We won’t bore you with the mind-numbing salary mumbo-jumbo, but here’s the jist: the Nuggets wanted to avoid paying the luxury tax, so they basically gave away their best (only?) defensive player for a twix bar, three AA batteries, and a bottle of SPF 30 suntan lotion. Denver has officially waved the white flag on the Carmelo Anthony/Allen Iverson union, and clearly is setting its sights on the future. The Paper Clips are desperately attempting to repair the damage done by Elton Brand leaving for Philly.

PG – Baron Davis
SG – Eric Gordon/Cuttino Mobley
SF – Al Thornton
PF – Marcus Camby
C – Chris Kaman

Essentially, the Other LA Team now has two centers who are long on defense and rebounding, but short on scoring, which means Thornton and injury-prone Boom Dizzle will average at least 15-20 shots per game. Our thoughts are probably a .500 record, but in a best case scenario, they might be in the mix for the 8th seed.

Quick glance at the Western Conference:

1. Lakers – Bynum’s back and he’s gonna have a good time …
2. Jazz - Remind us of the Pistons the last few years – solid all-around unit.
3. Spurs - Not nearly done.
4. Hornets – Wont’ be easy to win 56 games again.
5. Rockets – Are they better without Yao?
6. Suns - Where’s the defense?
7. Blazers - We’ve pounded the Kool-Aid, and we want more.
8. Mavericks – Haven’t improved since losing to the Heat in the Finals.

9. We’d go with Denver, followed by the Clippers, Kings, and Warriors. The dregs of the West are abysmal, but we’ll root for Kevin Durant and the Dust Bowl wonders.

Camby shipping out (Denver Post)
Puzzling at first glance, the Camby deal works for both sides (Hollinger)