Bryon Russell isn’t ready to accept career condolences just yet.
The veteran swingman, who is scheduled to have surgery on his sprained left knee next week and has a non-guaranteed $1.13 million contract with the Nuggets, sounded confident he could return after Denver beat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-115 on Wednesday in a preseason game at the Pepsi Center.
“I’m going to come back and help them win,” said Russell, who averaged 4.4 points last season. “I know I can still play.”
The Nuggets could still waive Russell, though they likely would have to pay him until he recovered, which could take a month or longer. General manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he would discuss Russell’s future with him today or tomorrow.
Russell acknowledged he can’t control whether he is waived, but that he would probably stay in Denver to rehabilitate either way. Another option if his comeback fails could be a spot on the Nuggets’ coaching staff.
“We’ll worry about his health right now and see where everything falls into place,” coach George Karl said. “It would probably be more as a workout guy, to help guys develop.”
The 34-year-old Russell, who was not a lock to make the team before his injury, said the problem crept up on him.
“It went from three weeks to a meniscus tear. I was shocked,” he said. “I didn’t know that all that banging and bumping could really do that. But I’m a happy person. I’m not going to get down. I’m not going to get out of shape. I’m going to come back ready to go.”
Bogut OK with bench
With former all-star Jamaal Magloire coming to Milwaukee from New Orleans for Desmond Mason and a first-round pick Wednesday, it looks like No. 1 draft pick Andrew Bogut could come off the bench to start the season. Magloire and Joe Smith would start.
Bogut said he has being inconsistent this preseason.
“I’ve come off the bench before on national teams. In a way, it could be good for me coming off the bench,” he said.
Asked about the trade, Karl said he liked the idea of Magloire and Bogut together, but added, “I think everybody knows we have made calls to Milwaukee for Desmond Mason numerous times.”
Rumors have had the Nuggets possibly sending Nene to the Bucks for Mason.
Footnotes
The Nuggets improved to 6-1 in the preseason. Carmelo Anthony led the way with 26 points. Karl said he was most pleased by Nene, who had 25 points and eight rebounds. Bogut finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. … Denver was without Kenyon Martin, who was resting his left knee. Marcus Camby returned after sitting four games with a sore left foot. He said he felt “rusty” on the way to eight points and nine rebounds. … Karl said that with the time Martin, Camby and Nene have lost to injury, he’s not sure any of them can handle a full load over a four-game, five-night stretch yet.
MILWAUKEE (115)
J. Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Simmons 6-9 1-2 15, Bogut 7-10 3-5 17, Ford 8-19 6-7 22, Redd 8-14 5-5 25, Williams 5-13 3-6 14, E. Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Kukoc 1-6 2-2 4, Bell 6-13 3-5 17, To. Smith 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 41-87 24-34 115.
DENVER (118)
Anthony 6-13 14-18 26, Nene 9-13 7-9 25, Camby 4-9 0-3 8, Lenard 5-10 1-1 12, Miller 6-11 4-4 16, Buckner 0-1 0-0 0, Boykins 3-6 8-8 16, Najera 3-4 0-0 6, Watson 1-4 0-0 3, Elson 3-4 0-0 6, Kleiza 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-75 34-43 118.
Milwaukee 28 37 17 33 – 115
Denver 32 34 26 26 – 118
3-point goals – Milwaukee 9-24 (Redd 4-5, Simmons 2-3, Bell 2-6, Williams 1-4, Ford 0-2, Kukoc 0-4), Denver 4-9 (Boykins 2-3, Watson 1-2, Lenard 1-3, Anthony 0-1). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Milwaukee 42 (Bogut 7), Denver 58 (Camby 9). Assists – Milwaukee 23 (Ford 10), Denver 30 (Miller 7). Total fouls – Milwaukee 33, Denver 34. Technical fouls – Milwaukee defensive three second. A – 9,837 (19,099).
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
