Nuggets Notes

Sept. 24, 2003: A few familiar faces have been playing with the Nuggets during voluntary workouts at the Pepsi Center this week. Joining the likes of Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Andre Miller were former Nuggets and Denver residents Chauncey Billups (Pistons) and Popeye Jones (Warriors). Born and raised in Denver, Billups starred at George Washington HS and the University of Colorado and played with the Nuggets during the 1998-99 and '99-00 seasons. He has a breakout year last year with the Pistons. Jones played in Denver during the '99-00 season and still makes his home here. He was traded to Golden State from Dallas this summer as part of the Nick Van Exel-Antawn Jamison trade.



Sept. 23, 2003: Unrestricted free agent F Donnell Harvey signed with the Orlando Magic today. Harvey averaged 7.9 points and 5.3 rebounds last season for the Nuggets. He was acquired by the Nuggets in the trade that sent Nick Van Exel, Raef LaFrentz, Tariq Abdul-Wahad and Avery Johnson to Dallas with Harvey, Juwan Howard and Tim Hardaway coming to Denver. Harvey joins Howard as Magic free-agent signings this summer.

Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke added Major League Soccer (MLS)'s Colorado Rapids to his stable of teams. Kroenke's other sports holdings include the Pepsi Center, Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Mammoth (NLL), and partial ownership of the St. Louis Rams (NFL), Colorado Crush (AFL) and the Denver Grand Prix.



Sept. 21, 2003: Nuggets rookies Carmelo Anthony and Francisco Elson will be spending the week in New York as they attend the NBA Rookie Transition Program. All incoming NBA rookies will be attending this mandatory six-day seminar and workshop program that provides first-hand knowledge of what to expect as a player in the NBA and how to balance these pressures and demands.



Sept. 20, 2003: Carmelo Anthony spent Friday fly-fishing here in Colorado with former NFL All-Pro CB Deion Sanders for an upcoming episode of ESPN's The New American Sportsman. The "New" Sportsman is an updated version of the classic 1970's show that aired on ABC as part of the "Wide World of Sports". Sanders is the host of the show which airs on Monday nights on 8-9 p.m. on ESPN. Past episodes have included Tampa Bay Buccaneers lineman Warren Sapp fishing in Key West and Houston Astros 2nd baseman Jeff Kent hunting in Texas. No word yet on if Melo caught anything or when the show will air.



Sept. 19, 2003: For the first time, Nuggets fans will get an all-access look at Nuggets training camp. That is because NBA-TV will be taping a reality series profiling the inner workings of the Nuggets camp. The series, expected to be at least four episodes, will be similar to HBO's Hard Knocks that went inside the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys training camps, only without the four-letter words. ESPN has done similar profiles on the Clippers and NBDL's North Charleston Lowgators (with then-head coach Alex English) for their series The Season. NBA-TV is available to most satellite users and some cable users. If you do not get NBA-TV, but wish you did, please call your cable company and let them know.

The producers and camera crew made their first appearance around the offices last week to meet with Kiki and get a feel for the location.



Sept. 17, 2003: It appears that reports of D-Harv's departure were premature. The Orlando Sentinel reported today that the Magic are competing with the Wizards and Nuggets for Harvey's services.

On a separate Nuggets note involving Orlando, the Magic have invited former Nuggets guards John Crotty and Shammond Williams to training camp. Both players spent a portion of last season in the Nuggets backcourt with Crotty playing in 12 games before he was waived, and Williams playing in 27 after being acquired in a trade from Boston.



Sept. 16, 2003: John Denton wrote in today's Florida Today that Nuggets's unrestricted free agent F Donnell Harvey will sign a one year contract with the Orlando Magic today. Harvey played one year at the University of Florida and grew up and resides in a small Georgia town near the Florida state border.

Sports Illustrated.com is previewing a different NBA team everyday, and today just happened to be the Nuggets day. Although the writer (John Holllinger) certainly took a few shots (at Junior Harrington, Vincent Yarbrough and Rodney White to name a few), the headline of the article is New-look Nuggets should be much improved which is good news. He predicts a 30+ win season and thinks lists the outlook as "getting better". The Nuggets strong suit is defense and weakness is the bench. "The Nuggets are still a year away from getting things turned around, but some light is appearing at the end of the tunnel."



Sept. 14, 2003: CBS Sportsline's Mike Kahn handed out "summer report cards" to all 29 teams based on their offseason moves. The Nuggets made the honor roll, earning a 'B', one of 13 teams to grade a B or higher. He says the Nuggets "are on the right track" and "cleaned up their point guard position". He, like many others, also mentions "Carmelo Anthony figures to be a superb small forward." His advice is to add a power player.

Melo shakes hands with Orangemen athletic director Jake Crouthamel and coach Jim Boeheim after receiving his ring. (U. of Syracuse)

Sept. 12, 2003: After nine years, Nuggets media relations director Tommy Sheppard is departing to become Director of Basketball Operation for the Washington Wizards. Good luck Tommy. We know you'll do a great job up there and we are rooting for you 80 times each season.



Sept. 9, 2003: NBA Hall of Famer and Nuggets legend David Thompson will be signing autographs at Westminster Mall on Saturday. September 13 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.



Aug. 28, 2003: ESPN.com’s NBA Insider Chad Ford handed out summer grades for the NBA and gave Denver a for their work in the offseason. He referred to the addition of Carmelo Anthony as a "big coup" and called him "a potential superstar." The Nuggets also "upgraded at point guard dramatically" and "are off to a good start." He adds, if Nenê, Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Rodney White continue to develop, they'll be tough next season."



Aug. 27, 2003: FOX Sports.com had an article highlighting offseason movement and potential position battles for the Midwest Division. The writer had kind words for the Nuggets front office:

"Has there been a better-run team in the last few years than the Denver Nuggets? They have brought young talent to the team by drafting Nene Hilario, Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Carmelo Anthony. They also signed free-agent Andre Miller and traded for the young and talented Rodney White."

As for position battles, he mentioned he thinks Nenê will get most of the minutes at center and he sees Marcus Camby and Skita battling for minutes at power forward.



Aug. 11, 2003: Former Nugget Predrag Savovic has signed to play with the Spirou Basket Club in Belgium this upcoming season. A few familiar names on the Spirou team include Andre Riddick (Kentucky), Jon Barry's brother Scooter (Kansas) and Ronald Ellis (La Tech). A native of Yugoslavia, Savo spent last season with the Nuggets, averaging 3.1 ppg and 0.9 rpg in 27 games. He was released by the Nuggets on August 4. Good luck Savo.



Aug. 7, 2003: Ryan Bowen's wife Wendy gave birth to the couple's second child, Benjamin Cleo Bowen, last night. Ryan's full name is Ryan Cleo Bowen. Baby Benjamin looks to have NBA size, weighing in at 9 lbs 10 oz and measuring 23 ¾ inches long. The couple also has a daughter, Isabel. Congratulations to the Bowens on the new addition.