Former Nuggets guard Nick Van Exel isn’t certain whether he will be in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform next season.
Van Exel, who averaged 11.1 points last season, is slated to make $12.8 million next season. It wouldn’t be easy to trade him because of his huge salary, but the 12-year veteran is open to playing elsewhere. While he contemplated retiring after the 2004-05 season, he said he has no intention of doing so now.
“I have to see what Portland is going to do. They still have my rights,” Van Exel said. “Hopefully, they will do what’s for the best. We’ll see what happens with that.”
When asked if he could see himself in Portland next season, Van Exel said: “I don’t doubt it. They still have a lot of talent. They just need a coach so the young guys can understand what it is about winning.”
Nuggets staff undecided
Nuggets coach George Karl has not decided the makeup of his coaching staff for next year. The contracts for assistants Scott Brooks, Adrian Dantley, Rex Kalamian and Chip Engelland expire June 30. Assistant Doug Moe is expected to return. Other than Moe, no other assistant was hired by Karl.
“I’m thinking about it,” Karl said, adding that he needs to talk with owner Stan Kroenke and general manager Kiki Vande- weghe before making a decision.
Nuggets go international?
The NBA has talked about giving the Nuggets, whose roster includes forward Eduardo Najera of Mexico, a preseason game in Mexico in 2006. Also, there has been talk about Denver playing a 2006 exhibition game in Brazil to showcase Brazilian forward Nene, as well as a game in Argentina.
Footnotes
Happy birthday to Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, who turns 21 today. …
On Friday, Karl told Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin he wants him to shoot 30 percent from 3-point range next season. Martin, who was 0-for-12 from 3-point range this past season, responded: “I am. I am going to shoot enough of them.” …
Nuggets guard Luis Flores will play for his native Dominican Republic at the 2005 Tournament of the Americas, a qualifying tournament for the 2006 FIBA World Championship, from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4 in the Dominican Republic. Expected to join Flores are fellow countrymen Connecticut forward Charlie Villanueva and Louisville guard Francisco Garcia. …
USA Basketball plans on using American minor-league and overseas players, not NBA players or draft picks on its Tournament of the Americas team. Former NBA guard Anthony Parker, the 2005 Euroleague player of the year, could be on the roster. …
Dallas Skyline High guard C.J. Miles was limited in his workout with the Nuggets on Friday because of a right calf injury he suffered a day earlier at San Antonio. Miles is hopeful to return to Denver after the Chicago predraft camp June 7-10 for another workout. While the 6-foot-6, 210-pounder has committed to play with Texas and has yet to hire an agent, he said he is leaning toward entering the NBA draft. The deadline is June 21. …
North Carolina State’s Julius Hodge, who worked out for the Nuggets on Friday, said he wouldn’t mind filling their shooting guard void. “I feel like this would be a great place to play,” said Hodge, the 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year. …
Spain forward Albert Miralles is expected to go to Miami soon to visit with the Heat, which owns his draft rights.
