J.R. SMITH
6-6, 220 guard from St. Benedict’s (N.J.) Prep, fifth season
Season outlook: Has Smith matured enough to be a reliable, consistent player for an entire season? That has yet to happen in his career. But the prodigy was signed to a long-term deal this summer, and the Nuggets hope the outstanding shooter can stay on the floor.
Marquee part of his game: When he’s on, Smith is one of the best shooters in the game. But sometimes he forces his shot, and it backfires for Denver.
Contract status: Signed through 2010-11.
Did you know?Last season, Smith ranked first in the NBA with 3-pointers made per 48 minutes (5.3).
LINAS KLEIZA
6-8, 245 forward from Missouri, fourth season
Season outlook: The Nuggets are thrilled to have the versatile Kleiza coming off their bench — he can hit the outside shot and battle in the low post.
Marquee part of his game: Kleiza is known as Denver’s top floor-runner, which helps in the fast break — either he gets the ball and an opportunity for a layup or he will draw the attention of a defender, opening up a lane for a teammate.
Contract status: Signed through 2008-09.
Did you know? Kleiza played for his native Lithuania in the 2008 Olympics. The team finished fourth. In pool play, he hit the winning shot in the first game against 2004 gold medalist Argentina.
CHRIS ANDERSEN
6-10, 230 forward/center from Blinn (Texas) JC, seventh season
Season outlook: The Nuggets were excited to nab the affordable “Birdman” this summer, a player they think can bring energy off the bench and fill a void in the low post.
Marquee part of his game: An active rebounder, Andersen plays like he’s trying to make up for the two years he missed because of the NBA suspension for substance abuse.
Contract status: Signed through 2008-09.
Did you know? The effervescent Andersen, a proud Texan, has 68-inch Longhorns on the front of his truck.
DAHNTAY JONES
6-6, 210 guard/forward from Duke, sixth season
Season outlook: The Nuggets signed the 27-year-old during the offseason in an attempt to bolster the bench. Expect him to be a rotation player who won’t shoot too much but can enhance the game in other ways, be it with his defense or passing.
Marquee part of his game: Jones, similar to Renaldo Balkman, is an aggressive defender. He can guard guards or forwards and provide a jolt to Denver’s questionable overall defense.
Contract status: Signed through 2008-09.
Did you know? Jones played on Denver’s summer league team, and his hustle and intensity toward the game caught the eye of the Nuggets’ brass — and earned Jones a guaranteed contract.
RENALDO BALKMAN
6-8, 210 forward from South Carolina, third season
Season outlook: This guy could be a steal. Denver got him from the Knicks for essentially nothing, and it’s likely he will crack the team’s rotation.
Marquee part of his game: Balkman is a rare player who cherishes the defensive end more than the offensive end. Look for him to come off the bench, strictly to rattle the other team’s top scorer.
Contract status: Signed through 2008-09.
Did you know? Balkman has a tattoo behind one lower leg that reads “Hustle” and one on the other leg that reads “Harder.”
SONNY WEEMS
6-6, 203 guard/forward from Arkansas, rookie
Season outlook: The Nuggets aggressively obtained him on draft night, believing he has the upside to be a productive pro. But George Karl has yet to see the kid play, because Weems has been hurt all training camp.
Marquee part of his game: Weems is tremendously athletic, even by NBA standards. He might even be Denver’s top dunker.
Contract status: Signed through 2008-09.
Did you know? Weems won the slam dunk competition held during the NCAA Final Four, and he also won dunk titles while in high school and junior college.
JUWAN HOWARD
6-9, 253 forward from Michigan, 17th season
Season outlook: It’s unclear how many minutes Howard will play, but he brings a polished professionalism to practices. And, frankly, Denver needs bigs.
Marquee part of his game: Howard is a textbook low-post player, but coaches have gushed about his leadership and calmness that could soothe Denver’s locker room.
Contract status: Signed nonguaranteed deal through 2008-09.
Did you know? The last time Denver saw Howard, he averaged 18.4 points per game in 2002-03 for the Nuggets.
CHUCKY ATKINS
5-11, 185 guard from South Florida, 10th season
Season outlook: The Nuggets don’t really know what they’ll get out of Atkins. Signed to be the starting point guard in the summer of 2007, he battled injuries for much of last season and this preseason. He could be available by mid-November.
Marquee part of his game: Atkins is known as a 3-point weapon who could expand Denver’s offense and benefit from Allen Iverson’s dribble penetration.
Contract status: Signed through 2009-10.
Did you know? Atkins is a proud Tampa, Fla., native, and this October was often spotted wearing a Rays hat.
STEVEN HUNTER
7-0, 240 center from DePaul, eighth season
Season outlook: Ideally, Hunter will help off the bench, logging minutes in the low post while Nene and Martin rest. But Hunter’s knee injuries have plagued him since he arrived to Denver — and have bothered him throughout this training camp.
Marquee part of his game: Hunter has a knack for shot blocking, utilizing his long arms and size. In 2006-07, with Philadelphia, he was 27th in the NBA with 1.09 blocks per game.
Contract status: Signed through 2009-10.
Did you know? Last season was Hunter’s seventh in the league, and he played the fewest amount of games (19) of his career.
