What word (followed by many others) would you use to describe…

1. JaVale McGee’s new contract?

Charlie: Risky. Perhaps the biggest one taken under the new leadership regime of Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri. I have no problem with the contract or the way negotiations were handled. The Nuggets did what was necessary within the confines of the CBA and the free agency market for centers. That being said, I don’t think anyone truly knows the real JaVale McGee yet. He must be willing to continue his transformation as player more than ever, despite the fact he was just handsomely rewarded for coming off the bench in a three-month honeymoon with the Nuggets. I believe JaVale is misunderstood as a bad character guy and player who is difficult to teach, but I haven’t seen enough to say that I’m really sure.

Jeremy: Investment. NBA players have been compared to corporations. Every player is his own business. Some provide a better product than others and some are better run than others. The Denver Nuggets just converted $44 million into stock in JaVale McGee, Inc. When compared to the other investments made this summer (primarily Hibbert, Inc. and Lopez, Inc.), this investment is a sound one. As with any investment there is risk: The return on the investment may not recover their sizable expenditure. Of course there is also hope the investment pays off. There are very few businesses that have the raw materials that McGee, Inc. possesses and at the end of four years, the stock the Nuggets purchased could turn out to be a bargain.

Kalen: Necessary. Call me stubborn, but I simply can’t look at JaVale McGee’s contract and think Denver got a steal. Yes, he is significantly cheaper than Brook Lopez or Roy Hibbert but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s still massively overpayed. Maybe it’s the basketball purist in me that despises the NBA “market.” Then again, a talking head (can’t remember who) on TV brought up a great point the other day when he said, if all big men are payed at the same inflated rate then none of them are actually “overpayed.” The fact is, this contract was entirely necessary and all things considered, $11 million per year won’t asphyxiate the franchise. I’ll still cringe whenever I look at it, but I figure over time I’ll build up an immunity. The real problem it presents is with future contracts, specifically Ty Lawson’s. There are already rumblings Lawson will be the highest paid player on the team, and if true, that will be the real mistake as distributing point guard contracts based on the market value of today’s NBA center is essentially hopping on the interstate to Luxury Tax City.

2. the Anthony Randolph signing?

Charlie: Brilliant. There’s just no two ways about it. There is basically no risk here and so much potential reward. Jeremy’s article did a great job outlining the reasons this might turn into one of the best contracts in the NBA. By adding Randolph to their stockpile of high-potential bigs, the odds that one of them making it and perhaps becoming a special player is greatly increased.

Jeremy: Savvy. I had already gone on record with my support for the Nuggets signing Randolph, who is now on the same roster as two of his classmates from the 2008 draft: Danilo Gallinari and McGee. The combined annual salary of his two new teammates is ten times as much as Randolph’s. Needless to say, Randolph’s career has not exactly taken off. He has to realize this is his last chance to recalibrate his trajectory. If he cannot make things work playing for a winning organization that is committed to player development, the three year, $6 million contract he signed may be his last. The good news is, even if Randolph never improves, he can already outperform his contact; however, just like with McGee, if he can begin to play to his elevated talent, the Nuggets will have made out like bandits.

Kalen: Luxurious. Tell me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t this signing totally resemble someone who’s finally made it and decided to splurge on a sports car? They have the house, the family — the business is thriving like never before — and now all they want is a little something for themselves. Not even a brand new, top-of-the-line dream machine (which is really out of their price range). Just a nice, used sports car that really purrs when the petal’s to the metal. To me, Randolph is Masai Ujiri’s used sports car. Fans are fooling themselves if they think Randolph is going to suddenly transform into some kind of deadly force now that he’s in Denver. He’s probably not going to ever be used as much as anyone would like. But he’ll always be there, waiting, ready to go for that thrill ride whenever the “regulars” just aren’t cutting it.

3. Chris “Birdman” Andersen’s tenure in Denver?

Charlie: Fun. Birdman did what was asked of him throughout his Nuggets career. He represented himself with class and dignity on the court despite his missteps and transgressions off it. I never liked signing him to a five-year deal, but at that time it was necessary considering the Nuggets cap situation. His time simply ran its course with the Nuggets before his contract did. I will have great memories of his Nuggets career even though I am disappointed he never adjusted after his gimmick was outed by the rest of the league. If he showed the Nuggets any ability to resist being pump-faked to death by opposing players, Bird might still be a valuable piece of the rotation. Even so, it’s simply time to move on and I hope everything works out for him in the future.

Jeremy: Colorful. Back before blogs had been invented, I ran a sports website with a friend of mine. Every article was hand crafted in HTML with help from a template. It sure was a pain in the tuckus. We focused on our favorite teams, but wrote about everything. It was during that period of my life that the Nuggets called Chris Andersen up from the D-League. We mocked Dan Issel and Kim Hughes for wasting a roster spot on a guy they knew nothing about because he was the No. 1 in the initial D-League Draft (“He was the No. 1 pick in the draft, he must be awesome!”). Our ignorance was exposed as Birdman quickly became a fan favorite. Whether it was on the court, off the court, overseas, or on his body, Birdman’s basketball career has always been colorful. He was a rags to riches hoops fairy tale and made sure everyone knew he was enjoying the ride and we enjoyed it along with him.

Kalen: Disappointing. I know, I know. It’s “negative.” It’s predictable. But it’s so true. Birdman was such a great story when he returned to Denver in 2008-09. He went from rock bottom to soaring across the sky and he did it through hard work and dedication. He was a key part of why the Nuggets made their second Western Conference Finals appearance in franchise history. I remember games where he, alone, changed the outcome of the contest with his incredible energy on the defensive side of the ball. You couldn’t find anybody who didn’t want him back with the Nuggets following that season. If you ask me, the whole “Birdman” persona went to his head. He thought he was larger than life. Everything was about “Birdman” and not Chris Andersen, the basketball player. He totally lost his fundamental feeling for the game and became infatuated with the big play, rather than doing what got him back in the NBA in the first place. His most recent troubles with the law ultimately sealed his fate with the Nuggets. I really hope Andersen figures it out again. I’d love to see him with a title contender, playing the role he did with the Nuggets his first year back. In the end, I’d just like to thank Chris Andersen for everything he did while in Denver. He was truly a sight to see.

1. Although the roster is essentially full, if you could chose, who is the one available free agent you want to see the Nuggets sign? (2012 free agent list)

Charlie: Before I answer the question, I should say that I’m fine with the Nuggets sitting out free agency and I suspect they will. This crop of free agents just isn’t very good and you need only look at the Dallas Mavericks for proof. They sacrificed their aging championship core to maximize cap space this summer and needless to say, it hasn’t paid off. The Mavs now find themselves in the unenviable position of having to fill out their roster by overspending in a market where Gerald Wallace got $40 million guaranteed. There’s simply no reason the Nuggets shouldn’t keep their flexibility intact so they can spend at a later date when team needs will become a little more clear. That being said, I’m intrigued by taking a flier on the recently amnestied Elton Brand. Denver would likely have to amnesty Birdman or Harrington to create the requisite room, but they have more than enough depth to do so. Brand’s polish in the post is a great compliment to Faried and something sorely lacking in the rest of the Nuggets bigs. I don’t expect it to happen, but that would be an opportunity with little to no risk and a lot of potential reward.

Jeremy: I am going to carry my philosophy of the draft into this question. They should look for players with potential. I narrowed my list down to Anthony Randolph, who did not receive a qualifying offer from Minnesota, or Gerald Green. I have always been a sucker for Randolph’s athleticism and potential. If you are honest with yourself you’ll admit to being intrigued by a McGee/Randolph front court; however, I have to give the nod to Gerald Green. Despite the glut of wings on the roster I think Denver needs a shooter to come off the bench behind Afflalo. Green would thrive in Denver’s high octane system, plus, he drilled almost 40 percent of his threes last season. More importantly, he proved he has grown from a crazy athlete into a legitimate basketball player.

Kalen: While I was tempted to go with a smart, veteran locker room presence — think Grant Hill, Anthony Tolliver or Eduardo Najera — who could mentor Denver’s young core and act as a stabilizing force when adversity strikes, I have to settle on Chris Kaman. Even with three 7-footers, the Nuggets front court situation is still shaky. I like having big bodies just as much as the next guy but fans are fooling themselves if they think Koufos and Mozgov are going to save the day come playoff time. Having a skilled, veteran 7-footer who can actually play at a high level would prove invaluable for such a young squad. This would also allow Harrington to move back to his natural position at small forward, therefore decreasing the amount of “small ball” to be played in the process. Additionally, Kaman is a full-blown redneck who would likely find comfort (shooting something?) in the Rocky Mountains, which he has yet to have had in his NBA career.

2. Who is the one player you’d like to see the Nugget trade for?

Charlie: This is another difficult one to answer, because it just so happens the one thing the Nuggets lack (a star) is by far the riskiest and most difficult to acquire. Denver is not a legitimate destination for top free agents, while the second tier guys they could trade for don’t come without serious flaws or financial risk. For that reason, I’d love to see the Nuggets stay young and developmental rather than trying to patch up their weaknesses with guys who don’t significantly move the talent needle. Derrick Williams, the former No. 2 pick of the Timberwolves, is pretty clearly on his way out of Minnesota and extremely likely to see his declining trade value plummet further. The Wolves are hard after cap space and while taking on another project like Williams doesn’t help the Nuggets now, it’s the type of long-term gamble Denver must be willing to take.

Jeremy: I have tried to limit my options to players who are realistically available and while Dwight Howard is available, realistically that scenario is not even worth discussing. With that in mind, I would love to see Andre Iguodala in a Nuggets uniform playing shooting guard. Iguodala makes plays at both ends of the court and has quietly improved his 3-point shooting throughout his career (39.4 percent last season). A package including Afflalo, Stone, Chandler and Mozgov or Koufos should at least get Philly’s attention.

Kalen: Josh Smith. Plain and simple. This guy has been on Nuggets Nation’s radar forever so it’s about time he officially suits up in blue and yellow. He’s one of the most underrated (versatile, athletic, defensive) players in the league who’s been on the verge of making the All-Star team the last several years. While he’s played power forward in Atlanta his true position is at the three. He’s been very vocal about wanting a fresh start and at only 26, Denver is the absolute perfect place for him to land considering he could be the missing piece to a blossoming young core. Because he’s in the last year of his contract the Hawks can’t expect a king’s ransom for his services; therefore, something as simple as Danilo Gallinari or Wilson Chandler alone might seal the deal. Once in a Nuggets uniform it’s almost a guarantee Masai Ujiri and Josh Kroenke would be able to re-sign him given how well they’ve done in recent contract negotiations.

3. Who is the one player you want to see excel most at Summer League?

Charlie: Without a doubt, I think this is the summer of Jordan Hamilton. Despite a less than stellar rookie year, Hamilton showed glimpses of a well-rounded offensive game. With Rudy Fernandez gone and Al Harrington coming off yet another major surgery, he’ll have the opportunity to see minutes both on the wing and in the backcourt with the likes of Miller and Lawson. I have no doubt Hamilton will help the Nuggets next season if he improves his focus and shows he does not need the ball in order to be effective. Hamilton has been a natural scorer his whole career, but I think he needs to get quicker and show the coaches he can fill a variety of roles on both ends of the floor. Hamilton’s ability to shoot, get to the basket and rebound makes him the most intriguing prospect on the Summer League squad and I have a lot of confidence he’ll make the most of his opportunity next week.

Jeremy: That is like asking me to pick which of my kids I want to see in heaven. Faried already has already established himself as the starting power forward. I really want Stone to succeed, but he is blocked by Lawson and Miller. I desperately want to see Quincy Miller prove that he was the steal of the draft, but he will not see the court much this season regardless of how well he plays in Vegas. That leaves Jordan Hamilton as the player with the best mix of potential to blow up and actually earn playing time with the Nuggets this season so I am going to choose him.

Kalen: Jordan Hamilton as a rotational player next season already seems to be a foregone conclusion — and for good reasons. He should be better than everyone aside from Faried. In other words, I don’t want him to play well, I expect him to play well. The guy who needs a convincing performance the most is without question, Evan Fournier. While fans have had the chance to see American-born players like Miller, Hamilton, Faried and even Stone in live, full-length game action, Fournier has been much more difficult to track. This will probably be the first opportunity for many fans to see the guy Ujiri chose over Perry Jones, Jared Sullinger and John Jenkins up close and personal. If he struggles the pessimism will only perpetuate. While it’s unfair to expect a dominating performance, it will be crucial for Fournier to at least hold his own and show glimpses of what made him such a high selection in the Draft. In theory, if he’s been playing against full-grown men since he was 16 then he should be able to handle Summer League.

1. What aspect of the Denver Nuggets has changed the most since the start of the season?

Kalen: The progression and similar decline between Arron Afflalo and Danilo Gallinari. While neither of these guys had their best showings in the playoffs, there’s no denying that as a whole, they shifted positions between the start of the regular season and its conclusion in April. Remember, through the first month of the season Gallinari was averaging close to 19 points per game while shooting roughly .47 percent from the field and .88 percent from the line. In addition, he set a new career high with 37 points in what was, at the time, the biggest win of the year against the Knicks. It was by far the best month of his career.

Meanwhile Afflalo was a borderline pariah amongst fans and frequent victim of hypothetical trade machine deals after he got off to a slow start averaging only 10 points per game on .415 shooting from the field and .692 from the line over the first month of the season. Fastforward to April (the last month of the regular season) and Afflalo was carrying the team on his back through the midst of a playoff hunt, averaging about 19 points, four rebounds and 3.4 assists per game on .521 percent shooting from the field, .45 percent from downtown and .84 percent from the line.

While many will point to Gallinari’s injuries as the downfall of his season — and rightfully so — you still have to acknowledge the fact that he had close to a month to get back to his original form from the beginning of the year, yet he only averaged 12.6 points per game on .37 percent from the field during this span. Seeing how much these players changed over the course of the season should pose as a harsh reminder to fans that judgement is meal best served with a side of patience.

Jeremy: Expectations. When the Nuggets started off 14-5 there was a good portion of Nuggets Nation that believed the boys in blue were a contender. As the season wore on and injuries took their toll, the focus shifted from winning the West to just making the playoffs. By the end of the season, despite having a full complement of players (sure Wilson Chandler missed the playoffs, but he was never a factor in the season including the 14-5 opening) fans were no longer hoping for a shot at the finals, but rather a couple of wins before being eliminated.

The front office showed they knew the Nuggets were not contenders with the Nene trade, and when Denver forced Game 7, fans who were talking about a deep playoff run were now content to enjoy the second most successful playoff “run” in 18 years. I think heading into the offseason everyone is on the same page, Denver is a very good young team, but they are a player or two away from being a true contender. Some may believe that those players are on the roster and just need to mature, but I doubt anyone will be proclaiming Denver a preseason favorite to make the finals next year.

Charlie: The Nuggets identity. I think this shortened season was the first true test of whether the post-Carmelo model had any prospects for sustained, long-term success. Last summer there was the idea that trading Melo for an ensemble cast of role players was all the rebuilding the Nuggets needed to do in order to start competing for a championship.

Charlie: Hopefully it will teach the Nuggets to never be satisfied with themselves. After being out of the playoff picture at the All-Star break, Denver finished strong to move up to the sixth seed and definitely entered the postseason too complacent with what they had achieved. The result was a Game 1 in which the scared Nuggets didn’t look ready to play and basically laid down while putting the Lakers in the drivers seat for a series win. Even as the Nuggets toughened up and perhaps were the better team in the latter part of the series, they did themselves in by getting behind the 8-ball early. In the regular season, the Nuggets can settle for winning one out of two on the road or having their deep bench make up for some lackluster performances by their best players; in the playoffs, that just doesn’t fly. This team isn’t going anywhere past the first round until the coaches and players take that to heart.

3. What’s must the Nugget do to ensure they improve even more next season?

Kalen: Say the course. Since the Melo trade the Nuggets front office has spent the last year and a half constructing a team with the exact DNA this current Nuggets squad possesses. Now that it’s finally arrived it’s important to see where this roster can go. Obviously the Nuggets will continue to make moves in order to put them in a position to win more games, but outside of moving Chandler and a few other small pieces, I think it’s crucial that the Nuggets keep the starting five in tact and run with this youth movement. Let Jordan Hamilton, Julyan Stone and hopefully another talented rookie (similar to Faried) become vital parts of the rotation in addition to the veteran presence of Al Harrington and a possible stabilizing free agent. Although young, there’s an enormous amount of talent on this roster and it would be disingenuous to break it up before we really get a chance to see how it can play as a cohesive unit.

Jeremy: There are plenty of areas where Denver can improve from their recent campaign. My No. 1 suggestion would be to commit to playing defense. While the Nuggets have had a reputation as a poor defensive team over the years due to their high points per game average, for much of the Carmelo era the Nuggets were a staple in the top ten of defensive efficiency. That changed in 2009-10 when the Nuggets sank to 16^th. This season Denver finished a pathetic 19^th in defensive efficiency, the lowest they have finished in that category in a decade. Denver has size, athleticism and young legs plus George Karl has proven he can coach defense. The Nuggets should be a fantastic defensive team and if they want to be successful in the future, they better make playing defense a priority.

Charlie: The Nuggets just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing — namely building a strong foundation around youth and athleticism. Denver has a good thing going as the kind of farm system where developing players can see their raw talent realized in the form of on-court success. It’s amazing to me how an often ridiculed player like JaVale McGee was able to make huge strides in such a short time and become legit in the basketball community’s eyes with a change of scenery. Beyond that, I just think the Nuggets need to continue adapting their style of play to the personnel and cutting ties with what they were traditionally known for during the Carmelo Anthony era. Even in the span of this one shortened season the Nuggets have gone from a fairly average rebounding team to one of the league’s elite. With a good locker room free of any troublesome egos, this team has the ability to be even more fundamentally sound and assuming they are able to develop their size a little more, the next step might be playing a little bit slower and perhaps even becoming a more defensive-minded team.

Over the last several weeks the Nuggets have endured one of its toughest stretches of the season, if not the last several years. After starting off the season on a record-setting pace, even winning six straight road games for the first time in franchise history, the Nuggets fell victim to a myriad of injuries and in the process saw its winning ways vanish in no time. After finally securing a much-needed win against Indiana the Nuggets will now look to get back on track but before Denver takes on the Suns at home on Tuesday, Roundball Mining Company decided to analyze the Nuggets recent struggles in our latest 3-on-3.

1. To what effect has Timofey Mozgov’s absence from the starting lineup contributed to the Nuggets recent woes?

Charlie: To me, the Mozgov injury was a poor excuse for the Nuggets to drop so many games in the such disheartening fashion. While he provided a steady paint presence and solid pick-and-roll defense, Mozgov is still a role player learning to play his position. I thought Kosta Koufos performed admirably in Mozgov’s absence despite lacking continuity with his teammates or the same trust Karl had built up with Mozgov. The costliest side effects of Timo’s injury were the increased workload on Al Harrington and the starting lineup falling into complete disarray. Both of those issues I would put more on Karl’s insistence on going small whenever the Nuggets showed signs of struggling. Mozgov at least provided that steady 20 minutes of a more conventional lineup every night, but that’s pretty far down on the laundry list of issues surrounding the Nuggets’ recent slide. Compared with the challenge of filling Gallo’s much larger role, losing Timo for a few games isn’t a strong argument for the Nuggets suddenly being unable to play any defense.

Jeremy: I do not think it is a significant factor, in fact, it may even be a good thing. It is easy to look at this question as Mozgov vs. Koufos. I believe the difference between the two is negligible. Mozgov is the better post defender and passer while Koufos is the better rebounder and has a little more sizzle around the rim. Still there are nights where both are non-factors. In my mind the benefit behind Mozgov’s absence is the fact that we have a better understanding of what Koufos can provide and Kenneth Faried has earned some additional minutes that probably would not have been available to him if Mozgov was healthy.

Kalen: Hardly at all. Let’s keep in mind, Mozgov usually receives about 18 minutes per game and plays only sparingly in the fourth quarter. Right now, he’s a developing young center who’s still largely inexperienced when it comes to winning basketball games in the NBA. Would he have helped? Sure. But statistically speaking, Koufos is better than Mozgov so you could even make a case the Nuggets might have been better off without him. Obviously it would have helped to have Mozgov throughout the losing streak, but to say the Nuggets lost games because he was out of the lineup, to me, just seems inaccurate. The Nuggets lost way more games than they should have for a variety of reasons, but not having their novice, raw, young center certainly wasn’t a major factor.

2. Once Wilson Chandler returns and the Nuggets regain their health, can fans expect the team to shoot up the standings again?

Charlie: There is a strong argument to be made assuming the Nuggets somehow recapture their dominance at home. With the West being as competitive as it is, the Nuggets really can’t afford to tread water and wait around for Gallo and Chandler to vault them back into contention for a top four seed. They have to get back to consistently playing at a high level right now. Unfortunately I just don’t see that happening considering the schedule only becomes more demanding and injuries keep piling up. If the Nuggets bounce back and salvage February to finish within shouting distance of .500 they stand a great chance to get right back in the mix. Keep making excuses and being satisfied with merely halting their slide and the Nuggets could be on the playoff bubble till the end of the year.

Jeremy: We have expended a great deal of energy projecting when Chandler might return as well as what his agent’s comments concerning the likelihood that he will resign with Denver mean. I expect the Nuggets to rebound from their swoon before Chandler is eligible to return. We have already seen a much better effort in Indianapolis and I think the darkest days of this season are behind them. However, until Danilo Gallinari returns, and if Nene misses a few games, the Nuggets will probably just be good enough to tread water. It will take a return to full strength for Denver to return to their winning ways. The bad news is there is no guarantee they will ever return to full health. The good news is after the All-Star break they enter the easiest portion of their schedule from a physical standpoint. More days off will be a blessing.

Kalen: I definitely think so. Making it through the month of February above .500 would have been difficult without Gallinari, but getting Chandler back should make this goal much more attainable. Though Chandler will have some adjusting to do the bottom line is that he’s still a solid small forward who can do many of the things Gallo did, and some even better. His defense should play a vital role in resurrecting the Nuggets’ passion on that side of the ball and even though he’s not a pure scorer, his offense is nothing to scoff at either. I think the Nuggets collective health is the biggest issue. If Nene, Mozgov, Ty, Afflalo and the rest of the team can stay healthy, there’s no telling how fast the Nuggets could shoot up the standings in the Western Conference.

3. How would you rate the job George Karl has done so far this season and how much is he to blame for the Nuggets recent struggles?

Charlie: I’d give Karl’s coaching a “C” at best. The problem is that the slightest hint of adversity has thrown him into panic. When the season began Karl had the Nuggets on the fast track to one of the most promising starts in franchise history, even admitting they were exceeding his own expectations. Although the team has great depth, they’ve dealt with injuries worse than any other contender in the league. After 28 games there’s been almost no progress establishing continuity with a rotation fans can feel confident will succeed in the playoffs. While it’s tough to live with the pressure of high standards set by a blistering hot start, it can’t be so easy to make excuses and expect regression to the mean.

Jeremy: I always have a difficult time answering this question. We are not privy to what goes on behind closed doors and what happens at practice. I have great concerns about some of the lineups Karl utilizes — small ball, the two-point guard lineup, etc. — and am baffled at how poorly this team defends. Ultimately those issues fall on the coach. On the other hand, I do not envy Karl trying to juggle lineups every night. It is a task made even more difficult by injuries and the fact that Karl does not know who his best player is going to be night in and night out. Will it be Lawson?  Gallo? Harrington? Nene? Will Fernandez be hot or a drain on the offense? Karl has no idea, plus most of these players are not quite good enough for him to know whether they can carry a hot start into the fourth quarter of a tight game. Defensively, I think it is easier to pin more of the blame on Karl, but again, not to be an apologist, but these players are not displaying a very high basketball IQ on defense nor do they do a very good job of communicating. I know Karl can coach defense. He has done it in the past. I am not sure how well this team can learn defense and that is something he cannot solve on his own. Overall, I can see where he should be absolved from some of the blame for the team’s struggles. Even so, I do think he has made some serious errors with his lineups and he tends to stick a little too much to “his guys” even when things are going poorly. There is still time to get things figured out, but the impending arrival of Chandler might make things even more difficult for Karl going forward.

Kalen: Like Jeremy, the older I get the more I realize just how oblivious we, as fans, are to the occurrences inside the Nuggets locker room. Really, who am I to judge how good of a coaching job George Karl has done when I likely don’t even know 90 percent of the story. What I do know, however, is that after starting off incredibly strong and impressive the Nuggets reverted back to their old “street ball” mentality fairly easily, except this time around there was no Allen Iverson or Carmelo Anthony to ignite instant offense when the team needed it most. I firmly believe that you can only judge a coach based on the talent he’s surrounded with and even more so, just how well he does in the face of adversity. Karl has one hell of a roster around him, and one that he practically begged management to build for him. It’s easy to win with so much talent (even without a “superstar”) but if you’re telling me that all it’s gonna take is an injury here or there for the Nuggets to be totally derailed, then I just can’t buy into the fact that Karl’s really pushing whatever buttons he needs in order for this team to succeed. The series of losses the Nuggets suffered lately were inexplicable and unacceptable. The team didn’t even look like it was trying half the time and more importantly, the defense was nonexistent. Those are things Karl has complete control over and until he proves that he’s actively aiming to improve the team in this aspect (or in other words, until the team actually starts playing defense) then I can’t sit here and tell you he’s doing a masterful job of making lemonade out of a fairly nice crop of lemons.

1. Buy or Sell: Al Harrington will maintain his fast start to the season

Charlie: Buy. I have been wrong about Harrington too many times to keep convincing myself he’s a bad player. Is 53 percent shooting a bit much to ask for all season? Absolutely, but the Nuggets won’t need that from him once Harrington’s teammates pick up their share of the scoring load more consistently. Fifteen points, over five rebounds and around two 3-pointers per game is not unreasonable to expect from a motivated Al Buckets. More importantly, he’s embraced a leadership role and seems to be demanding more out of himself despite not being the greatest defender or post player on the team. As long as Karl keeps Harrington in this low-minute, high-usage role I see him continuing to thrive as an important part of the team. Al needs to be careful about derailing himself with his shot selection. The past few games he was asked to do too much and he needs to resist creating for himself except as a last resort. I was wrong about Harrington — and if he keeps working off teammates for great shots those opportunities will continue to be there for him all season.

Jeremy: Sell.  I know I am going to get hammered for being pessimistic, but he is playing at such a high level it boggles my mind how he could continue.  I am not saying Harrington will cease to be effective, I just have to wonder if at his age he can maintain this kind of performance. Only twice in his now 14-year career has he posted a PER above 16.  So far this season his PER is 20.49! He is setting career highs in field goal percentage, true shooting percentage, points per minute and rebound rate. His percentages are as out of whack from the rest of his career as his PER. The chances of Al maintaining that level of play are extremely remote. He does have a few things going in his favor: He is in great shape and does not need to play 30 or 35 minutes a night. If he can make it to the All-Star break without falling off much the Nuggets have only two back-to-backs after that point to close out the season, which should help his legs stay fresh. If Harrington maintains this pace all season long, it should be one of the biggest individual stories in the NBA.

Kalen: Buy. I was amazed at how well Harrington started off the season but figured at some point he’d cool down. Well, here we are with the completion of about one-third of the 66-game schedule right around the corner and “Medium Sized Al” has yet to show any signs of regression. His shooting percentage continues to remain the model of efficiency for a small forward in today’s NBA, while his pride, “clutchness” and perpetually optimistic attitude are the exact remedy the doctor ordered for the Nuggets post-Carmelo Anthony. Will his production likely take a hit as exhaustion from such a tumultuous schedule sets in? I think so, but I don’t see it wavering as much as some might like to suggest. At the end of the year, I still fully expect Al Buckets to be shooting above 50 percent from the field all while contending for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

2. Buy or Sell: By the end of the year, Timofey Mozgov will have cemented himself as the Nuggets’ starting center moving forward

Charlie: Buy. Mozgov is not only the best center on the roster (by a nice margin), he is also the best big man prospect Denver has seen in a long time. The job of starting center on this team is for a role player. Similar to Dahntay Jones, Mozgov comes in to set the tone defensively, be a fourth option on offense and keep the game under control while a high powered second unit gets ready to blow the doors off. Mozgov and Nene have started games slowly this year, but both are coming along and a little patience has already gone a long way. It’s no coincidence the two biggest games of the season have featured breakout performances from the young Russian center. Mozgov moves his feet very well for a 7-footer and he can step out and guard the perimeter without being a complete liability. He stays on his feet against jump shooting bigs who routinely bait Birdman out of the middle with ease. His touch around the rim is improving as is his willingness to mix it up with more physical players down low. Nuggets fans have never valued perimeter defense and below-the-rim play over high-flying athletes and box score numbers. The Nuggets will not find a better center outside of a major move via trade or free agency and I just don’t see that happening.

Jeremy: Buy. I do not think Mozgov will be a force deserving of 30 minutes a game, but he has shown that he can raise his game in big match-ups (i.e. against Miami and New York as well as L.A. last season). I do not anticipate Denver being in the position to acquire anyone better than he is. I have been pleasantly surprised with Mozgov’s play this season although I would like to see a higher rebound rate and a lower turnover rate. He has made strides this season and there is no reason not to expect more.

Kalen: Sell. Although Mozgov has recently impressed me, I’m still not sold on him even being a legitimate starting center in the NBA. While he has steadily improved and occasionally shown flashes of athleticism and an ability to score, these moments are heavily outweighed by long stretches of wondering aimlessly about, committing terrible fouls and missing elementary shot attempts. I honestly think Nuggets Nation is fascinated with the idea of having a legitimate, young 7-footer on the roster for the first time in years which leads to an overwhelming leniency with his play on the court. The fact is: Mozgov and the center position in general is by far the weakest link on the team. The Nuggets are sound at every other position on the floor except center and if Denver truly wants to contend for a title this is something that must be upgraded sooner rather than later.

3. Buy or Sell: The Nuggets will finish the year above .500 on the road

Charlie: Buy. The Nuggets have played their most competitive basketball on the road thus far. They haven’t been blown out and have literally been in position to win every one of these games deep into the fourth quarter. This is the year to have a deep, unselfish team playing at a faster pace than everyone else. It’s not like the Nuggets have been playing a cakewalk road schedule either. They haven’t given me a reason to doubt their resolve or their confidence playing on the road. I’ve always thought Karl’s coaching style and methodology wasn’t compatible with success outside of Denver, but I’ll gladly trade some of the usual home dominance for better effort and more consistency on the road. After all, that’s much closer to how “normal” good teams operate.

Jeremy: Buy, but it is going to be very, very close.  As we have discussed, this team is built perfectly for this regular season. Denver has done a reasonably good job of enforcing their pace in games on the road, which is a big key for them as they cannot consistently win games with their defense. Looking at their record and the schedule, they need 11 more road wins to get to 17-16 for the season.  They have anywhere from four to six easy wins depending on how difficult you think it is to play at Golden State, at New Orleans (they cannot be a .100 home team all season can they?) and at Phoenix. Then Denver will have to win half of their other road games against teams like Memphis, the Clippers, Oklahoma City and so on. I believe they can do it and if they take care of home court advantage, it should earn them a top two or three seed at the worst.

Kalen: Although I really, really want to say “buy,” history tells me otherwise, therefore I’m going to have to sell. Yes, the Nuggets have played extremely well on the road this season, and yes, their depth along with a condensed schedule should greatly benefit Denver away from Pepsi Center, but keep in mind, the recent four-game road winning streak was the first one in franchise history! For whatever reason, the Nuggets simply do not play well away from home and it’s too hard for me to believe that trend will cease to continue this year when Denver has had some extremely talented teams in years past that couldn’t get it done before. Plus, Karl just doesn’t value winning on the road like other coaches do. He’s often preached that as long as the Nuggets go .500 away from Denver, that’s acceptable basketball. Until he proves otherwise and until this team takes a monumental step forward in this category, I will continue to remain a skeptic.

Nuggets fans the world over are rejoicing in the new 5 year, $43 million contract Arron Afflalo has agreed to with the Nuggets.  Now that Afflalo has been retained the Nuggets have fulfilled their vision of re-siging Nene and Afflalo and once again have a tremendously deep team to put on the floor.  With the team now in place and Afflalo’s contract ready to go let’s do a little 3-on-3 to see if Denver has spent wisely, or if they will end up back in the financial doghouse.

1. What terms did you expect Arron Afflalo to re-sign for?

Jeremy: Most of you know I expected Afflalo to sign for a deal just over MLE money.  Five years starting at $6 million.  Sure there were several teams interested in him, but none of them had the money or gumption to make an offer.  Because of that Denver had no reason to up the price any more than that.  The only leverage Afflalo had was to threaten to sign the qualifying offer thus making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season at which point Denver could have still offered him more years and more money than anyone else.

Charlie: I thought Al Harrington’s contract would have been perfect for Afflalo. Last season the deadline to extend the 2007 rookie class was in November, right in the thick of the Carmelo soap opera. I was pining for the Nuggets to sign Afflalo to an extension similar to the 5-year, $21 million contract Jared Dudley signed just before that deadline. There’s no doubt as an established starter Afflalo would have commanded more, but by how much? Certainly not over double that which is what the Nuggets just shelled out. Afflalo is the most important player on this team and one the Nuggets could not afford to lose. There are not many players I like more than him from a basketball standpoint, but this is a professional business and business-wise I do not like this deal at all. Keeping Afflalo should have never come to this point, and he would have been locked up and paid perfectly if Denver had the foresight to extend him when he deserved it.

Kalen: There was no doubt in my mind Denver would end up overpaying for Afflalo. This was either going to happen by virtue of matching someone else’s offer, or Afflalo simply realizing how much he could fetch on the open market then basically demanding more. I’ll admit however that I was a little surprised Denver ended up paying close to $9 million per year for him. I thought tings would settle right around $7 million, but the reality is that an extra $1.6 million per year isn’t going to make or break Denver. Remember, Kenyon Martin was getting paid twice this amount for many years with the Nuggets.

2. In year five, who’s contract looks worse – Arron Afflalo or Nene?

Jeremy: In my mind the horror is the two deals combined will pay Denver’s two prize free agents a combined $25 million dollars five seasons from now.  Sure the cap will hopefully be $70 million by then, but that is a huge chunk of change for two players, neither of which are a franchise type player who you can count on to carry the load.  If I have to pick one or the other, I think the choice is Nene as he will be 33 and making 50% more ($15 million to just under $10 million).  Hopefully, he will still be a solid contributor, but the worst case scenario for Nene’s deal is much worse than Afflalo’s.  One other aspect to keep in mind with Arron is I think he has pretty much reached his ceiling as a player, but he has always come into the year better than the season before and he I trust he will continue to do that although the improvements will be more incremental.

Charlie: I’m positive neither of these deals will become a Kenyon Martin level of albatross. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that Afflalo must produce like a top five shooting guard to avoid putting Denver in a bad position down the road. Skilled big men of Nene’s caliber are perhaps the NBA’s rarest commodity while three-point shooting and defense are abundant. I am the biggest believer in Afflalo there is, but for this contract to make sense Afflalo cannot just be the emotional leader and glue guy. He’ll have to produce at a near-elite consistently and that means taking a giant leap forward from his complimentary role. I just don’t know what to expect under those circumstances.

Kalen: I think Afflalo’s. The reality is big men are always going to be overpaid and considering the weak free agent class, Denvere actually landed Nene for a pretty decent price. Yes, he’ll be older and more susceptible to injuries near the end of his contract but he’ll still be in his mid-30s which isn’t that bad. Meanwhile, although Afflalo will be younger, I have a feeling Nuggets fans are going to be extremely disappointed with just how mediocre his ceiling is. I don’t mean that in a bad way, because Afflalo will undoubtedly continue to improve, I just think now that he’s cashed in Nuggets fans are going to expect way more than he’s capable of providing.

3. Afflalo’s contract is a good deal, a bad deal or a necessary deal?

Jeremy: It is a bad deal.  Of course Afflalo is a very good player.  He brings constant energy and provides leadership.  He made a couple of big shots last season, although it bears mentioning they were preceded by a run of unclutchness.  I believe he is a borderline lock down defender, but the numbers from last season disagree.  He is a very efficient scorer, but he can accomplish that largely because he is not relied on to carry the offense.  The Nuggets Brain Trust has done a great job of not blinking when they are being stared down, but with this deal they blinked.  As I mentioned above, the only leverage Afflalo had was to sign his qualifying offer, which was for $2.9 million after which Denver can still give him more money than anyone else.  I would have liked to see the Nuggets call his bluff.  By my calculations his deal starts at roughly $7.475 million.  What would he had done if offered a $34.5 million offer, starting salary of $6.0 million, and see if he actually would walk away from that and embrace the risk of signing the QO.  For a team like the Nuggets who will probably never again dip into the luxury tax, every dollar counts.  If Denver is determined to go to war with this current group at these prices they are going to be paying Gallinari, Lawson and maybe even Wilson Chandler roughly the same money.

Charlie: It’s necessary. With Nene’s signing, Denver put a large bet on becoming championship caliber in the next few years. In terms of winning and trying to build on the defensive focus the Nuggets have tried to adopt, Afflalo is more important than Nene. I’ve written this multiple times but last year was a difficult time for Nuggets faithful, and losing Afflalo would be a huge punch in the gut to anyone who has stuck by the team and cared about the franchise in the last couple of years. In fact, I’d have to call it an insult if the front office tried to sell the fans on building a contender without bringing back Arron Afflalo.

Kalen: It’s definitely neither a good or bad deal, so I’ll have to go with “necessary.” Look, were the Nuggets really going to let Afflalo walk just because they didn’t want to pay a few extra million per year to keep him here? That would have been bogus. Afflalo is as important to this team as anyone, especially with former floor generals like Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups out of the equation. Afflalo completes this team now that Denver has Nene back. He was the final piece to the puzzle, and one they simply could not move forward without. Would I have liked to sing him at a cheaper price? Absolutely. But people have to realize the NBA is a league teeming with awful contracts. Overpaying for a rare commodity like Afflalo who’s young, improving, dedicated, focused and actually wants to be in Denver isn’t high on my list of “Things to Complain About.”

Alright RMC readers, you guys have been leaving some great comments lately, keep it going with your responses to our Afflalo 3-on-3!

In our second installment of the 3-on-3 series we’ll be examining Nene’s impact on the future of the Nuggets organization now that he has re-signed. Tom Ley, author of our recent Fan Mail feature on J.R. Smith, is back again after being the quickest to respond on Twitter to our request for someone to participate in this week’s 3-on-3. If you want to participate next time be sure and follow all of us on Twitter! And as always, don’t be shy to participate by giving your personal responses to the following questions in the comments section below!

1. With Nene re-signed and Afflalo likely not far behind, how high can the Nuggets finish in the Western Conference?

Tom: I’m fairly optimistic about the Nuggets’ chances this year, and I don’t think a repeat as the fifth seed in the West is out of the question. The teams that I currently see as undeniably superior are the Mavericks, Lakers, Clippers, and Thunder. The Spurs and Grizzlies are wildcards in my opinion, whose success or failure could greatly swing the Nuggets chances one way or the other. For now though, I’m hoping for a five seed.

Kalen: The only teams I think Denver won’t be able to top are San Antonio and Oklahoma City, otherwise the West looks pretty wide open. The Lakers just gave away the reigning Sixth Man of the Year for nothing, plus they’re injury-plagued and old, meanwhile Dallas lost by far its most important player outside of Dirk in Tyson Chandler, not to mention J.J. Barea and Caron Bulter. If Afflalo re-signs this team is immediately just as deep, if not more so than the team that finished off the year as the hottest in the NBA in 2010-11.

Jeremy: I believe Denver is a lower level playoff team. San Antonio, the Lakers, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Memphis are all clearly better than Denver.  Portland is going to be solid, Houston will be decent and of course now the Clippers are a clear playoff team and I believe they will finish ahead of the Nuggets. Their fantastic depth will help win regular season games, and may help them finish ahead of one or two teams who have more talent. However, come playoff time Denver will struggle to defeat one of the top four teams in the West.

2. What type of numbers should we expect from Nene now that he’ll be playing power forward?

Tom: I’m hoping that a return to his comfort zone will mean Nene becomes a much more aggressive offensive player than he was last year. As much as I love to watch Nene pass the ball, I’d like to see him get it on the block and be assertive in ways that he hasn’t in the past. What’s more, I’d love to see him get out and run the floor with Lawson leading the break. If he does all of these things, I’m confident that he can get above 20 points per game while maintaining his patented excellent shooting percentage.

Kalen: About the same as last year. Because he’ll be playing against smaller competition I could see Nene increasing his numbers across the board, but I don’t expect him to suddenly morph into an All-Star like many Nuggets fans do. After ten years in the league, we simply need to accept Nene for who he is, not who we think he should be. He’s never averaged over 15 points or eights rebounds per game in his career and though I could see this changing with a move to power forward, its just as easy seeing it remain the same given the copious amount of depth the Nuggets have across the board that will likely cut down on his playing time.

Jeremy: I do not believe Nene will be putting in a lot of time at power forward until I see it. The truth is, with the current roster Nene remains the best option at center for Denver. Timofey Mozgov is a big body but he’s not particularly talented; plus, with consistent minutes comes consistent foul trouble.  Chris Andersen can play center, but that option has been available to George Karl in the past without being utilized. Karl has constantly had the option of going big or small and he almost exclusively chooses to play small. Nene will certainly play more at power forward than in the past, but I honestly do not think it will be as much as others are projecting and when it’s all said and done, Nene will most likely post his typical 15 and 7.5.

3. With Nene locked down for the next five years, what will become of Faried?

Tom: I’m officially concerned about Faried’s future. Karl’s comments from earlier in the week about Faried’s minutes were less than encouraging, and that was before Nene re-signed. I see Karl sticking to a rotation of Nene/Harrington/Mozgov/Koufos and burying Faried on the bench. This is unfortunate, because I think Faried could be a fantastic energy guy off the bench in the mold of Glen Davis or DeJuan Blair. It’s much more likely that Faried will spend this season acting as the Nuggets token dreadlocked bench warmer, in lieu of the dearly departed Renaldo Balkman.

Kalen: This is a tough pill to swallow for a diehard Manimal fan like me. Though I never, ever, actually wanted Nene to leave, there was always that notion back in the deep, dark caverns of my mind that was OK with it simply so that more playing time would open up for Faried. If Nene gets too comfortable at the power forward spot I pray Faried doesn’t find himself the subject of trade bait. However, I still think once Faried gets going Karl will be forced to forgo his stubborn habit of mistreating rookies, as his energy and rebounding prowess simply cannot be ignored. I fully expect Faried to play a big role this season and for years to come with the Nuggets.

Jeremy: As you may expect from my previous answer I see Faried playing power forward, probably even alongside Nene at times. If Nene has to play center as much as I anticipate he will, Faried is the best option at power forward. He will rebound and plays with great energy. It may take a while for George Karl to warm up to him, but I suspect by the midpoint of the season Faried will be putting in consistent minutes. I cannot see Karl playing Al Harrington more than Faried, at least I hope I do not have to see that. The rookie who has seen his playing time disappear based on the handful of moves over the previous couple of days is Jordan Hamilton. Faried will be fine.

By the way, here are some links you should probably check out:

Video footage of Nene re-signing with the Nuggets

Nuggets to host free Fan Jam on Friday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m

Details of the Rudy Fernandez trade

Story on where the Nuggets stand

Ron Artest on the art of deflecting a question you don’t want to answer

Good Nene quotes for those who missed his press conference