K-Mart to the Nuggets?

[See Red]

K-Mart for Skita and a lottery pick?

This would be huge for the Nuggets as it would give them another scoring option. Although I'm a big fan of Marcus Camby, he can't be depended on to stay healthy. This, and K-Mart can play in an offense that runs the floor. Not to mention, we'll still have 2 lottery picks from trades past and Skita won't amount to anything as he doesn't have quick enough feet and he's not that good anyway. I think this has a very good chance of going down as the Nets don't want to pay K-Mart's salary.

The Denver Nuggets ramped up their pursuit of Nets restricted free agent Kenyon Martin on Sunday, engaging in day-long sign-and-trade discussions with New Jersey, league sources told ESPN Insider Chad Ford on Sunday.

Nets GM Rod Thorn is trying to get Denver forward Nene in return for Martin, but a source in Denver told Ford on Sunday that the team would not give him up. Instead, expect the focus of the trade discussions to center on the Nuggets other 2002 lottery pick, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who fell out of favor with head coach Jeff Bzdelik last year and played sparingly. The 7-foot-1 forward is just 20 years old and has the potential to play both the three and the four.

While sources told Ford that a sign-and-trade is Denver's preferred method to land Martin, the Nuggets have assured Martin that they will give him a max offer sheet, expected to be for six years and in excess of $80 million, if a trade cannot be completed by Wednesday -- the first day free agents can officially sign. Extending an offer sheet, though, would be a "last resort" for the Nuggets, as once Martin signs an offer sheet, the sign-and-trade option disappears.

Martin, who received a similar offer from the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, told the Nuggets that he would accept their offer over Atlanta's if a trade does not occur, a Denver source told Ford.

ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Saturday that the Nuggets had decided to extend an offer to Martin on Sunday, in the hope that it would spark a new round of serious sign-and-trade talks with the Nets.

Martin has maintained throughout the process that his first choice is to re-sign with the Nets. New Jersey, however, is balking at the money Martin is commanding and is actively in discussions with the Nuggets.

The Nuggets apparently prefer the sign-and-trade option because they fear New Jersey would match a offer sheet to Martin, and would take the full 15-day period to official match, which would tie up Denver's available cap space and would freeze them out of making other moves in the free agent market.

Nuggets, Nets discussing K-Mart trade

[the_cynic]

That sucks that they just can't sign him, they have to give up some players. K-Mart is a great player but how would he play along Melo?

[AAO]

the sign and trade deal wont happen anymore, it fell through on tuesday, so now Martin has to wait another 15 days in order to sign with the Nuggets, which he said he will do.

[See Red]

Yeah, I saw this too. However...

The Nuggets designed a contract that was as unattractive as possible for the Nets, a team deeply concerned about the luxury tax. By making it front-loaded with a signing bonus ? up to 20 percent ? the Nuggets are straining the Nets' luxury tax limits.

Then there is the trade kicker. Martin receives 15 percent of the remaining value of his contract if the Nets try to trade him. It makes players very difficult to trade. Allen Iverson stayed a Sixer a few years ago when teammate Matt Geiger wouldn't waive a trade kicker and a deal fell apart.

However, you are incorrect. Kenyon Martin may sign an offer sheet at any time, depending on when the Nuggets offer it to him, assuming they have not already and the Nets will have 15 days to match it. As opposed to K-Mart having to wait to sign the offer sheet.

[See Red]

Looks like the trades going down for 3 first round picks.

[Waffles]

As a soon-to-be Nets fan (pending the sale/move), I'm conflicted on this trade.

On one hand, they're losing one of the players that propelled them to where they are and he's gonna be damned hard to replace.

On the other hand, they get 3 more 1st round draft picks that will (hopefully) give them a good, young core of players by the time they get to Brooklyn.

Although it doesn't look like Denver's gonna draw a high first rounder for a LONG time.

[See Red]

Does anyone else thinks that this make the Nuggets a legitimate contender? They have, perhaps, the best front court in the league between Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, K-Mart, and Nene.

Not to mention, although this is not such a big deal, Skita is averaging 26.5 ppg so far in the summer leagues. It looks as though he may finally be getting on track.

If they can get him to produce even a little bit, that would be huge. Plus Voshon Lenard and Andre Miller were both very good players, with Miller barely missing the all-star game and Voshon Lenard torching the T-Wolves in the playoffs -- Carmelo was playing awful -- and Vo was the only reason the Nuggets even made the Nuggets contend in the games in which 'Melo played like crap (the whole series).

Plus-- They have Earl Boykins and alot of other good bench players that were able to produce.

[jlucas4092]

Although it doesn't look like Denver's gonna draw a high first rounder for a LONG time.

Only one of the picks is ours. We had 6 over the next three years before the deal. We still have the Wizards pick and our 2006 pick (and 2007, 2008, 2009, etc. etc..)

[Waffles]

Although it doesn't look like Denver's gonna draw a high first rounder for a LONG time.

Only one of the picks is ours. We had 6 over the next three years before the deal. We still have the Wizards pick and our 2006 pick (and 2007, 2008, 2009, etc. etc..)

So the Nets get the Wizards' picks? Suh-weet!

[jlucas4092]

We keep the Wizards pick. Clips and Sixers go to Nets.

[Waffles]

We keep the Wizards pick.  Clips and Sixers go to Nets.

Still not too shabby. From the standpoint of having a good, young team to feature when they move instead of old plodding veterans, it's a good deal.

I guess another way of looking at it is it's a better trade for the Brooklyn Nets than it is for the New Jersey Nets.

But, for now, the Nets will play like they do in the playoffs: Without a significant contribution from K-Mart.