24-year old SG/SF Wilson Chandler has signed a 1-year deal to play ball in China. This will mean that even if the lockout ends, Chandler will have to stay in China until their season ends in March. Chandler will then come back to the NBA as a restricted free agent, giving the Nuggets a chance to match any offer he gets. Chandler played in 21 games (19 starts) for the Nuggets after coming over in the Carmelo Anthony deal and he averaged 30.6 minutes, 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Chandler played in 72 games (49 starts) overall last year for the Knicks & Nuggets and he averaged 33.3 minutes, 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 254 games (199 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 32.1 minutes, 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. This could wind up being a big blow for the Nuggets in 2011-12.

28-year old center Nene’ Hilario has exercised his early termination option in his contract and he has now become the best center in the free agent market. Nene’ played in 75 games (all starts) for the Nuggets last year and he averaged 30.5 minutes, 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Nene’s has played in 527 games (424 starts) in his nine years with the Nuggets and he has averaged 29.6 minutes, 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Nene’s is #8 in games played (527) in Nuggets’ history. He is also #7 in rebounds (3,651), #6 in steals (658) and #9 in blocked shots (483) in Nuggets’ history. The Nuggets tried hard to get Nene to sign an extension. I think it’s going to be a lot harder to convince him to come back with other teams throwing cash at him.

The Nuggets dealt a future second round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for 20-year old power forward Chukwudiebere Madabum. Madabum was picked #56 overall out of the NBA’s D-League. Madabum played in 3 games for the Bakersfield Jam last year and he averaged 7.0 minutes, 0.7 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. The 6′9″, 210 pound Madabum looks like a developmental project and little more for the Nuggets. But he might be able to help them on the defensive end of the court as he appears to be a decent shot blocker.

20-year old small forward Jordan Hamilton out of Texas was the Mavericks’ #26 pick last night. He was then sent to the Nuggets as part of the Andre Miller trade. Hamilton is 6′7″, 220 pounds. He played in 36 games for the Texas Longhorns last year and he averaged 32.2 minutes, 18.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Hamilton played in 70 games in his two years in college and he averaged 26.2 minutes, 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He is a small forward who not only scores, but he’s not too bad at rebounding either. Hamilton and Faried give the Nuggets a couple of good looking forward prospects who should start helping the team right away.

The Nuggets took 21-year old, 6′8″, 225 power forward Kenneth Faried with the 22nd overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Faried played in 35 games for Morehead State last year and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 17.3 points, 14.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.3 blocked shots per game. Faried played in 136 games in his four years in college and he averaged 29.1 minutes, 14.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocked shots per game. This was an excellent pick on so many levels for the Nuggets. Faried plays like his hair is on fire as he is full go at both ends of the court. Don’t be surprised if Faried wins a rebounding title or five in his NBA career.