Salt Lake City – It is far from a surprise that the Nuggets picked up the option for the 2006-07 season on Carmelo Anthony’s contract Friday.
But considering he didn’t have much growing up in Baltimore, Anthony was very appreciative of the Nuggets’ decision.
The third pick in the 2003 draft, who averaged 20.9 points and 5.9 rebounds during his first two seasons, will receive $4.67 million in the 2006-07 season. Anthony finished second in the 2004 rookie of the year balloting to Cleveland’s LeBron James and was Most Valuable Player of the 2005 Rookie Challenge.
“You can’t go into this thing knowing something is going to happen,” Anthony said. “Anything can happen. Something could have happened to me last year or this year. I’m just happy.”
Anthony scored a game-high 21 points during the Nuggets’ 89-83 preseason finale victory against the Utah Jazz on Friday night at the Delta Center. Afterward, several teammates joked with Anthony about getting some money from him.
The former Syracuse star is eligible for a contract extension next summer and hopes to be a Nugget for the long term.
“I’m trying to get something done ASAP,” Anthony said.
Said Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe: “He’s a very, very important part of whatever we do. We want Melo with us for a long time.”
Nuggets finish strong
The Nuggets finished the preseason with an NBA-best 7-1 record, with seven straight wins. Denver reached the same franchise-best preseason mark last season.
“We had a great preseason,” Nuggets assistant Scott Brooks said. “The guys responded with what coach (George Karl) wanted early on in pace of the game, togetherness and defensive intensity. We’ve improved in those areas with a couple of setbacks, but we’ve improved each game.”
Brooks will be coaching the Nuggets’ first two regular-season games while Karl serves a two-game suspension for violating an NBA rule prohibiting contact with players who are not yet eligible for the draft. Karl watched the Jazz game from the stands.
Footnotes
Nuggets center Nene took a knee to his right thigh with about 7:40 left in the fourth quarter, but athletic trainer Jim Gillen said it wasn’t anything to be concerned about. He missed three preseason games with a right hamstring injury. …
Nuggets center Marcus Camby (left foot arch sprain) and forward Kenyon Martin (left knee tendinitis) missed Friday’s exhibition for precautionary reasons. They would have played had it been a regular-season game. …
Because of Bryon Russell’s knee surgery Thursday, the Nuggets may not send both rookies, Julius Hodge and Linas Kleiza, to NBDL Austin. Russell’s absence gives Denver 14 players at practice.
Concerns about Hodge’s recovery from offseason knee surgery could also delay or prevent him from going to Austin. The Austin Toros begin training camp Nov. 6, but neither player is expected to be there that early.
“I don’t know how many practices we have in November. If you have a situation where you’re going to practice, it may be valuable to keep one or both guys around,” Karl said. …
The Nuggets are not expected to add or waive another player before Tuesday’s season opener at San Antonio. …
Karl joked with Kleiza before the game about an undisclosed team making a trade request for him. “Rook must be having a good year. Someone called wanting to trade for him. I’ve got to make his life miserable before I trade him,” Karl joked.
Kleiza responded: “(Phoenix) wanted me for Amare Stoudemire.” …
There will be a Jordan Jumpman shoe release party for Anthony in Denver on Nov. 18.
DENVER (89)
Anthony 7-13 7-9 21, Nene 3-4 2-6 8, Elson 4-6 0-0 8, Miller 5-8 5-7 15, Lenard 7-16 2-2 16, Johnson 0-4 0-0 0, Najera 2-4 2-3 6, Boykins 1-5 0-0 2, Kleiza 0-3 4-4 4, Buckner 2-4 0-0 5, Watson 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 33-70 22-31 89.
UTAH (83)
Kirilenko 3-10 2-4 8, Harpring 2-4 1-2 5, Okur 7-11 5-5 19, Palacio 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 1-5 4-5 6, Ostertag 0-1 3-6 3, Owens 2-5 3-3 8, Williams 4-9 2-2 12, Humphries 4-8 0-0 8, Giricek 1-4 1-2 3, Collins 2-4 3-5 7, Whaley 0-0 0-0 0, McLeod 1-4 0-0 2, Miles 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 28-69 24-34 83.
Denver 26 23 16 24 – 89
Utah 21 20 14 28 – 83
3-point goals – Denver 1-10 (Buckner 1-3, Watson 0-1, Johnson 0-2, Lenard 0-4), Utah 3-12 (Williams 2-3, Owens 1-2, Kirilenko 0-2, Brown 0-2, Giricek 0-1, McLeod 0-2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Denver 36 (Lenard 7), Utah 43 (Humphries 9). Assists – Denver 12 (Miller 5), Utah 17 (Williams 7). Total fouls – Denver 28, Utah 24. Technical fouls – Denver 1 defensive 3-second. A – 15,389.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
