This month’s SLAM Magazine report is featured in the “In your face” section and focuses on do-it-all Denver Nugget’s reserve power forward from Lithuania – Linas Kleiza.

In Your Face: Security Blanket
The Denver Nuggets made no moves at the trade deadline. As every other elite team more than willing to auction off their future for the present, the Nuggets did nothing, counting on the impending of Nene and Chucky Atkins, starters who had basically missed the entire season with injuries. Sure, the Nuggets were major muscle power in helping power the deadline day rumor mill, but every time a deal was in the inkling stage, one name jammed up the works.

“Linas Kleiza is a hell of a luxury to have,” says Nugs’ coach George Karl. “He helps us run a little bit and brings a spacing that we need to have on the court.”

Offensive productivity has long been the one constant of the 6-8, 240-pound Lithuanian’s game. But this season, LK has emerged as an integral member of the Denver rotation. Besides joining Kenyon Martin and JR Smith in the 11ppg range (putting the trio behind only Melo and AI in scoring), Kleiza’s resume includes a buzzer-beating, game-winning 22-footer against Sacramento and a 41-point outburst in a double-digit win over divisional rival Utah.

“Shooting threes got e on the court, but I am trying to do more,” notes the third year forward, who has been slowed a bit in March with a nagging ankle injury. “Defense is a big thing for Coach. He’s hard on me but that gets me better.”

This is, however, something curious about the Nuggets’ desire to keep Kleiza. While his skill set would earn him a starting spot with many teams around the League, in Denver a ceiling exists. Playing behind Carmelo Anthony has limited LK’s time on the court, but it has also helped to diversify his game. “I am on a team and he is our franchise guy; I know my role and what I am supposed to do out there,” observes the 23-year old Kleiza. “He definitely makes me better, but I try to make him better, too.”

With that kind of willingness to serve as one of the best back-up forwards in the game and a relatively miniscule salary by League standards ($1 mil this year) to boot, perhaps Karl was right: The kid is a luxury.

Source: Slam Magazine, issue 118 (June 2008), Lithuania Basketball Forum (IBN)