Forwards Reggie Evans and DerMarr Johnson both have contracts that expire. Each reiterated he would like to stay with the Nuggets.
“I would like to come back here,” Evans said Tuesday. “I’m real happy that they did what they did to get me here, with the trade. I really appreciate that. So I would like to come back here.”
Denver acquired Evans, a rebounding specialist, in a midseason trade with Seattle. He played in the final 26 regular-season games for the Nuggets, starting two and averaging 5.2 points and 8.7 rebounds. He is an unrestricted free agent.
Johnson, meanwhile, found minutes harder to come by as the season wore on. He averaged 6.1 points during the regular season. He said he did not know what to expect on the open market.
“Right now I have no clue,” Johnson said. “I’m sure we have some options out there, but I want to stay.”
Free agents can’t sign until July.
“We’ve got awhile to sit back, chill and think about whatever,” Evans said. “I think everything will work out, though.”
Other Nuggets free agents include big men Nene and Francisco Elson, both of whom are restricted and have expressed some desire to stay, and unrestricted guard Howard Eisley. Guard Greg Buckner has said he will not pick up the option on his contract, which would also make him a free agent, though he has also expressed interest in returning.
“I hope Buck comes back,” center Marcus Camby said. “He’s one of the consummate pros. He just approaches the game the right way, doesn’t really complain too much. He just goes about his business and does his job well. … I hope Nene comes back. That’s also big. He’s huge right now. He’s so big. He’s been lifting all year.”
Another scare
Coby Karl, son of Nuggets coach George Karl, has returned to a Boise, Idaho, hospital for radiation treatment. The younger Karl, a senior on Boise State’s basketball team, underwent surgery for thyroid cancer in March.
George Karl teared up while discussing his son’s uncertain future.
“There’s a possibility of finding out he could have some more cancer,” he said. “If something bad is going to happen, it’s probably going to happen these next three or four days.”
The coach hopes to see his son next week. He joked they would likely go to Milwaukee and find a gym without any pro prospects working there. The NBA suspended Karl for the Nuggets’ first two games after he attended a workout with his son that also included potential draftees last year.
“Coby is in a good place,” Karl said. “He’ll be stronger because of what’s going on. He’ll be a better player for what’s going on. He’ll be a better person for what’s going on. But this is the period of crisis, the period of nervousness.”
Footnotes
Nuggets players voted to give Kenyon Martin a share of the playoff bonus the team will receive from the NBA, despite his team suspension during their first-round series. … Forward Eduardo Najera faced the Clippers with a fracture in his right foot and his right knee not completely healed from February surgery. He said both hurt more Tuesday but predicted he would not need more surgery in the offseason. “In a few weeks I should be back to normal,” he said. … Camby said he looked forward to the graduation of six Denver high school students – three from East, three from West – whom he has awarded college scholarships for their work mentoring younger children. The center said he would also arrange for limos and formal attire for the students’ proms. … Buckner, Carmelo Anthony and Earl Boykins will again run basketball camps in Denver this summer. Najera said he would run an adult fantasy basketball camp in Cancun, Mexico.
