The Nuggets have five days to come up with their final answers for the best fits at the 20th, 22nd and 52nd slots in Tuesday’s NBA draft. As that day nears, chances are the rest of the staff will start to resemble assistant general manager Jeff Weltman, the father of newborn twin daughters.
“The one thing I can tell you as we get closer and closer to this draft, there’ll be less and less sleep at this table,” general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said Wednesday at a news conference.
Vandeweghe would not give away much on his thoughts for the draft, but assistant GM David Fredman gave a hint.
“If you study the history, Kiki hasn’t sat still very often during the trade deadlines or the draft,” Fredman said, over Vandeweghe’s joking protests.
It’s no secret the Nuggets will be looking for a shooting guard this summer, but whether that player comes from the draft, a trade or free agency remains to be seen.
Asked his opinion about the draft, coach George Karl said, “I think everybody knows we don’t really have a 30-minute two-guard, but I’m a big believer in taking the best player available. … If he creates a problem, it’s because he’s talented and playing well and usually better than someone you have.”
Karl added that he liked what he got out of his shooting guards this spring. Another factor at the position will be Voshon Lenard, who missed most of 2004-05 with a torn Achilles tendon and may be bought out of his contract by July 15.
“Vo is a guy who we would love to have back,” Vande- weghe said. “Some of it’s going to be health-determined. I’m going to throw it a little bit at our doctors and trainers to give us a real evaluation there – can he be the same player? I’ve said that to Voshon. It’s probably not about we don’t want you, because we do want you.
“Very few players can shoot as well as Voshon Lenard. But is he going to be able to get back to the same type of player that he was? I’m not going to be able to answer that question today.”
Footnotes
Karl indicated he will retain Scott Brooks on his coaching staff, and likely let Brooks guide the Nuggets during much of their summer league appearance in Las Vegas. Karl would not go into detail about the rest of his staff. “There’ll be some changes,” he said. “There’s not going to be that many.” … The Nuggets are set to work out four prospects today – Pittsburgh forward Chris Taft, Illinois guard Luther Head, Missouri forward Linas Kleiza and Colorado State center Matt Nelson. Nelson also is scheduled to work out with Cleveland and Sacramento this weekend.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler contributed to this report. Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
