Chucky really was a sucky signing

cpawfan · Sep 24, 2008

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...vLYF?slug=ap-nuggets-atkins&prov=ap&type=lgns

DENVER (AP)—Denver Nuggets guard Chucky Atkins will miss six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday.

Atkins felt pain two weeks ago while playing pickup games, and an MRI on Monday revealed an operation was necessary. Team orthopedic surgeon Steve Traina repaired torn cartilage and cleaned out loose bodies, the team said.

Atkins missed most of last season after surgery to repair a sports hernia. He averaged 4.7 points and two assists in 24 games
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Way to go three-headed monster. What a fine Free Agent addition Chucky has been.

At least the Nuggets already have 2 major injuries out of the way with Weems and Chucky out of commission.

cpawfan · Sep 25, 2008

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/24/nuggets-atkins-miss-camp-after-knee-surgery/

Another training camp, another point guard injury.

Nuggets point guard Chucky Atkins underwent surgery on his right knee Wednesday to repair torn cartilage and clean out loose bodies. He’s expected to miss about six weeks, which would keep him out all of training camp, which begins Tuesday.

Atkins missed much of the preseason last October with a groin strain, an injury that kept him out for the first 1 1/2 months of the regular season. Later, he missed two months following sports hernia surgery.

The Nuggets last October also were without point guard Anthony Carter for the entire preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season due to a broken hand. But Carter recovered to have a fine regular season.

“You could write an article on our injuries over the years,” said Nuggets coach George Karl. “It’s not been a smooth ride. I feel bad for Chucky because some of the guys (Nuggets personnel) went down to visit him in Orlando (his offseason home) about two or three weeks ago and they said he was in great shape. ... It was like a week ago (his knee) kind of locked up on him (a team statement said the injury occurred two weeks ago while playing pickup games). He’ll be back early enough to hopefully give him a big-time opportunity to help us.”

Karl hopes Atkins will be able to return early in the regular season, which begins Oct. 29 at Utah. With that in mind, Karl said the Nuggets expect to sign veteran free-agent point guard Mateen Cleaves and also are looking to bring to camp Jamon Gordon, a rookie from Virginia Tech who averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 assists for Denver’s summer-league team.

While Gordon isn’t considered much more than a camp player, Cleaves, 31, has played six NBA seasons. Cleaves hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since 2005-06, although the Nuggets had brought him in for a workout out in April 2007 before deciding instead to sign Carter for the remainder of that season.

Cleaves has NBA career averages of 3.6 points and 1.9 assists. The former Michigan State star played parts of the past two seasons with the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.

After returning to Denver last weekend, Atkins told the Nuggets about his knee. He had an magnetic resonance imaging exam done Monday, and it was determined that the surgery, performed by Nuggets orthopedic doctor Steve Traina, would be necessary.

“He had an MRI done in Orlando, and it came back OK,” Karl said. “But we just feel we had to clean up stuff that needs to be done. ... It’s not one of those injuries where there’s a small chance he’ll be able to get back in the rotation. But I think there’s a good chance he’ll get back in the rotation.”

In the meantime, Karl will get creative. Other than Carter, Cleaves and Gordon, the Nuggets have Allen Iverson able to play the point and J.R. Smith can handle the ball.

“I think you’ll see me mess around with point forward and J.R.,” Karl said.

Atkins turned 34 last month, and has been plagued by injuries since the Nuggets signed him in the summer of 2007.

Asked if he’s concerned about Atkins’ ongoing health troubles, Karl said, “That’s for philosophical personnel meetings.”

Atkins will make a guaranteed $3.24 million season. He’s due to make $3.48 million in 2009-10, but only $760,000 of it is guaranteed.

Had he not gotten hurt, Atkins would have challenged to be a starter to begin the season. As it is, Karl said, the guard spot opposite Iverson is the only starting spot up for grabs.

Karl said he could start Carter at the point and Iverson at the shooting guard, which is what he did last season. Or he could start Iverson at the point and Smith at shooting guard.
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Mateen fucking Cleaves NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, a thousand time No

DynastYWarrioR6 · Sep 25, 2008

cpaw is apparently on his own for another season

Answer_AI03 · Sep 25, 2008

The Nuggets were my favorite team... I just want AI to leave and get his ring while he still can..

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Chucky really was a sucky signing

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

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Chucky really was a sucky signing

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

Answer_AI03 JBB JustBBall Member

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