After striking out in attempts to sign Jermaine O’Neal and Udonis Haslem, and so far being unable to trade for Golden State’s Andris Biedrins, the Nuggets have finally signed a new player to the fold.
Al Harrington has agreed to a 5 year, $34 million contract to play for the Denver Nuggets. After being courted by the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets, Harrington tweeted this late last night from his a7harrington twitter account:
Yo my Tweeples. Appreciate the Love and Concern. But I’m taking my Talents to the MILE HIGH. Lol. Love Yall Lego DENVER!! Brett Meeny THX!
Denver may have overpaid a bit for Harrington’s services, but they needed to get a big body in to help out, especially at the start of the season when both Chris Andersen and Kenyon Martin may not yet be fully recovered from recent offseason knee surgeries.
Harrington is a 30 year old, 6’9 250lb. PF who can help the Nuggets on the offensive end with a variety of skills. He can shoot the three ball and gets to the line a decent amount – 317 times in 2009-10. Mainly, he provides a big body that the Nuggets desperately needed. Harrington played the majority of his career for Indiana, with more recent stops at Golden State and New York. He averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a game last year for the Knicks and shot 44% from the field, 34% from three-point land.
Personally, I’m neither excited nor upset by this move. The Nuggets needed a big body, and Harrington will fit that need. I’d be more happier if we could somehow land Biedrins, as he would help us a lot more on the defensive end with rebounding and shot blocking, where we have a much greater need, in my opinion. We’ll need to give up one or more of our current pieces to get that deal done. I’d be fine with that being nearly anyone on the roster other than Anthony, Billups, and Afflalo.
For full details of this deal, read this ESPN.com article.
Thanks for writing this, made me feel better about next season for the Nuggets.
The only thing i'd have to say is the they shouldn't give up Ty Lawson, because he will be the perfect replacement for Chauncey when he has to retire.