HoopsHype.com Rumors

alex in chicago: Who are the bulls going to get this offseason at Sg Alex Kennedy: The Bulls are working the phones and monitoring what's happening in Philadelphia and Golden State. It doesn't hurt their odds that both Monta Ellis and Andre Iguodala would welcome a trade to Chicago with open arms. Right now, everyone wants to play alongside Derrick Rose and join the Bulls as they become a perennial contender. That will also help Chicago if they can't land a shooting guard in a trade. They'll have no problem attracting free agents this summer. Their options include J.R. Smith, Arron Afflalo, Jason Richardson, C.J. Miles, Shannon Brown, Anthony Parker, Nick Young, DeShawn Stevenson and Michael Redd. They'll have the full mid-level exception to spend and they'll definitely be throwing money at a shooting guard. HoopsWorld

Chicago Bulls, Free Agency, Andre Iguodala, Michael Redd, Shannon Brown, Monta Ellis, Jason Richardson, Anthony Parker, Nick Young, Arron Afflalo, DeShawn Stevenson 

Goldfeder and Nuggets executive Masai Ujiri have said they see "Triple-A" re-signing with Denver. But that might not be for a while, because the NBA likely will have a work stoppage beginning July 1. "I have confidence that we can get a deal done," Goldfeder said. "There is a very strong mutual admiration between Arron and Nuggets management." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo 

To his credit, Afflalo works out like he gets paid by the game. He starts his offseason workouts with conditioning, then adds weight training and two hours of basketball. "I'll tone it down the last week before training camp," the UCLA product said. "I remember in Detroit, and even in my first year in Denver, they used to try to tell me to tone it down a little bit and save something for the game. But in reality, I've been in such a habit for working out for so long, I can do it." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo 

"The reality is you don't know who will and won't be back. But more important, you don't know how much better players will be," said Afflalo, a first-round pick in the 2007 draft. "You never know how good Ty (Lawson) can be next year or how good I can be or (Danilo) Gallinari or whoever. "There's a lot of responsibility on the players themselves, or at least I look at it from my career — it's my responsibility to be better than I was the year before. I think that's a really important message. I would hope that all my teammates feel the same way." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo 

Asked specifically about Afflalo, an off guard who averaged 12.6 points per game in a breakout season, Ujiri said there's "no question" he will be a Nugget for years to come. Ujiri also said he's had positive talks with forward Wilson Chandler about staying in Denver. Chandler, a restricted free agent, struggled in his first-ever postseason. He was comfortable in the Knicks' system and is willing to look at other options, but the Nuggets like his game and his potential to improve at age 23. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo 

Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo said today that he will play Saturday night in game 3 of the playoffs against Oklahoma City. Affalo missed the first two games of the first-round playoff series — as well as 13 of the last 18 regular-season games — with a nagging hamstring injury. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Arron Afflalo 

Two days and four hours before Game 2 of the Nuggets' first-round playoff series, guard Arron Afflalo (hamstring) was asked if he would play Wednesday night against the Thunder. "Zero (percent chance)," he said Monday. "It hasn't even been 10 days yet (of rest). I've made a mistake three times (by coming back). It's not even being cautious, it's just not healed. I've tried to come back in the regular season. I'm trying to get past that marker." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Arron Afflalo 

Asked if he should be ruled out for the series, Afflalo said: "I don't think you should do that. . . . The reality is hamstrings take three to four weeks to really heal without the possibility of retweaking it. But that doesn't mean I can't get out on the court, so I'm going to kind of roll with the series, see how things are looking for us, the position we're in. I will get on the court." Afflalo tweaked an existing hamstring injury in last Monday's game against Golden State and hasn't recovered enough to be cleared to play. It was the second time he had a failed comeback attempt since initially injuring the hamstring March 5 against the L.A. Clippers. "The thing is, three times I've done a 10-day period and came back," Afflalo said. "Obviously, the initial strain was the worst, so coming back after the initial strain was tough. Although that was the one time I did make it through a full game. The other two times were both nine- to 10-day periods, which is where I'm at now, and I tweaked it. Just rest, see how the series starts. There will come a time where I'll have to get out there, but right now we'll see how it goes." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Arron Afflalo 

So would he shut Afflalo down the rest of the regular season to ensure he’s back and healthy for the postseason? “I don’t get involved in those discussions a lot,” Karl said. “Injuries are very frustrating to coaches. I think everybody knows Arron was playing the most minutes of anyone on the team when he got hurt. Fortunately we’ve been able to find other ways to win games. If we’ve got to cover Westbrook and (Kevin) Durant we need Arron on the court.” Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Draft, Arron Afflalo 

Denver Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo will sit out the next two games in hopes he can return strong for the push run and the playoffs. Heading into Tuesday night's showdown against Oklahoma City at the Pepsi Center, Afflalo had missed eight of the Nuggets' previous 11 games while battling a strained left hamstring. ESPN.com

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Arron Afflalo 

If Sunday had been a playoff game, Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo could have played, according to coach George Karl. But now, with six games left, the plan is to get Afflalo ready for the actual playoffs. Afflalo has twice tweaked his injured left hamstring after returning to play, and the L.A. native sat out Sunday in Denver's 95-90 win against the Lakers. "We talked about not rushing it," Karl said. "We're hoping it would heal fast, and we'll talk about it (today)." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Arron Afflalo 

Chris Tomasson: Just talked to Nuggets guard Arron Affalo who has missed last 2 games (hamstring strain). Doesn’t seem optimistic about playing Monday at NO Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Arron Afflalo 

Kroenke said the Nuggets also want this summer to re-sign starting shooting guard Arron Afflalo, who will be a restricted free agent. FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Free Agency, Arron Afflalo 

Chris Dempsey: Arron Afflalo had x-rays taken on his left hand at halftime; came back negative, it's possibly a deep bruise and he says he'll play on Tue Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Arron Afflalo 

Nuggets head coach George Karl recognized Afflalo's potential last season, saying his staff agreed their shooting guard was ready for a bigger role in the offense in 2010-11. "We thought it clicked on last year, we were just dumb coaches and didn't give him enough opportunity last year," Karl tells HOOPSWORLD. "We knew very early this year that we had to open up the window for him to play more and have more responsibility and he's been great. We hope he can do it for 82 games and sustain it. That's the question for a young player getting more opportunity, will he keep the focus and keep the discipline for 82 games?" HoopsWorld

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Arron Afflalo 

I brought up Afflalo with George Karl and he told me this pretty cool tidbit. Remember, Karl has been an NBA head coach since 1984: "Arron is a joy to coach. He's probably one of the most enjoyable guys I've ever coached." Ever. That's pretty high praise. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Arron Afflalo 

As for Afflalo, Karl said that he is "consistently a get-better guy, which doesn't happen that often in the NBA. He gets better almost every week in something. Now we're studying more film with him (on defense). He definitely gets it." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Arron Afflalo 

Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo was pleased he was even in the conversation. Monday's deadline to sign him to a contract extension came and went without Afflalo signing, so he'll be a restricted free agent next summer. But the blossoming pro, in his fourth season, wasn't upset. "I believe it's a privileged position to even be having the ability to have that conversation right now, with only two or three guys in my class even signing," Afflalo said. "So, from that standpoint, if my agent and management were talking, I definitely appreciate it. . . . I put my best foot forward." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo 

Afflalo is in the last year of his rookie contract. He was drafted in 2007 by the Detroit Pistons. The Nuggets have the ability to match any offer Afflalo receives during free agency. "It's the nature of the business," Afflalo said. "I value this organization, and I hope they value me. We'll see what happens next summer." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo 

A 20-point preseason scoring average didn't translate into a contract extension for guard Arron Afflalo. But he wants to re-sign with Denver next summer as a restricted free agent. "Oh yeah,'' Afflalo told FanHouse on Monday, reiterating what he had said last month. "I love the situation (in Denver). I definitely value the organization and the opportunity they gave me. Hopefully, next summer it will happen (a re-signing with the Nuggets).'' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo