1999–2000 Denver Nuggets season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Denver Nuggets

| end_year = 2000

| wins = 35

| losses = 47

| division = Midwest

| division_place = 5

| conf_place = 10

| coach = Dan Issel

| gm = Dan Issel

| owner = Donald Sturm

| arena = Pepsi Center

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| bbr_team = DEN

| television =

• KTVD
• Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain

| radio = KKFN

}}

The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Nuggets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd season as a franchise.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2000.html 1999-2000 Denver Nuggets] It was also their first season playing at the Pepsi Center.{{cite news | last = Teaford | first = Elliott | title = Another Scorer Added in Trade | work = Los Angeles Times | date = September 28, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-28-sp-15075-story.html | access-date = November 17, 2022}} The Nuggets had the 18th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, and selected James Posey out of Xavier University.{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = Dukies Are Way Up | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 1, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-01-sp-52079-story.html | access-date = June 4, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Sheridan | first = Chris | title = Brand, Francis, Davis Go 1, 2, 3 | work = Associated Press | date = July 1, 1999 | url = https://apnews.com/article/8d75bb7fc3a9c512276da749d3b83154 | access-date = June 4, 2023}}{{cite news | title = The NBA Draft | work = Hartford Courant | date = July 1, 1999 | url = https://www.courant.com/1999/07/01/the-nba-draft-2/ | access-date = June 4, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1999 NBA Draft | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1999.html | access-date = June 4, 2023}} During the off-season, the team acquired Ron Mercer and Popeye Jones from the Boston Celtics,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Celtics Trade Mercer in Six-Player Deal | work = Los Angeles Times | date = August 4, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-04-sp-62584-story.html | access-date = September 15, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Greenberg | first = Alan | title = Celts Cash Out on Mercer | work = Hartford Courant | date = August 4, 1999 | url = https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1999-08-04-9908040321-story.html | access-date = December 15, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = NBA Teams Get Busy Trading and Signing | work = Deseret News | date = August 4, 1999 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1999/8/4/19458947/nba-teams-get-busy-trading-and-signing | access-date = July 3, 2023}}{{cite news | title = NBA Trade Roundup | work = Associated Press | date = August 4, 1999 | url = https://apnews.com/article/f1f967946fc3eb1cd82accd0c6994cde | access-date = October 14, 2021}} and signed free agent George McCloud.{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Oakley Talks to Knicks and Meets with Lakers | work = The New York Times | date = August 4, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/04/sports/pro-basketball-oakley-talks-to-knicks-and-meets-with-lakers.html | access-date = November 7, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = 1999–2000 N.B.A. PREVIEW; The West Is Still the Best | work = The New York Times | date = October 31, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/31/sports/1999-2000-nba-preview-the-west-is-still-the-best.html | access-date = January 13, 2022}} With Dan Issel back as head coach,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- DENVER; Issel Takes Over Nuggets Again | work = The New York Times | date = September 15, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/15/sports/plus-pro-basketball-denver-issel-takes-over-nuggets-again.html | access-date = June 8, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = D'Antoni Out, Issel In as Nugget Coach | work = Los Angeles Times | date = September 15, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-15-sp-10466-story.html | access-date = November 26, 2022}} the Nuggets played .500 basketball with a 17–15 record to start the regular season,{{cite web | title = Charlotte Hornets at Denver Nuggets Box Score, January 8, 2000 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200001080DEN.html | access-date = September 16, 2022}} but soon struggled and slipped below .500, holding a 21–27 record at the All-Star break.{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 10, 2000 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=10&year=2000 | access-date = July 22, 2022}}

At mid-season, Mercer was dealt along with Chauncey Billups, who only played just 13 games due to a sprained ankle and a shoulder injury,{{cite news | title = Nuggets' Billups Out with Injury | work = Associated Press | date = November 1, 1999 | url = https://apnews.com/article/fab9320613648ac99463fdd848e58b45 | access-date = November 15, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Billups Done for the Year | work = United Press International | date = December 23, 1999 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1999/12/23/Billups-done-for-the-year/2242945925200/ | access-date = July 3, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Times Wire Services | title = Nuggets' Billups to Have Shoulder Surgery | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 25, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-25-sp-47340-story.html | access-date = June 8, 2022}} and Johnny Taylor to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Tariq Abdul-Wahad and Chris Gatling;{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Magic and Nuggets Ship Players | work = CBS News | date = February 1, 2000 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/magic-and-nuggets-ship-players/ | access-date = July 3, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Magic, Nuggets Agree to a Five-Player Trade | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 1, 2000 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-feb-01-sp-60005-story.html | access-date = January 9, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Povtak | first = Tim | title = Magic Trade Abdul-Wahad and Gatling | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = February 1, 2000 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2000-02-01-0002010169-story.html | access-date = September 12, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.: ORLANDO-DENVER; Mercer Goes to Magic | work = The New York Times | date = February 2, 2000 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/02/sports/nba-orlando-denver-mercer-goes-to-magic.html | access-date = October 15, 2021}} however, Billups never played for the Magic, because of his shoulder injury.{{cite news | title = Chauncey Was Here | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = April 23, 2007 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2007/04/23/chauncey-was-here-2/ | access-date = July 4, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Schmitz | first = Brian | title = Billups Haunted Orlando | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = January 14, 2010 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2010-01-14-1001130260-story.html | access-date = October 17, 2022}} The Nuggets went on a 7-game losing streak in March, as Bryant Stith only played just 45 games due to a leg injury.{{cite news | title = Injured Stith Unsure of Future | work = Associated Press | date = March 17, 2000 | url = https://apnews.com/article/32252fd960883f1924a660b3d82ec6d9 | access-date = October 4, 2022}} The team managed to win their final four games, and finished in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 35–47 record.{{cite web | title = 1999–2000 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2000_games.html | access-date = July 15, 2021}}

Antonio McDyess averaged 19.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while Nick Van Exel averaged 16.1 points and 9.0 assists per game, and second-year star Raef LaFrentz provided the team with 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. In addition, McCloud contributed 10.1 points per game off the bench, while second-year center Keon Clark averaged 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Posey provided with 8.2 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.{{cite web | title = 1999–2000 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2000.html | access-date = July 15, 2021}}

Following the season, Stith and second-round draft pick Chris Herren were both traded to the Boston Celtics,{{cite news | agency = Reuters | title = PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pack Trade to Nuggets Official | work = The New York Times | date = October 17, 2000 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/17/sports/plus-pro-basketball-pack-trade-to-nuggets-official.html | access-date = January 11, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Celtics, Nuggets Complete Four-Player Trade | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 17, 2000 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-17-sp-37663-story.html | access-date = October 3, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Nuggets-Celtics Trade Official | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = October 17, 2000 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/10/17/nuggets-celtics-trade-official-2/ | access-date = November 8, 2024}}{{cite news | last = Gardner | first = Kris | title = Pack Returns to Nuggets | work = The Houston Roundball Review | date = October 29, 2000 | url = https://www.thehrr.com/nba/trade_archive/'00-'01/2000_off-season/101600Pack,Herren_in_4_Player_deal.html | access-date = July 4, 2023}} while Gatling was traded back to his former team, the Miami Heat, who then sent him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Gatling, Weatherspoon Go to Cavs | work = ESPN | date = August 31, 2000 | url = https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2000/0830/712388.html | access-date = July 8, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Trade Sends Grant to Heat | work = The New York Times | date = August 31, 2000 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/31/sports/pro-basketball-trade-sends-grant-to-heat.html | access-date = June 28, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Kemp to Portland, Grant to Miami in 3-Team Deal | work = Los Angeles Times | date = August 31, 2000 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-31-sp-13198-story.html | access-date = October 12, 2022}} Jones was dealt to the Washington Wizards,{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Wizards Trade Murray to Nuggets | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = September 26, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/09/26/wizards-trade-murray-to-nuggets/0e716cde-bdc6-40a4-8470-7f693d1fd819/ | access-date = November 26, 2022}} and Cory Alexander signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic.