The Nuggets have signed Mike Wilks to back up at point guard until Chucky Atkins is ready to return from his groin injury (6-8 weeks). Wilks played in 47 games (4 starts) for the Sonics last season and he averaged 11.4 minutes, 3.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Wilks has never really gotten to play too much in his NBA career to date. He has played in 214 games (11 starts) and he has averaged 9.3 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.2 assists per game. Don’t expect miracles when Wilks enters the court.

Chucky Atkins will provide instant offense off of the bench if he can’t earn a starting role when he’s ready to return from a groin injury. He played in 75 games (23 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 27.5 minutes, 13.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Power forward Kenyon Martin appears ready to return from microfracture surgery that cut his season to 2 games last year. He averaged 31.5 minutes, 9.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Martin is a better player than that as he’s played in 411 career games and he has averages of 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Eduardo Najera is the energy player off of the bench for the Nuggets and he’s a really effective player. He played in 75 games (36 starts) last season for the Nuggets and he averaged 22.1 minutes, 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He’s also an outstanding shooter as he nailed 57.6% of his shots from the floor last year. Steven Hunter gives the Nuggets a legit backup center to spell Marcus Camby to keep him healthy. He played in 70 games (41 starts) last season with the 76ers and he averaged 22.9 minutes, 6.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. Yakhouba Diawara will be the backup shooting guard for the Nuggets this season. He played in 64 games (19 starts) as a rookie for the Nuggets and he averaged 18.4 minutes, 4.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Diawara needs to work on his shot selection as he only hit 34.2% from the floor last year. J.R. Smith is deep in the dog house of George Karl and that’s a shame because he’s a very talented player. Smith played in 63 games (24 starts) last season for the Nuggets and he averaged 23.3 minutes, 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

It appears that point guard Chucky Atkins won’t be ready to start the season due to a groin injury, so Allen Iverson will run the point to start the season. Iverson is a shoot first point guard but his passing is underrated. He played in 65 games (64 starts) last season for the Nuggets & 76ers and he averaged 42.5 minutes, 26.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Linas Kleiza will likely be the starting shooting guard when the season starts next week and he will give the Nuggets another big body in the lineup. He played in 79 games (14 starts) last season for the Nuggets and he averaged 18.8 minutes, 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Kleiza is a really good shooter who will make teams pay for doubling A.I. or Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo Anthony had his best season of his career last year and it appears that he could even play better. He played in 65 games (all starts) and he averaged 38.2 minutes, 28.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Nene Hilario really stepped up big time last year as the starting power forward as he provided muscle and defense for the Nuggets. He played in 64 games (42 starts) last season for the Nuggets and he averaged 26.8 minutes, 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Center Marcus Camby is one of the best rebounders and defensive players in the NBA. He played in 70 games (all starts) last season and he averaged 33.8 minutes, 11.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. The Nuggets must keep Camby healthy because his all out effort revs up the Nuggets engine on both sides of the court.

The Denver Nuggets have signed 39-year old Stacey Augmon.  “The Plastic Man” has not played since the 2005-06 season with the Orlando Magic so he could be a tad rusty.  Augmon has played in 1,001 games in his NBA career and he has averaged 21.6 minutes, 8.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  He has shot 46.9% from the floor, 15.2% from the three point line and 72.8% from the free throw line.  Don’t look for Augmon to add much to the Nuggets this season.