Breaking Down The Nuggets Free Agent: The Bench Guys

(Part 8 of 14)

Gary Forbes and Melvin Ely didn’t see a lot of action for the Denver Nuggets during the 2010-11 season, but each stepped up when needed too.

Forbes went from being a long shot in training camp to starting the Nuggets fourth game of the season, at power forward none the less, and had the tough task of slowing Dirk Nowitzki. While Nowitzki got his points, Forbes made him work for it and Nowitzki missed four of his first five shots. In fact, during the time Forbes was on the floor Nowitzki made only 2 of 7 shots. Forbes also scored 12 points in 24 minutes.

Forbes brought back memories of former Nuggets player Greg Buckner and scored in double digits in 12 contests including scoring his career-high 17 points in the season-finale.

Forbes is a restricted free agent and should return to the squad, unless another team over pays to get him.

Ely, a former first round draft pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, saw limited time for the Nuggets. He played only 30 games and started two games. In his two starts he averaged seven rebounds.

Ely played arguably the best game of the season in the Nuggets blowout victory over the Miami Heat when he scored a season-best 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Ely is an unrestricted free agent and while it isn’t necesary for the Nuggets to retrain him, they can do a lot worst coming off the bench.