Marcus Camby Garrett W. Ellwood/ NBAE/Getty Images

There is no denying it – the 6-9, 234 pound NBA All-Star is on everybody’s mind. Martin, who averaged 16.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.46 spg and 1.26 bpg in 65 games last season with the New Jersey Nets, appears to be one of the main pieces of a championship puzzle being arranged here in Denver.

However, while K-Mart stands tall in the national spotlight, there are two players lurking in the shadows of the Pepsi Center not far behind. Marcus Camby, last year’s starting center, and Nenê, last year’s starting power forward, are looking to do whatever it takes to help complete the puzzle for the Nuggets in the 2004-2005 season.

Alongside Kenyon Martin, Camby and Nenê are sure to make up one of the top frontlines in the NBA. On any given night, one, two or even all three of them can dominate the low-post no matter who the opponent is. Having three post players of this caliber definitely brings a wide smile to Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik’s face.

In addition to smiles, the three-headed monster gives coach Bzdelik and his crew a number of different options for them to throw at the opposition. If the Nuggets need defense, they can go with K-Mart and the 6-11, 235 pound Camby, who is among the NBA leaders in blocked shots year in and year out. If Denver is forced to play physical, they can go with K-Mart and the 6-11, 260 pound Nenê, who was the Nuggets’ most physically imposing player a season ago.

At the start of the summer, so-called “experts” claimed that the Nuggets would have to give up either Nenê or Camby in order to get Martin in the blue and yellow. Now that he’s here, as are both Nenê and Camby still, those same experts are claiming that the three of them will never be able to play happily together.

Nenê Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

Once again, it looks as if the experts are going to be proven wrong. For starters, Marcus Camby, who averaged 8.6 ppg, 10.1 rpg and 2.60 bpg in a career-high 72 games for the Nuggets last season, has gone on record saying that he won’t mind coming off the bench if he has to. If it means winning games and having a shot at an NBA Title, it’s worth it to Camby.

The same goes for Nenê, who averaged 11.8 ppg and 6.5 rpg in only his second season in the league. Instead of spending most of his off-season in his native Brazil, Nenê remained in Denver working on every aspect of his game. He knows that with K-Mart around, he will have to earn every single minute of playing time, which coach Bzdelik considers to be good for the both of them.

In a Western Conference that is dominated by low-post players, the Denver Nuggets should have no problems competing with the best of them. Last season, Marcus Camby and Nenê held their own against the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. This season, throw Kenyon Martin into the mix and it looks as if the Nuggets’ frontline now has the advantage.