San Antonio – Although the playoffs are just beginning, Nuggets management already is studying the draft. The team would like to send one of its first-round draft picks overseas for more seasoning, but a potential deep 2005 NBA draft could mean both picks end up on their roster next season.
The Nuggets have the Nos. 20 and No. 22 overall picks in the June 28 draft. Denver general manager Kiki Vande- weghe said he would prefer to use one of the picks on a promising international prospect who he could keep overseas for more development.
NBA commissioner David Stern is negotiating to get an age limit in the new collective bargaining agreement. If that happens, there is speculation the draft will be a lot deeper than normal, with more young players coming out in advance of an age limit. Vandeweghe said he didn’t think it would be hard to add two players to next season’s roster.
“It depends on the guys,” Vandeweghe said. “It really does. The logical choice is to probably bring one guy in and send one guy to Europe. They would have to be really impressive (to keep two). But you never know.”
Underclassmen have until June 21 to withdraw their name from the draft. Several intriguing underclassmen, high school seniors and overseas prospects are expected to be in the draft.
“We still don’t know who is coming out,” Vandeweghe said. “If everybody (projected to) comes out and everyone in stays in, there could be some good picks there.”
Moe away from home
Nuggets assistant and former head coach Doug Moe lives in an exclusive suburb of San Antonio during the offseason. While in San Antonio for the playoffs, Moe is spending some time at his home, but he’s spending more time at the Nuggets’ downtown hotel than at home, saying: “I’m not really interested in taking care of personal business while I’m here.”
Nuggets coach George Karl added Moe to his staff shortly after taking over. Moe said he is enjoying being an assistant more than he thought he would. He is uncertain about whether he will be back next season.
“I haven’t thought a thing about that,” Moe said. “That’s not until after the season. I’m trying to get through the year.”
Footnotes
Karl, a Penn Hills, Pa., native, wore a Pittsburgh Pirates hat at Sunday’s shootaround at the SBC Center in honor of former Pirates star Roberto Clemente. Karl idolized Clemente as a kid and shook his hand while in the eighth grade. “When I was growing up, he was the guy I thought I wanted to be,” Karl said. “I told my team they should thank someone in their past, because it’s an exciting moment for you, but there’s probably someone in your past who, if you gave them a phone call to talk about the series, it’d be exciting for them, too.” … Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera played his senior year in high school at San Antonio’s Cornerstone Christian Academy. “You can say that my journey began here,” Najera said. “I’m happy to be back.” … The Nuggets wore black sneakers against San Antonio. said the team would have donned them earlier in the season if his shoe company, Reebok, had sent his shipment of black shoes.Martin is in the last year of his Reebok deal.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
