Here's the original reporting of Al's deal with the Nuggets... Interesting what the point of view was then.
Harrington says he's signing with Nuggets
Benjamin Hochman
The Denver Post
POSTED: 07/14/2010 07:34:57 AM MDT
UPDATED: 07/14/2010 04:55:32 PM MDT
The Nuggets' frontcourt just got better — and healthier. Former Knicks forward Al Harrington has agreed to sign with Denver. He tweeted at @a7harrington: "I'm taking my Talents to the MILE HIGH. Lol. Love Yall Lego DENVER!!"
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds last season for New York.
Harrington will sign a five-year deal worth close to $34 million, a NBA source said, and the Nuggets will use their full mid-level exception on the deal. There won't be any option years in the deal, and the final two years are not guaranteed, the source said.
The move ensures that Linas Kleiza won't get the mid-level exception offer from Denver and will thus join the Toronto Raptors, who signed the forward to an offer sheet last week.
The Denver Post previously cited two sources who said that all-star Carmelo Anthony is expected to accept the Nuggets' contract extension offer of three years and $65 million. Before doing so, Anthony wanted to see what the Nuggets could do to bolster their frontcourt.
Now the Nuggets have made a pretty big move with Harrington. Anthony, who was married this past weekend to television personality LaLa Vazquez, is out of the country and could not be reached for comment.
It's been a busy day for the Nuggets. The team also has agreed to terms with post player Shelden Williams and backup point guard Anthony Carter. Both are one-year deals for about the league minimum of $1 million per season, multiple sources confirmed.
Denver's biggest need this offseason, echoed multiple times by coach George Karl, was getting another big man. Starting power forward Kenyon Martin and reserve center Chris Andersen both underwent knee surgery this offseason. It's uncertain when they'll be cleared to practice.
Nene, who had one of his healthiest regular seasons since arriving in Denver, sustained a freak sprained knee injury in the first round of the playoffs against Utah. Nene played in all 82 games in 2009-10, but in the previous four seasons his games-played totals were 77, 16, 64 and one, as he battled numerous injuries as well as testicular cancer.
Harrington, 30, just completed his 12th NBA season. He was selected by Indiana out of St. Patrick's High School (Orange, N.J.) with the 25th overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft.
He's been traded four times: From Indiana to Atlanta in exchange for Stephen Jackson in 2004; from Atlanta, along with John Edwards, back to Indiana in exchange for a future first-round pick in 2006; shipped to Golden State in 2007; traded by Golden State to the Knicks in exchange for Jamal Crawford on Nov. 21, 2008.
Harrington has averaged 14.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in his career. His best season, scoring-wise, was in 2008-09 when he averaged 20.1 points per game with the Warriors and Knicks. In his final full season with the Pacers, he finished second to Dallas' Antawn Jamison in voting for NBA's sixth-man-of-the-year award.
Williams, 26, is 6-feet-9, 250 pounds. He was a reserve last season for the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, averaging 11.1 minutes per game. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebbounds in 54 games played.
Carter played sparingly for the Nuggets behind Chauncey Billups and Ty Lawson. He played in 54 games, averaging 15.8 minutes and 3.3 points in 54 games.
Read more: Harrington says he's signing with Nuggets - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15513137#ixzz1AkN62pSe
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Alan Hahn:
Nate Robinson has been on a ridonkulous scoring tear lately (remember when he couldn't hit Jerome James with a Big Mac in early January?)
1/11/2011 2:56 PM