Mateen Cleaves To Denver
With point guard Chucky Atkins out for six weeks after undergoing knee surgery yesterday, the Nuggets have zeroed in on signing veteran free-agent Mateen Cleaves. Of all the journeyman out there, Cleaves has gotta be one of my favorites. After leading Michigan State to the National Championship in 2000 – where he was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four – Cleaves has never really had a legit shot to succeed in the League.
Although he hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since 2005-06, Cleaves is still a six-year NBA vet, and has played parts of the past two seasons with the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League. In 15 games with the Jam last season, Cleaves averaged 19 points, 10.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, while shooting a nice 53.5 percent from the field.
While the Nuggets clearly want Atkins back before the start of the season, Cleaves should at least have the opportunity to play for the back-up spot as he battles with Anthony Carter in camp.
Source: Rocky Mountain News
September 25th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Michorizo says:
Mateen Cleaves
19.5 PPG on 53% shooting
10.8 Assists
5.7 Rebounds
2.3 Steals
Mateen Cleaves is the Chris Paul of the D-League!
September 25th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
this is stupid. mateen cleaves is a washed has been that really never was.
denver nuggs are idots. if they hadnt foolishy traded andre miller for iverson, they wouldnt need a point guard. they’ve been looking for one ever since.
this team might be pound for pound the most talented in the league and they barely made the playoffs last year. and this offseason they already traded marcus camby; the only player on their roster who knew what defense meant.
…and now look at them. height of desperation….they signing a non athletic point guard who (lets face it) just isn’t good enough to last in the nba.
i liked mateen cleaves too….but lets face facts, this aint 1999-2000 no more. that flint-stones era was a long long time ago
September 25th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
spuddaz says:
Mateen Cleaves is like the Susan Lucci of basketball…
When is he ever gonna quit????
My goodness…what favours do NBA GM’s owe his agent for him to perennially get burn in training camp or the regular season? Anyone on the bubble of making the L…heck any player in the league should get this guy’s agent to represent them! He could get Marvin Williams a max deal for goodness sakes. No worries even if Cleaves sticks he’ll probably be dropped at some point.
All joking aside…I give Cleaves props for NEVER EVER giving up on a dream. You go Mateen.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
MJAX says:
Mateen Cleaves?!?!? WTF?!?! I would go down the block and get Terrell Brandon (bad knees an all) right now if that’s that case!! Are the point guards trying to get in the L, that terrible to where you go get an ancient flint-stone like Cleaves? I was trying to like Denver, but their moves in the last few months rival some of the worst moves ever!!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
asmaticasiatic says:
I was at msu when this dude was in his prime, everyone there worshipped this cat. I was always wanted to run in to him and bust him in a pick up game up there;never got the chance though. Really he was just strong and a decent floor leader for the college game, didn’t have enough for the league though….at least he’s trying though…
September 25th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
that's whats up says:
I thought dude retired in the 90’s
September 25th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Yoooo says:
I gotta believe Dajuan Wagner is better than Cleaves, even at this point. What about LYNN GREER??? Tyrone Barley who played with Delonte & Jameer at St Joes??? He won a MVP across the water in some league… What about Keydren Ke-Ke Clark??? He put up 51 overseas last season.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
TG says:
How has Cleaves never had a legit chance to succeed in the NBA? He’s been on a bunch of NBA rosters and never showed he was anything more than a 3rd string PG. That’s all he will be in Denver, as well.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Big Sneezy says:
He’ll be a good citizen. Maybe even play some D when called upon. Not a great move, but not a bad move, either. Whatever he may or may not do on the court, he doesn’t exactly scream “locker room cancer”. Plus, 19 and 10 in the D-League? He must have learned how to shoot a J somewhere…
September 26th, 2008 at 9:49 am
karizmatic says:
Everyone loves Mateen Cleaves, but he sucks.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:46 am
JDig89 says:
how’s everyone gonna say he sucks when he put 19 and 10 in the D-League? thats good enough for top guard in the league, and we’ve seen D-league guys make an impact in the NBA.
September 27th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Eric says:
FLINT TOWN!!! Mateen is going to shine this year