Nuggets Suspend Lenard / Nuggets @ Suns Thread

[RhymesayersDU]

Nuggets Suspend Lenard Without Pay
1st December, 2005 - 11:45 pm
Fox Sports - The Denver Nuggets suspended guard Voshon Lenard for one game without pay on Thursday for conduct detrimental to the team.

Lenard, who is averaging 8.5 points in 10 games this season, will miss Friday night's game at Phoenix.

"This is an internal matter that we have dealt with in-house," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said in a statement. "Behavior detrimental to the positive team focus will not be tolerated."

Lenard missed most of last season with a torn Achilles' tendon. He lost his starting job to DerMarr Johnson in mid-November.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/38157/20051201/nuggets_suspend_lenard_without_pay/

[DomCasual]

Wow. Was he just bitchitng about playing time, or was it something more? Anyone hear rumors there? He's had a rough couple years.

[RhymesayersDU]

My speculation is that he was frustrated that he sucks at basketball and life in general... But that's just my speculation.

[Nuggets4]

"Conduct detremental to the team"

Like letting Lenard actually play?

[Master___Pain]

"Conduct detremental to the team"

Like letting Lenard actually play?

I'm thinking that Lenard not going back in is actually "Conduct beneficial to the team", no?

[RhymesayersDU]

"Conduct detremental to the team"

Like letting Lenard actually play?
rofl rofl rofl

Exactly. But I guess we should suspend Karl then.

[Nuggets4]

rofl rofl rofl

Exactly. But I guess we should suspend Karl then.

If the NBA ever gives us a chance to do it, we just might.

EDIT: We might as well make this the Suns-Nugs thread. Anyone at all feel good about tonight?

[Master___Pain]

We might as well make this the Suns-Nugs thread. Anyone at all feel good about tonight?

No.

[bronco_diesel]

i think lenard is feeling a little insulted - not playing in 6 games and then being asked to be put in during garbage time when the game is basically lost.

having said that - i still think he is worthless. he's got no defense, is a terrible passer and his only good quality - shooting - is absolutely horrid.


i think denver needs to look at moving him, along with boykins. watson should get more time on the floor as should DJ.

the nene injury really has hurt them...along with martin not being 100%.

[Nuggets4]

i think lenard is feeling a little insulted - not playing in 6 games and then being asked to be put in during garbage time when the game is basically lost.

having said that - i still think he is worthless. he's got no defense, is a terrible passer and his only good quality - shooting - is absolutely horrid.

i think denver needs to look at moving him, along with boykins. watson should get more time on the floor as should DJ.

the nene injury really has hurt them...along with martin not being 100%.

I agree 100% with Reverend Jim. One thing that has me concerned, and I was talking to my neighbor about this, is K-Mart's health. Is he EVER going to be 100% again? He's had some pretty damn serious knee injuries. I'm seriously afraid we might have a Penny Hardaway on our hands.

[Clockwork Orange]

They never should have picked up his option this past offseason anyway. He should be thrilled that he's making $3.5 million to ride the pine here because he'd be making half that if he'd hit the open market and he likely wouldn't be playing much anywhere else either.

[RhymesayersDU]

I heard on another board that Voshon refused to go into Wednesday night's game... I didn't watch the game, so I can't verify that...

But for him to refuse to go in the game when his ass had been planted firmly on the bench, well that's just funny on so many levels.

Although, the flip side is, you know your team is in trouble when you actually ask Voshon to play and he refuses.

Oh, and we're screwed for tonight.

And as for K-Mart's knee, I wish there would just be a straight answer given by the team on that. I've said it before and I'll say it again: If there is a way to get him 100% healthy, sit him until that day comes. Could be a week, could be a month, could be a year. Whatever it is, just get him healthy. If he'll never be 100%, then we've got to live with our decision, and have to deal with him sitting some games out.

[RhymesayersDU]

They never should have picked up his option this past offseason anyway. He should be thrilled that he's making $3.5 million to ride the pine here because he'd be making half that if he'd hit the open market and he likely wouldn't be playing much anywhere else either.

Exactly. I was praying for them to just let him go... Although I think in the Kiki's defense, they need somebody who can even remotely shoot the rock...

We should have drafted a shooter, but that's another thread altogether.

Oh, and we need to get Hodge some PT soon.

[Clockwork Orange]

Exactly. I was praying for them to just let him go... Although I think in the Kiki's defense, they need somebody who can even remotely shoot the rock...

We should have drafted a shooter, but that's another thread altogether.

Oh, and we need to get Hodge some PT soon.

They had their chances to make a move for a shooter or two in the offseason and, for some reason, passed. I guess no one remembered the improvement we saw last year when Wesley Person was brought in late in the year.

If they were expecting Vo to be that guy they were kidding themselves. He was always a streak shooter at best.

[Nuggets4]

They never should have picked up his option this past offseason anyway. He should be thrilled that he's making $3.5 million to ride the pine here because he'd be making half that if he'd hit the open market and he likely wouldn't be playing much anywhere else either.

Gotta disagree. Signing him didn't cost us anything. The cap space we would have saved would have been the exact amount of the mid-level exemption. This way, we had fatasses expiring contract to throw in a deal with Nene. Then the ACL injury happened.

[RhymesayersDU]

I guess no one remembered the improvement we saw last year when Wesley Person was brought in late in the year.

Where IS Wesley Person right now?

Somebody call that man. I don't care how old he is.

[Nuggets4]

Where IS Wesley Person right now?

Somebody call that man. I don't care how old he is.

Wesley Person: Having played for five teams over the past two seasons, Chuck's younger brother is back in Brantley, Ala., waiting for a team seeking a shooter to call.

Agent Herb Rudoy said he expects the phone to start ringing after Dec. 15, the date players who signed over the summer become eligible to be traded.

There was a huge article on INsider about players that are out of the league right now.

[Clockwork Orange]

Gotta disagree. Signing him didn't cost us anything. The cap space we would have saved would have been the exact amount of the mid-level exemption. This way, we had fatasses expiring contract to throw in a deal with Nene. Then the ACL injury happened.

You've got a point there. Adding Vo's contract with Nene's in a deal could have been useful.....until Nene's ACL became disagreeable.

Amazing how short on options the Nuggets became when Nene got hurt. :nono:

[RhymesayersDU]

We gotta get Wes back in the powder blue.

[RhymesayersDU]

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_3270787

Karl apologizes for suspension
League serious about punishment
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer

A somber George Karl apologized publicly and to his team Thursday for being suspended for two games by the NBA, but said he was shocked by the punishment.

The NBA handed the Nuggets coach a two-game suspension without pay Wednesday, costing him from $80,000- $100,000 for publicly criticizing and attacking the integrity of the officials. The Nuggets were also fined $100,000. Karl served the first of a two-game suspension in Denver's 102-95 loss to visiting New Orleans/ Oklahoma City on Wednesday. He will sit out tonight's game at Phoenix and return to coach Saturday against visiting Miami.

"There was no question I was surprised," Karl said after Thursday's practice. "I was shocked by the severity and amounts of money. I thought I would be fined, but there are different philosophies I wasn't aware of. I hurt my team again and I feel badly."

It's the second time this year the NBA has suspended Karl, who was forced to sit out the first two games of the season for violating rules about scouting underclassmen last spring. The Nuggets were fined $200,000 for that infraction.

"George's comments were extremely serious, evidenced by the fact he received a pretty substantial penalty," NBA vice president Stu Jackson said.

After his team's loss to New Jersey on Monday, Karl insinuated the Nets' Vince Carter intentionally flopped twice late in the game to draw fouls. Karl added there was "a rumor out of the league office" that they were trying to eliminate flopping but that didn't appear to be the case. While Karl retracted his statements about flopping Tuesday, he added he thought the referees rewarded the Nets with free throws in the fourth quarter as make-up calls.

"They thought I was challenging the integrity of the officiating," Karl said. "I tried to explain to them that's furthest thing I would ever do. I thought I was trying to explain that flopping was bad for the game of basketball. But they thought my other comments were stronger. In general, I was hoping to stand up for my team and get a better whistle. Now I think it's best to put it behind me and keep my mouth shut."

Denver is 0-3 with assistant Scott Brooks running the team. Karl described watching games during his suspension as "not easy" and "hopeless" and "painful." Karl is traveling to Phoenix for tonight's game but can't be at the arena during the game.

"I know (he) feels bad on the inside," Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said. "He came to practice (Thursday) apologizing to us."

The NBA sent a memo to the other 29 teams Thursday stating why Karl was suspended and listing the quotes that got him in trouble. The memo also stated the Nuggets were fined and that similar actions from any team representative would result in similar punishment.

"Any time a coach, a player or a participant in a game or a representative of a franchise criticizes the integrity of our product, that is a matter that is going to be considered very seriously at the league office," Jackson said.

The Nuggets finished November 8-8 and slowed by injuries. Forward-center Nene was lost on opening night to a severe knee injury. Numerous other Nuggets have been sidelined, most notably forward Kenyon Martin, who has missed five games because of tendinitis in his left knee.

"This has been a month of turmoil," Karl said. "I still think we're on a good path. But there are too many cloudy days right now. We need some sunny days."

The Nuggets did get some good news as Anthony, who is averaging a team-best 20.3 points, said he will likely play tonight after sitting out Wednesday because of a left ankle sprain suffered Monday.

"I'm feeling good," Anthony said after practice. "Most likely I'm going to play. The swelling (is) down. It's not as tender."

[bronco_diesel]

I agree 100% with Reverend Jim. One thing that has me concerned, and I was talking to my neighbor about this, is K-Mart's health. Is he EVER going to be 100% again? He's had some pretty damn serious knee injuries. I'm seriously afraid we might have a Penny Hardaway on our hands.

the k-mart health status has me concerned too. i really don't think we'll see a healthy martin this season.

i read that shawn kemp is interested in the nuggs and trying out. i could be way wrong here, but i kind of like the idea of kemp. granted this comes with the hope that he's now got his head on straight. i hear he's dropped 55lbs and taking his possible re-entry to the nba serious.

why i like it? with martin's health, the nene injury, we are kind of depleted. though we still have najara and elson...we lack a good 2nd option in scoring from the block. kemp, in his days with karl was a stud...he won't be that player again, but he's got pure talent and if he's got his head and heart in the right place, he could be a descent option for a season.

this might also allow us to put together a package of players with trade value.

the nuggs desperatly need another scoring option - one that doesn't dribble for 20 seconds and is a defensive calamity - ala boykins.

dec 15 should be an interesting day for the nuggs. i will be dissapointed though, if we retain boykins and ship watson. i really like watson's game - he is gritty a great defensive player and has shown he can be a slasher too.

[bronco_diesel]

They had their chances to make a move for a shooter or two in the offseason and, for some reason, passed. I guess no one remembered the improvement we saw last year when Wesley Person was brought in late in the year.

If they were expecting Vo to be that guy they were kidding themselves. He was always a streak shooter at best.

from what i understand they were making a deal with boston that would have brought paul pierce...which is why they used the mid-level exception on watson. the deal fell through.

the bummer is now that nene is injured our options for a trade are very limited. hopefully kiki can put something together that will improve the team. right now, the team lacks chemistry...they lacked chemistry most of the year last year until Karl came in. something is amiss about this team and needs to be addressed.

[Clockwork Orange]

from what i understand they were making a deal with boston that would have brought paul pierce...which is why they used the mid-level exception on watson. the deal fell through.

If that is the case, then signing Watson before the deal with Boston was done was an unbelievably foolish thing to do. That's a Dan O'Dowd level of incompetance right there. I like Kiki a lot, but if that's what happened, he humped the bunk.

[RhymesayersDU]

If that is the case, then signing Watson before the deal with Boston was done was an unbelievably foolish thing to do. That's a Dan O'Dowd level of incompetance right there. I like Kiki a lot, but if that's what happened, he humped the bunk.
Well, from what I hear, is that Kiki was about to pull the trigger but that Karl stopped it... Now why Karl would let them sign Watson if he was going to cancel the deal, that is beyond me... and hell, that's speculation anyways.

But yeah, that whole paul pierce deal was a screwed up situation, to say the least. But hey, watson is good IMO, he needs to be ahead of boykins.

[Clockwork Orange]

But yeah, that whole paul pierce deal was a screwed up situation, to say the least. But hey, watson is good IMO, he needs to be ahead of boykins.

Watson is good, but he's not what this team needed. Especially considering that Boykins is getting the bulk of the minutes off the bench and has since he's been here.

[bronco_diesel]

Well, from what I hear, is that Kiki was about to pull the trigger but that Karl stopped it... Now why Karl would let them sign Watson if he was going to cancel the deal, that is beyond me...

do you think there could be a power struggle between karl and kiki? i heard that before, but it was all speculation.

kinda wish they would have done the pp trade...