The Nuggets have signed 27-year old SG/SF Joey Graham to a non-guaranteed 1-year contract. Graham played in 78 games (10 starts) for the Raptors last season and he averaged 19.8 minutes, 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 275 games (58 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 17.3 minutes, 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. This was a good signing as the Nuggets need a player like Graham who can back up at both shooting guard and small forward.

The Nuggets have acquired 26-year old SG/SF James White from the Nuggets for the rights to Belgian guard Axel Harville who is currently playing for Real Madrid in Spain. White played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Rockets last season and he averaged 2.8 minutes, 1.8 point and 0.3 assists per game. He has now played in 10 games (2 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 14.8 minutes, 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. The Nuggets hope that White can give them some offense off the bench.

32-year old Chauncey Billups is back to run the offense for the Nuggets this season. He played in 79 games for the Pistons and Nuggets last season in which he averaged 35.3 minutes, 17.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The thing that separates Billups from most point guards is his will to win as he’s not afraid to take the last shot. 34-year old Anthony Carter did a good job backing up Billups last season. He played in 78 games for the Nuggets last season and he averaged 22.9 minutes, 5.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Nuggets traded for 21-year old Ty Lawson during the draft. He was the #18 pick of the first round of the NBA Draft out of North Carolina. He will sit and learn from Billups and Carter this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POINT GUARDS IN 2009-2010: A-

The Nuggets have not gained much new talent but they haven’t lost a lot either. The Nuggets have re-signed Chris “Birdman” Andersen, Johan Petro and Anthony Carter which were all good moves. The Nuggets drafted guard Ty Lawson in the first round of the NBA Draft and he has a very nice upside. SG Arron Afflalo and PF Malik Allen were added in trades by the Nuggets without giving up much for them and that’s good also. All was not bright however as Linas Kleiza left the Nuggets to sign a lucrative contract to play in Greece. SG/SF Dahntay Jones also left Denver to sign with the Pacers. Sonny Weems, Walter Sharpe and Steven Hunter were traded from the Nuggets this off-season but they won’t miss any of them.

FRONT OFFICE GRADE THIS OFF-SEASON SO FAR: C+