Tinsley to Denver? Not Yet

In another example of just how much the New York Post, and in particular Peter Vescey, has reached the ultimate level of suck-dom when it comes to reporting FACTUAL information, their earlier report of a Pacers/Nuggets deal sending Jamaal Tinsley to the Nuggets for Chucky Atkins and Steven Hunter has been refuted by Mike Wells of the Indy Star.

According to the New York Post, the Denver Nuggets - who themselves just traded their relatively low paid all-star defensive center Marcus Camby to the Clippers in a salary dump - were going to exchange the expiring contract of Chucky Atkins and a relatively small one in Steven Hunter that expires next summer, for Jamaal Tinsley who (while a decent talent when on the court) has all but been dismissed by the Pacer's organization amid buyout talks over the summer, would require Denver to take on an additional $11 million in long-term salary, has a contract that the Nuggets would be on the hook for through the 2010-2011 season, does nothing to help them get below the luxury tax penalty, and has played in less than 70% of his games throughout his NBA career earning him the label of injury prone?

I do not see the Nuggets doing that deal as rumored.

Not saying they would never acquire Jamaal Tinsley. It just does not seem likely that they wouldn't require some other benefit from the deal in addition to Tinsley himself.

They'd be better off letting Atkins expire.

And being that the Pacers are rebuilding and themselves are at the luxury tax threshold, it's not like Indiana would be willing to part with future picks or can provide them any additional financial relief.

Right now if I had to speculate I would say that this deal will stay a rumor for the mean time as each team is limited in their ability to provide the other what they would be looking for in a deal.