Rocky Mountain News - Al Harrington has said that he would welcome a trade to Denver. If that doesn't happen, he said he will consider the Nuggets when he becomes a free agent after the season.
"Definitely, if they got some money out there for me," Harrington said before Atlanta's 110-107 overtime win Sunday against the Nuggets.
"Denver is a place I would love to play. I think they've got a lot of pieces. They might be missing one piece, somebody like myself or Ron Artest."
The Nuggets also are in the mix for Artest, the troubled Indiana Pacers forward who has asked to be traded. And there have been indications they are exploring the availability of Sacramento forward Peja Stojakovic, a free agent after the season.
NBA insiders indicated Saturday a possible three-way trade could have Artest going to Denver, Harrington returning to Indiana, where he played from 1998-99 to 2003-04 and the Nuggets sending forward Nene and guard Earl Watson to Atlanta.
There also have been indications of a possible deal in which Harrington would go to Denver for Nene and Watson.
"I've heard about that," said Atlanta general manager Billy Knight, when asked about trade possibilities involving Harrington. "I don't comment on rumors and speculation."
Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe declined comment on any possible trades. Nuggets coach George Karl brushed off such talk, saying he's "got enough to worry about with my team."
Harrington is making $6.9 million in the final year of his contract, so dealing him for Watson, earning $5 million, and Nene, making $3.04 million, would work under NBA rules. Harrington's primary position is small forward, but he doesn't believe that would be a concern if he went to Denver in a trade or as a free agent next season.
"(Carmelo Anthony) could play shooting guard," said Harrington, who probably would have to go to the Nuggets in the summer in a sign-and-trade because the Nuggets probably will not have enough salary-cap room. "That would create all types of mismatches."
If the Nuggets were to land Artest, making $6.5 million, that also could entail Anthony moving from small forward to shooting guard. He said Friday he is willing to do that, saying Artest is "the type of piece we need."
Artest has rescinded his trade demand. But most NBA observers believe the Pacers still will trade him.
"I'm mad at myself anyway," Artest on Sunday told The Indianapolis Star, the newspaper he told the previous weekend about his desire for a trade. "Going about things like I did, it's not easy to recover. But I'd love to (still) play for the Pacer organization."
Harrington was Artest's teammate in Indiana for 2 1/2 seasons. If the Nuggets acquired him, Harrington does not believe he would be a problem.
"He does a lot of stuff that is a little immature, but it's only that stuff the media gets a hold of," said Harrington, who also said he would "embrace" being traded back to Indiana. "In the locker room, he's the greatest. If you ask him to be at an event, he'll be there on time. He just has little episodes, and the media takes it and runs with it.
"This one (asking to be traded), he put on himself. For the most part, he's a good person. . . . (But) I think he's burned too many bridges (to stay in Indiana)."
There has been speculation Artest could be dealt to the Kings for Stojakovic, who makes $7.5 million. There are indications the Nuggets have also looked into the availability of Stojakovic.
The Kings during the summer tried to land Nene in a sign-and- trade for shooting guard Cuttino Mobley, but the Nuggets balked. Nene might be out for the season after suffering a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in the Nov. 1 opener but still is held in high regard by NBA executives.
"We're focusing on him getting better," Nene's agent, Michael Coyne, said of the trade possibilities. "We're not worried about things out of our control."
Vandeweghe was said to have spent the weekend talking about possible trades with numerous teams.
There is one possible bit of urgency for the Nuggets.
Expiring today is a $1.52 million disabled-player exception acquired because of the loss of Nene. But Vandeweghe said the Nuggets "likely won't" use it.
Macht daraus ein 3 Team deal , dass Artest kommt, dann vielleicht...