This post is actually a response to the previous one from Dtowndan entitled My Nuggets Offseason Plan and in today's age of the Troll I feel like it is necessary to point out that despite the fact that Dan's post made me run from the room screaming "NOOOOOOO...!!!!!" I'm not actually questioning his intelligence, humanity, patriotism, ability to operate a pencil etc...

In fact it is the plausibility of his plan that makes me afraid other Stiffs will be seduced and, with respect, that would be the wrong road to wander down.

Why? Well let's start with another question...three of the players Dan proposed going after were Kevin Love, Jamal Murray, and Tyler Ullis. Can anyone please tell me what position any of those three fine gentlemen is going to guard with any success. No rush, take your time

Here is another question, could Dan's proposed team make the playoffs? Maybe, they might challenge for the last team in next year but long term I think that the sixth seed is just about the ceiling for that team and I don't believe it gets even there. The problem is that this would be pretty exciting for a franchise that has struggled through some dark times. Combine that with the recent financial news about the Nuggets and I think the Front Office has to be tempted to do some version of Dan's plan if for no other concern than revenue. Now it's not my money on the line but I still say that would be a mistake. It's a short term solution and mediocrity will eventually be no better than where we are now. To really build the value of the franchise, increase attendance and ratings, and just build a larger fan base in general the Nuggets need to contend, not just exist.

So how do we get there? First I want to lay out some underlying assumptions

1. Tanking is not healthy, at least not beyond the last third of a lost season and then only for a top 3 pick

2. There is no player(s) in this year's draft or free agency that the Nuggets can realistically obtain that is going to move the needle for next year. So don't go chasing something just to do something. I don't buy those three team scenarios where Denver magically ends up with L.A.'s no. 2 pick, if I'm wrong then great but....

3. This year's draft is an epic crapshoot, emphasis on crap. I won't pretend I know any of the Euros so maybe Connelly finds a unicorn but the scouting reports read like the disclaimers for a pyramid scheme. Even Simmons and Ingram come with caveats and after that it spirals into Guards who are one trick ponies, Forwards who lack athleticism, Athletic freaks with minimal skills, the usual Head Cases, and Centers who may not have a position in today's NBA. And the Nugs have three first round picks. Yay....

All of which means that the FO should bite the bullet and accept that the 16-17 season is another developmental year, which is only bad in the financial sense (please see Money, not mine)

Three more things before I get to specifics

4. The Nuggets have three players with value to other teams that due to either age, injury history or skill set I don't see being part of the long term Denver build - Gallo, Manimal, and Wilson Chandler. Additionally, there are two players who could be long term pieces but are tradeable even now -€” Garris and Nurk (just to be clear, Gallo and Nurk are by far my two favorite current players but ruthless is ruthless)

5. Any player who is a complete liability on one side of the court without being transcendent on the other is going, sooner or later, to get you beat in the playoffs (Yes, Mr. Love, we have confirmed your reservation for a new team)

6. Some NBA front offices are good at their job. Other NBA front offices are demonstrably bad. Great NBA front offices take advantage of the bad ones

So here we go....

During the Draft we should make at least two of the following three trades. Connelly has earned respect for his drafting so if there one player he really wants then so be it but this isn't the year for three rookies

1. Trade Gallo to the Celtics for either
a. The Celtics 2017 first round pick which has an option to swap with the Nets
b. The Nets 2018 first round pick
c. The Grizzlies 2019 first round pick

2. Trade this year's no. 7 to the Sixers for either
a. The Lakers 2017 first round pick
b. The Sixers 2017 first round pick (specify as unprotected or worst case top 3 protected then unprotected)

3. Trade this year's no.17 pick to the Knicks for the Knicks 2017 first round pick (protected for 1-10 next year, 1-5 the next, and unprotected after that)

By doing this the Nuggets take advantage of the Nets, Lakers, Sixers, and Grizzlies' less than stellar histories of decision making (to be fair, Memphis has been good but with Gasol, and Randolph aging, Conley on the way out, 2 of their next 4 first rounder's traded away, and lack of pull for marquee free agents, well, a tornado is a comin')
Why do the other teams do this - the Celtics are ready to complete in the East, simply have too many draft picks to be constructive and love Gallo -€” the Sixers reportedly want a guard out of this year's draft and one of Dunn, Murray, and Hield is likely to be available at no.7 -€” the Knicks reportedly want into this draft badly (making my point about front office disasters). Now it likely that Denver will have to sweeten at least one of these trades and that is where Chandler, Faried, Harris, and Nurkic come in
Why do we do this, because it moves our assets forward from a bad draft to a chance to throw the dice again with multiple lottery picks, next year in particular is (supposedly) loaded and the Nuggets already own the Griz pick (top 5 protected) which is why my preference in the Celtics trade would be to acquire the 2019 Griz pick, the Nets 2018 pick, and the Celtics 2017 pick in that order. This way the Nugs walk away with multiple first rounders in 2 or 3 of the next four drafts (dependent on how protections fall) and bringing in lottery level talent at a time they should be challenging for the playoffs.

As an aside, I love Gallo and he deserves to be treated with respect and if dealt, then only to a winning team but if you are going to trade him, now is the time to get maximum return

During Free Agency we should sign only the following

1. A young two way player coming off his first contact that can grow with the team. This isn't a large pool of players and honestly the best idea I have heard in this category was Alan Crabbe, as floated by Adam Mares and Danny Leroux on the Real GM podcast. Getting a good young player while hamstringing a division rival. Bravo

2. A veteran locker room presence to back up Mudiay and/or Jokic as they become the team's best players and assume a leadership role

3. Role players to fill gaps in the roster created by trades
It's a year too early to go after an FA who will make a difference in the win/loss column. Please, please be patient because...

During the season the focus should be on development, learning the offensive and defensive schemes, and competing. NO Tanking, that is the side benefit of having unprotected first round picks of bad teams, you can root against those teams and not feel conflicted when the Nuggets win. I just don't think players grow in an environment where losing is acceptable and the Nuggets number one mission this season is individual and team development. It's going to hurt, especially financially but if we swallow the medicine of this year or just look at it as an R&D expenditure then there are blue skies ahead and just think, those of us who stick with it can be the cool kids who were there back when the dynasty began.
Patience.
Please Tim, Josh, and Stiffs.
Patience