There was a somber reality to Nuggets coach George Karl’s tone after the news hit Monday night that his all-star forward, Carmelo Anthony, and his veteran point guard, Chauncey Billups, had been traded to the New York Knicks. A championship- contending era has ended, leaving the question: What now? The answer isn’t easy.
“How we rebuild our team and construct it, there are going to be some tough moments,” Karl said. “But I think it will be fun to see how fast this team will come together, how it will grow up and how fast it can prove itself to be a playoff-caliber team. My hope and desire is to continue to be a playoff team.”
The Nuggets are in major cost-cutting mode, so expect the team to operate beneath the NBA’s luxury tax threshold from this point forward and get near the salary cap next season.
The salary cap this year is $58.04 million and the luxury tax level is $70.31 million. Part of the Nuggets’ strategy of trading all these players was the knowledge that a new era of fiscal responsibility will begin under the leadership of team president Josh Kroenke and executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri.
In addition, once there is a new collective bargaining agreement, having flexibility with your payroll could be extremely important.
The Nuggets will look very different in 2011-12, or wherever the next season is played, but don’t expect many more moves before the end of this season. Nuggets management likes the new players coming to town and wants to see how they mesh down the stretch.
Ty Lawson now gets his chance to take the keys of the team as the starting point guard. J.R. Smith has an audition from now until season’s end to realize the potential the organization has always said he has.
And the Nuggets are free to finalize negotiations with Karl on a contract extension.
The Nuggets started this season with $83 million in salaries. Four players had salaries of $11 million or more. Now, the Nuggets’ highest-paid player is veteran forward Kenyon Martin at $16.5 million. And he’s one of only two players making more than $10 million, with Nene the other.
Denver’s roster, now down to about $65 million in salaries — under the luxury tax level — is littered with expiring contracts of all kinds. There are 13 players on the new Denver roster. Martin, Smith, Arron Afflalo, Gary Forbes, Wilson Chandler and Melvin Ely are all in the last year of their contracts. Afflalo and Chandler will be restricted free agents. All others will be unrestricted free agents.
The two most pressing orders of business will be making decisions on Nene and Smith. Nene has a player option, meaning he can opt out of his contract that pays him $11.6 million next season and become an unrestricted free agent. It’s the same situation Anthony was in.
Nene wants a contract extension and could opt out to test the free-agent market in hopes of getting it. There likely would be sizable interest for a player with his size and skill.
Smith is in the last year of a three-year contract and is being paid $6.7 million. He will get a huge chance not only to prove he deserves an expanded role, but a new deal at season’s end. He has said he wants to stay. But before the Anthony trade, he wasn’t sure what plans the Nuggets had for him.
“I like it here. I love it here,” Smith said. “I’ve been here for five years. So hopefully I am (back). I love playing in front of this crowd. Everybody knows it’s a business, so we’ll see.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
The new Nuggets
Wilson Chandler
Position: Forward
Age: 23
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 225 pounds
College: DePaul
Years pro: 4
Career stats: 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 32.2 minutes
2010-11 stats: 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 34.5 minutes
In the NBA: Left college after sophomore season, was No. 23 overall pick in 2007. Has improved his scoring and rebounding each season. This season, averaging 1.4 blocks per game. His best game this season was Nov. 30 against the Nets, with 27 points, 11 rebounds. His career high was 35 points a year ago against Sacramento.
At DePaul: Averaged 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 31.1 minutes in two seasons, starting 52 of 59 games. He was 2006 Big East all-freshman and 2007 second-team all-Big East.
Raymond Felton
Position: Guard
Age: 26
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
College: North Carolina
Years pro: 6
Career stats: 13.8 points, 6.8 assists, 35.3 minutes
2010-11 stats: 17.1 points, 9.0 assists, 38.4 minutes
In the NBA: Selected No. 5 overall by Charlotte. He signed with New York as a free agent in July, agreeing to a two-year, $15.8 milliion contract. In Charlotte, helped Bobcats to first NBA playoff berth in franchise history.
At North Carolina: His three-year averages were 12.5 points, 6.9 assists. He became first player in Tar Heels history to record 1,000 points, 600 assists, 300 rebounds, 150 steals and 100 3-point field goals. Named to the Final Four all-tournament team after leading UNC to the title, averaging 13.7 points and 6.8 assists in NCAA play.
Danilo Gallinari
Position: Forward
Age: 22
Height: 6-10
Weight: 225
College: None
Years pro: 3
Career stats: 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 30.8 minutes
2010-11 stats: 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 34.8 minutes
In the NBA: No. 6 overall pick in 2008, the small forward has excelled in New York’s run-and-gun offense, enough so that the Knicks were reluctant to move him. Played in a team-high 81 games in 2009-10 after a back injury limited him to 28 games as a rookie (he had back surgery in April 2009). Last season, he was 186-of-488 (.381) from 3-point range, finishing second in the NBA in made 3-pointers to Houston’s Aaron Brooks (209). This season, he is 83-of-239 (.347) on 3-pointers. Joined the Knicks after playing four pro seasons in Italy, where he made his pro debut at age 16.
Timofey Mozgov
Position: Center
Age: 24
Height: 7-1
Weight: 250
College: none
Years pro: rookie
2010-11 stats: 4.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 13.4 minutes
In the NBA: After six years of pro ball in Russia, he signed a three-year, $9.7 million deal with the Knicks last July. He entered the draft in 2008 but was passed over, making him a free agent. Has played much better in the past month. His best game this season came Jan. 30 against Detroit when he had 23 points and 14 rebounds. In early February, he had 18 points and six rebounds against the Clippers.
Expiring contracts spell cap relief
A look at the contracts of the Nuggets’ new roster:
Kenyon Martin: Contract expires after this season, will be unrestricted free agent.
Nene: Has a player option for 2011, which would pay him $11.6 million.
J.R. Smith: Contract expires after this season, will be unrestricted free agent.
Al Harrington: Has four more years, two guaranteed, on current contract.
Chris Andersen: Has three years, $15 million on current contract.
Arron Afflalo: Contract expires after this season, will be restricted free agent.
Ty Lawson: Has one year and a team option for a fourth left on his contract.
Melvin Ely: Contract expires after this season, will be unrestricted free agent.
Gary Forbes: Contract expires after this season, will be unrestricted free agent.
Timofey Mozgov: Has three years, two guaranteed, $10 million left.
Danilo Gallinari: Has two years, $7.5 million left.
Wilson Chandler: Contract expires after this season, will be restricted free agent.
Raymond Felton: Has two years, $14.5 million left on contract.
