen. But here is the real goal for the local NBA team:
No more wimpy basketball.
The Nuggets have a new way to play.
“Smashmouth basketball,” new Denver coach Brian Shaw said.
I asked Shaw to define his terms. What qualifies as smashmouth basketball?
“Smashmouth means that you are literally going to get your mouth smashed if you’re going against us for a rebound or a loose ball,” Shaw said. “We want to have a nasty disposition, both offensively and defensively.”
Reported by Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post