Marc Spears writes about the Nuggets.  Kiki is home this week listening to anybody with an opinion on how to improve the Nuggets.

Some names are mentioned in trade rumors, etc.

Mark Kizla writes about Doug Moe's return to the Nuggets.

Personally I'm very excited for his return, he will provide Denver with a great deal of knowledge bundled with a wonderful sense of humor.  He's no Big Stiff, especially here in Denver where we've seen our share of those playing for the Nuggets!  He's the King of the Nugs.

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: When the Wednesday afternoon news conference announcing him as the Denver Nuggets' head coach ended, Jeff Bzdelik yearned to exchange his blue suit and dress shoes for a Nuggets' T-shirt and shorts and basketball sneakers.
"I want to get out of this suit and get on the court," Bzdelik said. "I am more at ease in the gym anyway. But I think when I get there it will be too late."

It was too late. Ninety minutes later, Bzdelik was still suited and answering questions, the players long gone from the Pepsi Center practice facility.

Bzdelik, however, will have many more opportunities to coach the players that now are officially his as he signed a contract believed to be three years for an undisclosed amount. The 14-year NBA coaching and scouting veteran becomes Denver's first permanent head coach since Dan Issel resigned on Dec. 26.

Bzdelik, 49, led the franchise's summer league team to a 6-0 mark at the Rocky Mountain Revue in July. Nuggets officials reached a consensus a week ago that Bzdelik was the guy to hire, despite his lack of head coaching experience.

"(Bzdelik) deserves the chance to be our head coach," general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "He is extremely well-qualified for the job. As a matter of fact, I talked to (Miami coach) Pat Riley (on Wednesday) morning and he said, 'Kiki, you got a great man there.'"

In a report from ESPN.com Brazillian national player and Denver Nuggets rookie Maybyner 'Nene' Hilario suffered a groin injury and will not be able to play for his native Brazil in the World Championships, the team said Tuesday.

Nene is expected to miss four weeks of basketball but should be okay for the start of the Nuggets training camp on October 1.

Speaking of hiring a head coach finally!  It is expected to go down on Wednesday.  From Scout to Head coach, not a bad leap.

Also, updates on Nene and his ankle and prospects of suiting up for Brazil

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: Denver Nuggets rookie forward-center Nene Hilario is plagued by an injured groin. That's not good timing for him, because the World Basketball Championship for Men starts in less than two weeks.

Hilario, 19, was injured Thursday participating in the Pete Newell Big Man Camp in Honolulu. The 6-foot-11, 260-pounder is slated to play on the Brazilian national team, which opens play Aug. 29 in Indianapolis against Lebanon. The Nuggets want Hilario to be healthy for the start of training camp at the beginning of October.

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, a staff member at the Newell camp, said it's up to Hilario and his doctors whether he plays in Indianapolis. Hilario, who signed a three-year deal with the Nuggets in July, has had groin injury problems in the past.

Nuggets rookie swingman Vincent Yarbrough sustained a sprained ankle but is expected to participate in the final day of the camp today. Other Nuggets participating include forward Mark Blount, rookie forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili, forward Chris Andersen and center Zendon Hamilton.

In other Nuggets News, Former Nuggets interim coach Mike Evans interviewed Monday for an assistant job with Atlanta, but learned late Wednesday former Milwaukee and Seattle assistant Terry Stotts got the position.

Former Nugget Alex English said he was offered a job with the Hawks as an assistant and advance scout Tuesday and will likely take the position. The Nuggets' all-time leading scorer also interviewed with the Nuggets and coached NBDL North Charleston last season.

The Nuggets had informal talks with Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael Cooper about an assistant job. Cooper has one more season remaining on his contract with the Sparks, but also has an option that would allow him to accept an NBA coaching position.

Finally, The Nuggets waived point guard Carlos Arroyo on Thursday. The 6-2, 202-pounder appeared in 20 games for Denver last season and averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 assists.

Scout to head coach now there's a jump.  Did Denver run out of time or were they just not willing to step up and pay one of there candidates?

ESPN.com reports

Mark Kiszla and Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post report: After a prolonged and difficult search, the Denver Nuggets will offer Jeff Bzdelik the job as head coach, according to NBA sources familiar with the negotiations.

Although details of the contract have not been finalized, the Nuggets expect to introduce Bzdelik next week at a news conference, ending a nearly eight-month hunt for a permanent coach that began with Dan Issel's resignation in December.

"I'm not a Hall of Fame coach. I'm not a former player in the the NBA. From Day One in this business, I've been told I'm not good enough. I'm not a big name to announce at a press conference," Bzdelik said Tuesday. "But I've always found a way to succeed in this league."

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe has decided to hire Bzdelik, and the final decision is pending approval from owner Stan Kroenke. No objections are expected.

The Nuggets grew interested in Bzdelik (pronounced buzz-DIL-ik) after he led a team of young franchise players to an undefeated record in the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league in July, by stressing an up-tempo, pressing style of play that seems perfectly suited for use at a high altitude but has not been effectively utilized by Denver since coach Doug Moe was fired in 1990.

The Associated Press reports that Del Harris is withdrawing his name from consideration for the Denver Nuggets head coaching position and will remain an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks.

``The Nuggets were not making the commitment that would have to for me to leave Dallas,'' Harris said. ``We have something started really good in Dallas and I talked with (Mavericks head coach Don Nelson) and we want to continue to work together.''

With Harris out of the mix, Utah assistant Phil Johnson is believed to be the front-runner for the position.

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: Jeff Bzdelik has gone from being an unknown locally to a serious candidate to become the Denver Nuggets' next head coach.
"He's a very dedicated and honest guy," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said while confirming Thursday that Bzdelik is being seriously considered for the job. "He is going to give you an honest day's work every day and get the best of the players. He works hard, is knowledgeable and is a student of the game. He knows the NBA players and the teams plays better. He's going to be a very good coach."

Dallas Mavericks assistant Del Harris and former NBA player and Denver assistant Clyde Drexler still are in the mix. An announcement may not come until Aug. 20 because other commitments will keep Denver's entire front office from being back in town before then.

Bzdelik (pronounced buzz-DIL-ik) has six years of assistant experience with the Miami Heat and then-Washington Bullets. After resigning from Miami last summer, he became a Nuggets scout and was promoted to assistant this summer.

Bzdelik, 49, drew more attention last month during the Rocky Mountain Revue as he coached Denver to a 6-0 summer-league record and a 17-point winning margin average.

Said Bzdelik, "If I am being considered as a candidate, those three weeks during summer league was my interview."

Harris commented about the job for the first time Thursday, playing down the significance of the summer league. "Winning in summer league means absolutely nothing," Harris said. "Anybody that thinks that the rebuilding job is half over doesn't understand the NBA."

Harris said a strong commitment is needed toward the new coach.

"At this point, as long as they've waited, it's important for their franchise that when they do hire somebody it is someone they can make a real commitment to, not just somebody to get in on a short contract," he said. "This requires a commitment by the person that is going to take the job because it's a rebuilding job."

ESPN's NBA analyst David Aldridge, who covered the Bullets for The Washington Post during Bzdelik's tenure with the team, says he doesn't know anyone who works harder.

"He just knows the game," Aldridge said. "He works very well with players. He is an excellent teacher. I think he'd be a great head coach someday. I've been advocating this guy being on someone's bench for years."