Six players entered training camp with the Denver Nuggets with non-guaranteed contracts and on Thursday only one remained.
Fifteen-year veteran Juwan Howard will occupy the final spot on the Nuggets opening day roster and don’t expect him to sit at the end of the bench like he did in Dallas last season. Unlike the Mavericks, the Nuggets aren’t deep in the post and Howard brings a hefty resume to the Nuggets 2008-09 squad.
The 6-foot-9 260 pound power forward was an All-Star in 1996 and has a career-average of 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds a game. He also led the Nuggets in scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.7) in the final pre-Carmelo year.
Howard stats weren’t overwhelming in the five pre-season games he played in as he only averaged 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. However, it was his leadership on the court that helped him seal the final spot on the roster.
While the former Fab Five member doesn’t have the offensive repertoire he once had, he still doesn’t do too shabby in the post. He also brings the Nuggets a much-needed leadership and size that was missing with the departure of Marcus Camby and Eduardo Najera.
