The Nuggets covet a free-agent shooting guard in this offseason, but getting an elite athlete will be difficult.
The Nuggets don’t have the salary cap space to go after the “A” list of players such as Michael Redd, Ray Allen, Joe Johnson and Larry Hughes. Such a move would likely require a sign-and-trade. But as the free-agency season opens today, Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe wants to add a marquee player.
“It’s difficult, but nothing’s impossible,” Vandeweghe said.
Starting today, teams can talk to free agents and set up visits, but contracts cannot be signed until July 22. Although Vandeweghe said he had no plans to be on a free agent’s doorstep today, he expected to talk to a lot of agents.
A more realistic list of free-agent shooting guards for Denver includes Seattle combo-guard Antonio Daniels and teammate Ronald Murray, Los Angeles Clippers Bobby Simmons and Marko Jaric, Utah’s Raja Bell and Miami’s Keyon Dooling, if he opts out of his contract, as expected.
“I know I’m going to hear from about 15 teams,” Bell’s agent, Herb Rudoy, said. “I know Denver is one of them.”
The NBA’s new one-time amnesty rule also will allow teams to waive one major contract to lessen their luxury tax. Dallas swingman Michael Finley, Orlando swingman Grant Hill and New York shooting guards Allan Houston could be candidates.
Denver has free agents in guards DerMarr Johnson and Greg Buckner, who plans to opt out of his contract for next season, and forwards Wesley Person, Bryon Russell and Mark Pope. Denver must decide by July 14 whether to exercise guard Voshon Lenard’s $3.5 million contract for next season.
“It’ll be something that happens in September, probably,” Rudoy said about Person, another of his clients. “He’d love to come back, but that is something for much later in the year.”
Sanchez’s destination
The Nuggets probably won’t know whether to send second-round pick Ricky Sanchez to the National Basketball Development League or overseas until their roster is put together in training camp. He prefers to play in the NBDL.
The 7-foot, 220-pounder would take a Nuggets roster spot and receive a rookie contract if in the NBDL, and Vandeweghe is open to it. If Denver sends him overseas, he won’t be paid by Denver this season and won’t use a roster spot. Whether it’s the NBDL or overseas, Vandeweghe wants Sanchez to get playing time.
“At the end of the day, roster spots are important,” Vandeweghe said. “We have to be very, very careful.”
Kleiza vs. Sanchez
After summer-league play with the Nuggets, first-round pick Linas Kleiza and Sanchez are playing in the FIBA Under-21 World Championship from Aug. 5-14 in Argentina. In fact, Kleiza and Lithuania open play against Sanchez and Puerto Rico on Aug. 5. The United States also is in the tournament. Nuggets international scout Massai Ujiri is an assistant coach for Nigeria and will watch Kleiza and Sanchez.
“It’s going to make it interesting to see two Nuggets going against each other,” said Ujiri, who is expected to sign a contract extension with the Nuggets soon.
Footnotes
Nuggets center Nene and Gabriella Bruno have canceled plans to get married Saturday in Brazil and have “split amicably,” according to Nene’s agent Michael Coyne. Nene, who plans to return to Denver soon, does not plan to play for Brazil in the FIBA Americas Championship, a qualifying tournament for the 2006 World Championships in Puerto Rico that begins in late August. … After Denver selected Julius Hodge in the first round, he received congratulatory calls from Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and rappers Cam’Ron and Mase. Sanchez received a call from fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Arroyo, now a Detroit Pistons guard, and best wishes from Detroit Tigers catcher and Puerto Rico native Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. Kleiza received a call from former Missouri teammate Josh Kroenke, son of Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
