I can't believe what the Nuggets have just done. Rather than retaining a perennial sixth man of the year candidate, they let he and another good prospect (Julius Hodge) go to Milwaukee. And for what? Steve Blake who has definitely not proven himself in this leagueThoughts on this plaese!!
Nuggets don't want to pay luxury tax... I'm sure this isn't ordered by the coaching staff, but straight down from Boss Stan Kroenke. The Bucks' expiring exception is the killer for the Nuggets because they either make it today or risk not trading Boykins after the trade deadline ends, which is clearly not an option for Stan. Losing Boykins and Hodge for only Steve Blake may hurt, but it could be good things for the Nuggets:- Boykins has thrived on starting and scoring for us... but his role of scoring won't be needed when Melo returns and his effectiveness would be diminished so much... because that's what he does best: scoring. We need another dimension to the game besides scoring... we need better defense, size, passing, and consistent outside shooting at that position, all of which Blake can do (at least from his days in Portland showed).- We accomplished trading Boykins to avoid luxury tax... Stan should be happy now. Give the man something back after he stepped up taking on AI's contract to improve the team. Locker room should also be steadier because the rumor will be much quieter from now on.
Boykins wanted out, and that was known publicly a month or two ago. I expected a Boykins trade. They could have done a little bit better, maybe, but this wasn't as bad a trade as you are making it out to be, ProStix.The Nuggets get a young playmaker to back up Iverson, that will create for others, which is what they need. Boykins doesn't create for others, he creates for himself. The Nuggets already have a killer offensive trio of AI/Melo/J.R. They don't need another volume scorer, who happens to be 5'5'' and plays the same position as Iverson. Boykins will come in and set up the offense and try to get others involved first.As for Julius Hodge, meh. He was overrated coming out of NC State, IMO, and he has off-court attitude problems. He was hurt too. I don't think he'll really ever amount to much in the NBA.Milwaukee did alright. They got a scorer, and they REALLY need one with their whole starting lineup out (except Bogut). They'll have a valid scoring option off the bench now, when everyone is healthy, and I think the Bucks are going to be a nightmare to defend on most nights.I don't think BCB likes Earl Boykins though (I could be wrong, but I think I remember BCB making fun of Boykins one time I talked to him), so I can't wait to see his reaction.
Blake played alright in Portland last year. I agree that Denver probably gave up too much, but this makes sense for them. Blake is a PG and that's what Denver needs. Boykins is an undersized shooting guard in the same mold of Iverson. Hodge definitely has potential but nobody knows if he's going to pan out or not. The Nuggetts need a real PG and that's what Blake is. This also makes room for the returning JR Smith.
I'm not really shocked about Boykins being traded. It was talked about this year and with Iverson coming in, you couldn't expect Nugs to be going with that small backcourt continually with Iverson/Boykins. They needed a bigger pg. Also, as Magic pointed out, there's the luxury tax behind the move. Not a bad move by Nugs imo, Hodge so far looked like a bust imo.
I'm not sure how I feel about this situation, I have wanted to trade Boykins since the beginning of last season. He doesn't play good defense, he dribbles the ball around too much, he can't create for his teammates very well. I wanted him to move but I expected to get more out of him then Steve Blake.Despite his flaws he was our main offensive source off the bench. Now that Boykins is gone we don't have any solid scoring options coming off the bench for us. We certainly don't have any solid scoring guards except for our starting lineup. I don't mind Steve Blake, he's a pure point guard with excellent court vision. He should play very well into our fast break offense, that's the area he excels in the most.I think this trade is going to hurt us more than help us.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Jan 11 2007, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>bad trade....</div>Care to elaborate a bit? Bad for who, and why?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ginger Jesus @ Jan 11 2007, 12:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I also hate this trade for another reason. Now I have to update my damn 2k7 rosters.</div>Same here.
I don't like this trade for Denver either, what is the point of this? Boykins has been an excellent bench player off the bench for Denver. He lit up the Celtics the last time they played him...This doesn't make any sense....Steve Blake? He is a pure point guard but Boykins has a lot more to offer in my mind. He's a great scorer and an excellent outside shooter. He's also having the worst year of his career statistically where Boykins is having the best of his career. I don't get it...
ah. Bucks needed this for sure. with all the injurys they got.. But earl wasnt going to get alot of min anyway. Iverson and jr both gonna get 30 or more
I like the move by Denver... they have wanted to get rid of Boykins for who knows how long, and they accomplished that, although I did expect them to receive more than Steve Blake in return, but still. Their bench scoring/production will take a hit, but we all know Iverson will be playing 40+ minutes a game, so the Nuggets will have either AI or Carmelo in the game at all times, pretty much, therefore it shouldn't really be too much of a problem for them to score even with the majority of the bench players in there.Denver got what they desperately needed, a traditional point guard to back up Iverson so that they could slide Iverson to the two guard position for certain stretches of the game with Blake running the point.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jan 11 2007, 02:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm not really shocked about Boykins being traded. It was talked about this year and with Iverson coming in, you couldn't expect Nugs to be going with that small backcourt continually with Iverson/Boykins. They needed a bigger pg. Also, as Magic pointed out, there's the luxury tax behind the move. Not a bad move by Nugs imo, Hodge so far looked like a bust imo.</div>Okay, so they got a bigger PG.Good for them. But, Which one is stronger? which one has more experience? look at what Steve Blake is averaging so far this year, it's pitiful..349 FG%.550 FT%.279 3P%The Nuggets could've gotten much more in return.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Nuggets could've gotten much more in return.</div>Care to elaborate on who? I hate when people say they could have done better like they know what's going on behind the scenes. You have zero idea on what offers were being made. Also, your ignoring the luxury tax ramifications behind the move as well. Blake fits the criteria and also allows for more size on the perimeter along Iverson. Whose stronger? I would say Blake, least he has height and a bigger body. Not saying much but Boykins does not have strength, so what kind of question was that? And experience does not matter in this case as Nugs wanted to swap pgs that would have help with there luxury tax and give a pass first guard with size along Iverson.It's not a bad deal. Especially when Blake ends this year. And they save in 10 mil I believe was the word Nugs fans were saying after the year.
I dont like this trade, I think its horrible for denver.I havent seen steve blake play much but im not a really big fan of his, especially after his performance at the raptors game I think earl boykins is a shorter version of blake that gets some of his shots in and to throw in hodge a potential talent(he could have developed if you just sent him to the d-league for a bit)
