<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Could the Nuggets end up replacing one Anthony with another? Two sources close to the situation said Thursday the Nuggets aren't immediately targeting re-signing free-agent point guard Anthony Carter. One of the sources said Anthony Johnson is another free-agent point the Nuggets are eyeing as a possible replacement. But the belief is the Nuggets, deep into the luxury tax, might not make a quick move on a point guard when the signing period starts Wednesday. If they go the free-agent route, they might wait until prices go down. The Nuggets already are known to be looking at free- agent point guards Jannero Pargo, who is 6-foot-1, and 6-2 Carlos Arroyo. Johnson is 6-3 with long arms and could give the Nuggets some much-needed size at the point. Johnson, 33, made $2.86 million last season, finishing with Sacramento after a February trade from Atlanta. He averaged 5.6 points and 3.8 assists for the season and has career marks of 5.7 points and 2.9 assists. Other teams said to be interested in Johnson include Cleveland, New York, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix and Utah. Carter took over as the Nuggets' starting point last season because of Chucky Atkins being injured. Atkins has vowed to be next season's starter, but the Nuggets need depth at the position regardless. Carter averaged 7.8 points and 5.5 assists during a surprising regular season. But he was benched in the playoffs. Carter said Thursday afternoon he hadn't heard anything from the Nuggets since free agency began Tuesday. Carter was asked if he felt they would have contacted him by then if he was a prime candidate to re-sign, "Yeah, I guess," he said. "But it's not a big deal. Everything will take care of itself (in free agency)." Meanwhile, teams are playing a waiting game regarding Nuggets restricted free-agent guard J.R. Smith. Teams considering an offer are likely waiting to see where Clippers marquee free agents Elton Brand and Corey Maggette land. For instance, San Antonio has offered Maggette its full midlevel exception. If that doesn't work out, the Spurs could look at Smith</div> Source: Rocky Mountain News He would be an upgrade over Anthony Carer, but how's he going to deal with the talented point guards in the West?
Oh great, now the Nuggets are going to get a point guard who is even less of a scoring threat than was Anthony Carter. That's a strategy I never heard of: to pick a point guard using defensive reasons only. Oh well, I guess I am reduced to hoping that all the point guards bruise their little fingers so that Iverson can be PG and so that the Nuggets can make the best of a really rotten situation. This is just one big shame: a team with a massive payroll, a huge talent bank, and a hefty luxury tax, and yet it can not come up with a point guard solution that makes any sense. You see why I predicted that the Nuggets will not make the playoffs in 2008-09, a prediction I am standing by at the moment because although the Warriors may be out, the Clippers may be back in?
