ducks
05-22-2006, 02:07 PM
marc j. spears
Nuggets take it slow with Martin trade
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post NBA Beat Reporter
Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentein has been calling numerous NBA front offices to let them know his franchise is open for business. Even so, Warkentein is expected to be patient in regard to the possibility of trading forward Kenyon Martin.
One NBA executive said the Nuggets have been putting out feelers for Martin and were turned down by the Portland Trail Blazers when inquiring about swapping Martin for Blazers forward Zach Ran- dolph. But another NBA source said the Nuggets have turned down possible trades for Martin from a Western Conference and Eastern Conference team.
Martin has five years and $70 million remaining on his contract. He has been hampered by knee problems and was suspended for the final three games of the playoffs for conduct detrimental to the team. But he is also a 2004 all-star who has made two NBA Finals appearances and was considered one of the league's top power forwards when Denver acquired him in July 2004.
One general manager said he is more concerned about Martin's contract and knee than the suspension.
The Nuggets maintain doctors can prove Martin's knee is strong and that he is expected to make a full recovery from surgery he had last year.
It is early in the trading game. The top teams are still in the playoffs and most other teams are concentrating on the draft.
King of Kings?
Despite rumors, don't expect the Sacramento Kings to make a run at Larry Brown if he parts ways with the New York Knicks. One surprise candidate for the Kings' coaching opening is WNBA Sacramento Monarchs coach John Whisenant, who led his team to the WNBA championship last year.
If the Kings are that open-minded, they might want to talk to Golden State assistant Mario Elie. Why? Elie is a no-nonsense former player, won three NBA titles as a player, has been an assistant with San Antonio and Golden State and has a good relationship with Kings star and fellow New Yorker Ron Artest.
Also, keep an eye on former Kings assistant Elston Turner, San Antonio assistants P.J. Carlesimo and Don Newman (a former Sacramento State coach) and Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni. The Kings hope to hire a coach by the draft June 28.
So why did the Kings fire coach Rick Adelman? Word is Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof found Adelman to be too reclusive. The Maloofs also were turned off that Adelman didn't always return their calls. Expect the Kings' next coach to be capable of building a strong relationship with the Maloofs and taking an active role promoting the team in the community.
Nicholson needed
If the Nigerian Basketball Federation is smart, officials will invite former University of
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Denver center Yemi Nicholson to play for it at the world championships in Japan this summer. The Sun Belt Conference player of the year has bloodlines to Nigeria, thus making him eligible to play. Nicholson has not been invited.
"I wouldn't mind it at all," Nicholson said about playing for Nigeria. "They haven't contacted me. My mom is from there, and my grandparents still live over there."
Nigeria has a talented training camp roster that includes current NBA players such as Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia), Ike Diogu (Golden State) and Ime Udoka (New York) and former players Obinna Ekezie, Olumide Oyedeji and Ndudi Ebi. Nigeria also has numerous players with major college basketball experience, including Colorado's Jayson Obazuaye, Texas' Gabe Muoneke and Oregon's Chamberlain Oguchi. But Nigeria will be playing in a tough bracket at the world championships, including 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist Argentina, France and Serbia and Montenegro.
Nicholson did well in a workout Wednesday with the Toronto Raptors. His agent, Andy Miller, said Nicholson has workouts scheduled for Monday at Sacramento, Tuesday with the Nuggets, and several other workouts are being scheduled. Nicholson also will take part in the NBA predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., on June 6-10. One potential conflict with the Nigerian team is that its training camp would overlap with NBA summer league play.
"I'm more focused on the NBA right now and trying to get in," Nicholson said.
Footnotes
Former UNLV forward Louis Amundson is still being considered for the predraft camp. A decision on the Boulder native should come this week. ... Former Nuggets coach and star Dan Issel and his family hit it big at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks earlier this month, winning a daily double, a pick 3 and two pick 4s. When asked how much money his family made, Issel said: "I'm not going to say that. But it took more than one pocket to carry it out. We love Barbaro."
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or [email protected].
Nuggets take it slow with Martin trade
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post NBA Beat Reporter
Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentein has been calling numerous NBA front offices to let them know his franchise is open for business. Even so, Warkentein is expected to be patient in regard to the possibility of trading forward Kenyon Martin.
One NBA executive said the Nuggets have been putting out feelers for Martin and were turned down by the Portland Trail Blazers when inquiring about swapping Martin for Blazers forward Zach Ran- dolph. But another NBA source said the Nuggets have turned down possible trades for Martin from a Western Conference and Eastern Conference team.
Martin has five years and $70 million remaining on his contract. He has been hampered by knee problems and was suspended for the final three games of the playoffs for conduct detrimental to the team. But he is also a 2004 all-star who has made two NBA Finals appearances and was considered one of the league's top power forwards when Denver acquired him in July 2004.
One general manager said he is more concerned about Martin's contract and knee than the suspension.
The Nuggets maintain doctors can prove Martin's knee is strong and that he is expected to make a full recovery from surgery he had last year.
It is early in the trading game. The top teams are still in the playoffs and most other teams are concentrating on the draft.
King of Kings?
Despite rumors, don't expect the Sacramento Kings to make a run at Larry Brown if he parts ways with the New York Knicks. One surprise candidate for the Kings' coaching opening is WNBA Sacramento Monarchs coach John Whisenant, who led his team to the WNBA championship last year.
If the Kings are that open-minded, they might want to talk to Golden State assistant Mario Elie. Why? Elie is a no-nonsense former player, won three NBA titles as a player, has been an assistant with San Antonio and Golden State and has a good relationship with Kings star and fellow New Yorker Ron Artest.
Also, keep an eye on former Kings assistant Elston Turner, San Antonio assistants P.J. Carlesimo and Don Newman (a former Sacramento State coach) and Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni. The Kings hope to hire a coach by the draft June 28.
So why did the Kings fire coach Rick Adelman? Word is Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof found Adelman to be too reclusive. The Maloofs also were turned off that Adelman didn't always return their calls. Expect the Kings' next coach to be capable of building a strong relationship with the Maloofs and taking an active role promoting the team in the community.
Nicholson needed
If the Nigerian Basketball Federation is smart, officials will invite former University of
Advertisement
Click Here!
Denver center Yemi Nicholson to play for it at the world championships in Japan this summer. The Sun Belt Conference player of the year has bloodlines to Nigeria, thus making him eligible to play. Nicholson has not been invited.
"I wouldn't mind it at all," Nicholson said about playing for Nigeria. "They haven't contacted me. My mom is from there, and my grandparents still live over there."
Nigeria has a talented training camp roster that includes current NBA players such as Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia), Ike Diogu (Golden State) and Ime Udoka (New York) and former players Obinna Ekezie, Olumide Oyedeji and Ndudi Ebi. Nigeria also has numerous players with major college basketball experience, including Colorado's Jayson Obazuaye, Texas' Gabe Muoneke and Oregon's Chamberlain Oguchi. But Nigeria will be playing in a tough bracket at the world championships, including 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist Argentina, France and Serbia and Montenegro.
Nicholson did well in a workout Wednesday with the Toronto Raptors. His agent, Andy Miller, said Nicholson has workouts scheduled for Monday at Sacramento, Tuesday with the Nuggets, and several other workouts are being scheduled. Nicholson also will take part in the NBA predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., on June 6-10. One potential conflict with the Nigerian team is that its training camp would overlap with NBA summer league play.
"I'm more focused on the NBA right now and trying to get in," Nicholson said.
Footnotes
Former UNLV forward Louis Amundson is still being considered for the predraft camp. A decision on the Boulder native should come this week. ... Former Nuggets coach and star Dan Issel and his family hit it big at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks earlier this month, winning a daily double, a pick 3 and two pick 4s. When asked how much money his family made, Issel said: "I'm not going to say that. But it took more than one pocket to carry it out. We love Barbaro."
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or [email protected].