Voshon Lenard put in a lot of work to ignore medical predictions that he could not come back from a torn Achilles tendon in time to play last season.
Lenard, who played in Denver’s opener and its final two games, will know by Thursday whether the Nuggets will reward that work with the full value of his contract. The team has until then to exercise a $250,000 buyout of a deal set to pay him $3.5 million in 2005-06.
“He’s supposed to come in (today) and work out a little bit,” general manager Kiki Vande- weghe said from Las Vegas. “The trainers will look at him. I’m going to consult with the trainers and go from there.”
There are two benefits to keeping Lenard: He is Denver’s most proven 3-point shooter, and his contract gives the Nuggets flexibility in making a trade next summer, because it offers other teams salary cap room.
Meanwhile, it appears one shooting guard Denver has looked at this month, Sacramento’s Cuttino Mobley, is close to signing elsewhere.
“I hear the Clippers. I think that makes sense,” Vandeweghe said.
Kleiza leads in loss
First-round draft pick Linas Kleiza led the Nuggets with 18 points Tuesday in their 84-79 loss to Chicago in Las Vegas.
CHICAGO
Satterfield 2-5 2-4 6, Basden 3-9 3-5 10, Powell 4-11 3-4 11, Pasalic 4-8 0-0 8, Bateer 5-6 0-0 10, Bailey 2-4 1-2 5, Hall 4-5 4-6 12, Onyekwe 4-6 0-1 8, Johnson 5-6 0-0 10, Austin 1-4 0-0 2, Przbyszewski 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 35-68 13-22 84.
DENVER
Flores 5-11 6-7 16, Haislip 0-4 1-2 1, Hodge 5-13 4-7 15, Schenscher 1-3 0-0 2, Kleiza 7-13 4-6 18, Edney 6-11 3-3 16, Ellis 0-2 0-0 0, N’Dong 1-6 7-8 9, Sanchez 1-4 0-0 2, Farmer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-68 25-33 79.
3-point goals – Chicago 1-8 (Basden 1-2, Hall 0-1, Satterfield 0-1, Powell 0-2, Pasalic 0-2); Denver 2-9 (Hodge 1-2, Edney 1-2, Sanchez 0-1, Flores 0-2, Kleiza 0-2). Rebounds – Chicago 40 (Basden 6, Powell 6); Denver 44 (Hodge 9). Assists – Chicago 18 (Powell 4, Bailey 4); Denver 9 (Hodge 4).
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
