The Nuggets continued to plow through their time at the Las Vegas summer league Wednesday with a fraction of the drama they experienced the past two summers.
After showering millions on Andre Miller and Kenyon Martin in those years, the Nuggets likely can afford no more than the midlevel exception of about $5 million this year. But they aren’t sure.
General manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he has heard rumors the salary cap could be higher or lower than the $49 million or so widely reported when the NBA reached its collective bargaining agreement last month with the players union. The league is expected to announce the cap figure by no later than July 22, the first day teams can sign free agents.
If the cap comes in closer to $52 million, Vandeweghe said he believed the Nuggets could pay a free agent more than the midlevel exception under some circumstances. But without a hard number, it’s hard to make plans.
“It’s not exact. It makes it tough, especially with the big decisions to make,” he said.
The most pressing big decision is whether to sign Voshon Lenard. The shooting guard, who missed all but three games in 2004-05 with a torn Achilles tendon, was scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas on Wednesday and is expected to meet with Vandeweghe and team trainers.
The Nuggets face a deadline today if they choose to exercise a $250,000 buyout of Lenard’s $3.5 million contract, though they may try to re-sign him if they buy him out.
Agent fires back at Kiki
Andy Miller, agent for Sacramento guard Cuttino Mobley, took issue with Vandeweghe after the Los Angeles Times quoted the GM saying he had not heard back from Miller about whether Mobley would sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.
“That’s entirely untrue,” Miller said. “I’ve been proactive. I’ve been more proactive trying to get Cuttino to Denver than Denver has. I’m not sure why Kiki would make such an erroneous statement.”
Miller called the Clippers “very aggressive, very diligent.” He acknowledged the Nuggets needed to include Nene in a sign-and-trade to make such a deal happen with Sacramento, and said he tried to set up discussions between Vandeweghe and Kings GM Geoff Petrie.
“I don’t think they wanted it to work,” Miller said of the Nuggets. “There was interest, but nothing significant.”
Vandeweghe said Miller left him a voice mail. Vandeweghe found the criticism surprising. “I don’t say anything about free agents, so I don’t know what he could be upset about.”
Footnotes
Bill Duffy, agent for Clippers guard Marko Jaric, said he has had no contact with Vande- weghe since the weekend. … Roger Montgomery, agent for another restricted guard, the Kings’ Maurice Evans, said he was surprised not to hear from Vandeweghe after reading reports that the Nuggets have eyed Seattle’s Flip Murray. “I think (Evans) would be able to get more done if he was there than Flip Murray,” Montgomery said. “He’s bigger, he’s going to guard more, he’s got more of the defensive mentality, and if you watch, he shot the ball well when he shot. Plus, he can post up a little, too.” Evans, who averaged 6.4 points last season, is a good defensive player, though similar to Greg Buckner, whom the Nuggets have indicated they hope to re-sign. … Vandeweghe said the Nuggets are considering holding part of their October training camp at a higher altitude. He listed Vail and Aspen as likely candidates.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears contributed to this report.
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
