So for now, the 2008-09 Nuggets roster is shaping up with forwards Carmelo Anthony, Nene, Kenyon Martin, Linas Kleiza, Balkman and Andersen, center Steven Hunter, and guards Iverson, J.R. Smith, Dahntay Jones, Anthony Carter, Sonny Weems and Chucky Atkins. That's 13 of 15 roster spots filled with no real point guard, no real center, no real shooter and Birdman being the only "defender." Gulp. If I think about it too much right now, it will just ruin my Monday.

"I thought the way [the Nuggets] went about it was classless," he said. "I thought it could have gone down a whole lot better. I'll get over it once training camp begins when I'm around the guys. You never forget. I'm definitely looking forward to those couple games we play against Denver.

How [freaking] stupid can the Denver management be? I get it that the Nuggets laid a giant egg last season and don't want to lose a ton of money on a team that isn't going anywhere. But to scapegoat Camby for this is asinine. What, you say Camby isn't scapegoated, he's just the one guy on the roster whose salary could be unloaded? Well then why is coach George Karl still around--wasn't he the guy who couldn't get this squad full of superstar contracts to play a lick of defense (aside from Camby, who led the NBA with 3.61 blocks per game to go with his 13 rebounds and 3.3 assists)? And why did Denver management explain they were dumping Camby to clear cap space to eventually sign free agents like chucklehead JR Smith, he of the $50 hops and 10-cent brain?

Much has been said about Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony in this forum. Given the story told - Melo and The Answer are overrated - one might expect me to note that the 76ers without Iverson have won more playoffs games the past two seasons than the Nuggets have won with The Answer. But that’s not the purpose of this column. This column is being offered as a beacon of hope… to Denver fans. Yes, I think the Nuggets with Melo and Iverson have a reason to be hopeful about 2008-09.