Although the Nuggets don’t have any draft picks, they are taking this time of year seriously.
In fact, vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman insisted the Nuggets were in full draft mode.
“We prepare all season long like we have picks,” Chapman said. “We had a couple of picks (before trading for Allen Iverson). You have to be prepared like we have two or three.”
Thus members of the Nuggets’ front office and scouting staff will attend the pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., this month. The event features college stars going through workouts, games and drills for NBA personnel. Many top players, such as Ohio State’s Greg Oden and Texas’ Kevin Durant, will not play in the games but plan to do individual workouts.
Denver does not have a draft pick for the first time since the franchise became part of the NBA in 1976, but that could change. The Nuggets could reduce salary by trading a player to a team under the cap for a draft pick. This year’s draft is projected to be one of the deepest in NBA history.
Are the Nuggets looking to get back into the draft?
“We’re open for business, like the rest of the teams in the league,” Chapman said. “We’re preparing as if we have picks. That’s about all I can say.”
Chapman said the Nuggets plan to bring in players for workouts, and noted that players such as recent draft picks Axel Hervelle and Ricky Sanchez are on the radar.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Hervelle, whom the Nuggets drafted in the second round in 2005, averaged 10.8 points and 4.8 rebounds and shot 43 percent from the 3-point line this season for Real Madrid.
Sanchez, who was acquired with Linas Kleiza from Portland on draft night in 2005 for the rights to Jarrett Jack, averaged 11.6 points and 4.2 rebounds for the NBDL’s Idaho Stampede this season. There is a chance one or both could play for the Nuggets on their summer league team this year.
“They’re young guys that we’ll monitor regularly,” Chapman said. “They had great seasons in their respective leagues. We’ll watch them this summer, and we’ll see their progress.”
Nuggets endorse Camby
Past injury issues have no bearing on whether the Nuggets believe center Marcus Camby should accept an invitation to play with the USA Basketball team this summer, Chapman said. Camby’s agent, Rick Kaplan, said Tuesday that Camby is undecided.
“It’s a terrific honor for Marcus to be considered,” Chapman said. “I’m as proud as I can be personally, and for the organization, to be mentioned with those great players. It’s well-deserved. He had an unbelievable season.”
Camby led the NBA in blocked shots en route to being named the league’s defensive player of the year. It was just the second time in his 11-year career that the oft-injured center played at least 70 games, raising the question of whether a summer of basketball would negatively affect his health next season.
Chapman said the Nuggets would not advise Camby to sit out.
“Not at all,” Chapman said. “It would be Marcus’s decision. We’re extremely proud of him and support him all we can.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears contributed to this report.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
