Although Carmelo Anthony acknowledged he has not fully recovered from playing in the world championships in Japan a month ago, the fourth-year pro doesn’t plan on taking much time off from Nuggets training camp.
Anthony told reporters Monday at the Nuggets’ media day that he will go as hard as he can until coach George Karl tells him to stop.
“I’ve gotten a little rest,” Anthony said. “I’m not in 82-game shape right now. But I’m going to get there. When the ball goes up, I’m not the type to sit on the sidelines and watch everybody run up and down the court.”
Karl is concerned about Anthony “not having enough in his tank” for the regular season. To help his star forward regain his energy, Karl plans shorter practices rather than giving him days off.
“Physiologically, Carmelo is a young player who needs to be on the court on a daily basis,” Karl said.
Anthony has missed only nine regular-season games in three seasons.
Nene’s knee doing well
Nene couldn’t be more excited about the start of training camp. The power forward said his knee still “hurts a little bit when I spring, when I jump. But doctors say a little pain is normal. The knee is perfect.”
Nene sustained a torn ACL in his right knee in the season opener last year and missed the rest of the season. Karl said Nene might be six or seven months away from being fully recovered.
“His workouts have been very uplifting,” Karl said. “Is he going to be 100 percent? Probably not. But 80 percent is a pretty major step forward for this team.”
Top-heavy roster
The Nuggets’ roster, which Karl called “unbalanced,” is brimming with frontcourt players but could use another shooting guard.
Nuggets newcomer Joe Smith and fan-favorite Eduardo Najera could be dangled as trade bait, should management seek another backcourt player. “I’ve been around too long to keep worrying about that,” said Smith, a 12th-year pro.
Said Najera: “Whatever happens, happens. You just have to go day by day and be happy and thankful that you’re in the NBA.”
Where’s D.J.?
The Nuggets were expected to re-sign free-agent guard DerMarr Johnson last weekend, but on Monday he was not on the training camp roster. Johnson averaged 6.1 points and started 21 times for the Nuggets last season.
“I’d like to get D.J. in here,” Karl said. “My gut feeling, from what I was told (Monday), is it probably won’t happen early.”
Logjam at point guard
With second-year player Julius Hodge, seven-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter and rookie free agents Larry Ayuso and Corey Williams, the Nuggets have intriguing options for the third point guard spot behind Andre Miller and Earl Boykins.
Hodge’s status for training camp is undertermined because he developed a significant infection in his left foot this summer. He remains in Denver to receive treatment.
Carter averaged 3.3 points and 2.2 assists for Minnesota last season and has played in 362 NBA games. With Puerto Rico during the world championships, Ayuso was fourth overall in scoring, averaging 21.2 points. Williams, who lives in Denver, was released in the Toronto Raptors’ final cuts last season and played in the CBA.
“Anthony Carter has a little edge because he has more experience,” Karl said.
Staff writer Marc Spears contributed to this report.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
