Matt Nelson hasn’t played a game of professional basketball, but he knows he’s heading into a world of difference from his playing days at Colorado State.
At 7-feet-1, 270 pounds, Nelson usually was the biggest player on the floor when the Mountain West Conference’s Rams went through their schedule. But during workouts with NBA teams leading up to Tuesday’s draft – including Thursday for Nuggets coach George Karl and his staff – Nelson has discovered he’s just another face in a very tall crowd.
“It’s definitely an adjustment,” Nelson said in the Nuggets’ practice gym at the Pepsi Center. “Just in the workout today against Chris Taft of Pittsburgh, he’s 6-10, 260 pounds, and you could tell how strong he is. He’s in the same position I am, trying to make a team. You can imagine how much better and how much stronger players are who have been in the league for 10 years.”
Nelson and Taft were joined in the workout by Linas Kleiza (6-8, 245 pounds) of Missouri, Luther Head (6-3, 185) of Illinois and Josh Pace (6-5, 195) of Syracuse. Nelson also is scheduled to take part in workouts for Cleveland and Sacramento before the draft.
Karl was an interested observer at the workout, but noncommittal regarding which direction the Nuggets might take in terms of adding players. He doesn’t think general manager Kiki Vandeweghe will stand pat with the Nuggets’ drafting order.
“I think there will be some tinkering,” Karl said. “There are all types of scenarios out there, and I think they’ll be explored. No matter what happens Tuesday, we want to leave the room feeling we’re a better team.”
Karl hopes for immediate improvement.
“Taking a young player is a slower process. I like to expedite the process,” Karl said. “Does that mean you trade the two first-round picks to get a player now, or do you move up or down and get a player who you think can play now? I don’t know. My priority is getting Carmelo (Anthony), Marcus (Camby), Nene and Kenyon (Martin) feeling good about coming into next year as professionally ready as they’ve ever been in their careers.”
As for Nelson, Karl prescribed additional work.
“I would be surprised if he would make an NBA roster this year,” Karl said. “But Matt’s going to get paid to play basketball. He’ll probably have to get to the NBA through the minor-league system. Somebody might pick him late in the second round, but right now I think the NBA has potential and athleticism ranked ahead of a big body.”
Nelson hopes to play on a summer league team and would like it to be the Nuggets’.
“I’d definitely be interested in being with the Nuggets this summer,” Nelson said. “But I know Europe is a possibility.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
