If the Nuggets aren’t careful, they may find themselves without a key piece of their puzzle.
Three playoff teams from this past season have shown interest in free-agent guard Greg Buckner. An offer could come by week’s end.
According to Eastern Conference sources, two of the teams are the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards.
The Nuggets have talked about bringing Buckner back.
“I’ve said many times I’d like to bring Buck back. I think it would be very, very good,” Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said Monday.
Buckner is hoping to get a chunk of Denver’s mid-level exception of about $5 million. Other candidates for a portion of that money include two restricted free agents – Ronald “Flip” Murray of Seattle and Marko Jaric of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Bill Duffy, Jaric’s agent, said Monday evening the Nuggets have not yet set up a visit with his client.
As for other teams, Duffy said, “Some visits are being set up as we speak, and there continues to be a high level of interest.”
Melo talks
Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony gives his opinion on several subjects in the upcoming issue of Slam magazine, including:
Bad publicity: “Regardless of whether or not somebody writes a great story or a terrible story about me, they’re always going to write about what I did last summer. Does it bother me? No, not now. At first it did.”
Asserting himself: “This is my team. Everybody tells me that, that it’s my time to take over. My teammates tell me that. George (Karl) tells me that. I got that approach.”
Making peace with Karl: “When he first came, I never said nothing to him, he never said nothing to me. He was coaching and I was playing. … We eventually talked. I was telling him, ‘I’m not here to be disrespectful. I’m not here to make your life miserable. You’re going to be here for however many years you signed for, and I don’t think I’m going nowhere, so let’s get on the same page.”‘
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
