A few weeks ago the big news going around Denver was the long anticipated return of All-Star Antonio McDyess. How quickly things can change.
McDyess has played in 10 games this season, averaging 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 23.6 minutes, after injuring his knee during the pre-season, and with his game improving each time out on the court the Nuggets are ready to bubble-wrap him and lock him away on the injured list for the final 16 games of the season.
'The unofficial reason is that McDyess has proven he is capable of playing again in the 10 games he has appeared, but the team would prefer to keep him on the bench, safe from injury and let him play again next season. The franchise hopes to have something to play for by then.' These were the words of Rocky Mountain News writer Kyle Ringo, and while the official reason the club supplied was 'soreness in McDyess' left knee' Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe agreed with Ringo's description of the situation.
"I think that's a pretty good analysis," Vandeweghe said.
McDyess had already announced that he would not be playing in the second game of back-to-back situations, which means he would have missed at least six more games. In typical NBA style (MJ anyone?) MyDyess has left the door open for the possibility of being re-activated again this season.
"I wouldn't put it out there that I'm definitely done, but most likely it could be," McDyess said.
The announcement comes in light of his strongest game yet, a 16 point 10 rebound effort against the Wizards that saw him register his first triple double of the season. But with the season already over for the Nuggets and McDyess stating that the knee does not yet feel strong enough for him to be confident the team is sure they are doing the right thing, although Antonio himself sounded unsure about the decision.
"It's such up-and-down days," McDyess said. "One day you might think you're 80 or 90 percent, and the next day you feel like you're 50 percent.
"I just have to get over it and just work hard this summer, and we'll see what happens."
Rookie forward Chris Andersen replaced McDyess on the active roster.