Denver Post sports writer Adam Thompson posts his Nuggets Mailbag every other Tuesday during the 2005-06 NBA season on DenverPost.com. The next installment is slated for Feb. 21.
To drop a question into the Nuggets Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Hi, Adam Thompson. I always read your Nuggets Mailbag. What do you think about Axel Hervelle? Some people think he’s Eduardo Najera with a great 3-point shot, and it looks like he’s having a good season in Europe. Could Hervelle help us next season?
— Alfredo Lauria, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Alfredo – Thanks very much. The Bag is big in Brazil, which easily leads all foreign countries in appearances here.
Anyway, the Nuggets feel they could have gotten a second-round steal in Hervelle. The Belgian forward is still quite raw, though. Averages of 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds with Real Madrid do not suggest that he’s ready to take the NBA over. Expect him to spend at least another year in Spain, though you never know. He is due to play on Denver’s summer league team in July. After that, the Nuggets can re-assess his progress.
Hey, Adam. Is there any chance that the Nuggets can get a big-name player before the trading deadline, say Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce? Which other players are on the block?
— Andrew Labenz, Hutchinson, Kan.
Andrew – Sorry to disappoint you, but it probably ain’t happening. Doesn’t look like either K.G. or Pierce will be available in the coming weeks, and few other All-Star-caliber players are either. We just saw Toronto ship Jalen Rose to New York. Maybe Atlanta moves Al Harrington. Pretty boring, really. But even if a superstar were available, it doesn’t look like the Nuggets are dangling many of their priciest players in return. Yes, we heard rumblings of Kenyon Martin for Ron Artest, but I don’t think they’re actively looking to move any of their main cogs.
Adam – I love the Nuggets Mailbag. Could you settle a bet for me? I saw on a telecast that the Nuggets lead the league in fast-break points. My friend claims that the Suns lead that category. I cannot find the information on the Internet. Thanks.
— Mike, Golden
Mike – No matter what your parameters were, you win and you win big. As of this writing, no one in the league stood within a country mile of the Nuggets’ 990 fast-break points (a total that more than triples that of last-place Houston). Phoenix was second with 715. If you were going by averages, you’re still safe. Denver was averaging 20.6 fast-break points per game, and Phoenix and Washington were the only other teams with an average above 15. The Suns have scored the most overall points, but that does your friend no good in this debate.
Were you surprised by where Ron Artest ended up?
— J.T., Denver
J.T. – Not really. The Kings may not have been tied to Indiana the way the Nuggets, Warriors, T-Wolves or Clippers were, but there were rumblings of an Artest-for-Peja trade over a year ago, before the Malice at the Palace. It was an easy one-for-one deal since their salaries lined up well and filled a need for both teams.
Adam – What is the Nuggets’ record in their new alternate jerseys?
— Michael McConnell, Highlands Ranch
Michael – Just the kind of useless trivia that is this Mailbag’s bread and butter. Through nine games, including last night’s loss at Golden State, the Nuggets are 6-3 in their alternates. What does it all mean? Probably very little to anyone outside their marketing department.
Due to Carmelo Anthony’s father being Puerto Rican, and Puerto Rico having an opening at small forward … can he, would he or will he consider playing for Puerto Rico’s basketball team in the upcoming international events, if he is not selected to Team USA?
— Mr. S. Talavera, Fountain
Mr. Talavera – Puerto Rico actually extended an invitation for Melo to play for them in Athens. He was flattered, but once he made it onto the U.S. team, the idea of playing for his father’s homeland became moot. Anthony cannot switch teams now. So he continues to hold out hope that Team USA will ask him to make a three-year commitment in anticipation of the 2008 Beijing Games.
Adam – Could the Nuggets add a big man to the roster without making a trade? Could we release Voshon Lenard and sign Eric Chenowith? Why not do this real soon?
— Ted, Miami
Ted – That’s feasible, but they have a good reason not to do it yet. With the trade deadline Feb. 23, they might as well try to get something in return for Lenard, who could be attractive for a team looking to shed $3.5 million from its books this offseason. Plus, as Denverites saw with Wesley Person last year, a change of scenery could spark a sharpshooter like Vo. As for Chenowith, word is he’s impressing people in the CBA and he put in some good work with the Nuggets during the preseason. If he doesn’t end up here, some NBA team will give him another crack.
Adam Thompson is a native of New York City, where he spent his senior season in high school as the last man off the bench on a basketball team that won three games. To drop a question into his Nuggets Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
