SALT LAKE CITY — Their big-name players all have one year to go, but the Nuggets will be busy once again this summer trying to solidify a roster dotted with expiring one-year contracts.
On the docket are center Johan Petro, guard Anthony Carter and forwards Joey Graham and Malik Allen. Each signed for one season and could sign again if the price is right. If the Nuggets want any or all of them back, the team likely will begin with one-year offers for each. All four played for minimum money this season.
At least one — Petro — will look to sign a multiyear contract and, given his play at the end of the season, he stands a reasonable chance of getting it.
“Coming into this year, I didn’t know how everything would turn out,” Petro said. “You never did enough, but hopefully I did a little bit to stay in the league and try to stay here, if possible.”
Asked to expand on his desire to come back to the Nuggets, Petro said: “Oh, yeah. Playoffs every year, what more could you ask for? I already know everybody. I’m comfortable here. It would be great to stay here, but you never know. It’s the league.”
Petro was a bright spot in a season when he was asked to play a fill-in role with Kenyon Martin missing major time toward the end of the season because of a bad left knee. He played admirably in place of Nene in Game 5 but wasn’t much of a factor Friday in Game 6, scoring just five points.
For the season, Petro averaged 3.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 12.1 minutes. He shot 53.5 percent from the field.
“One-year (contracts), that’s not what you want in life, to be honest,” Petro said. “You want the security of that’s where you’re going to be and they want you for that many years. So that’s definitely what I’m hoping to have this coming summer.”
There were many days this season when the lack of playing time depressed Petro.
“You have no idea,” Petro said. “I was in a sad place before. I used to play a lot before Oklahoma City happened. I used to play. Last year was tough on me. This year was too much. At one point this year, I didn’t know what to do. I was there every day, working out. But I felt that nothing was really clicking. Even if you come early and stay late, there was no result. So I got a little frustrated. But I kept working, and it paid off.”
Carter saw his playing time drop considerably this season with the addition of rookie guard Ty Lawson. He played just one game in the playoff series against Utah. He has spent the last three full seasons with the Nuggets and is a favorite of coach George Karl, but Carter’s future is unclear.
Speaking of Karl, he will continue to recover from cancer treatments and is expected to return to the team next season. He signed a one-year contract extension during the NBA’s all-star break, so the team will either extend that next season or wait.
Also, a front-office decision on Mark Warkentien, Nuggets vice president of basketball operations, has to be made. He doesn’t have a deal beyond this season. Assistant coach Tim Grgurich is always a year-by-year person to watch. He was convinced to come back for this season by Nuggets officials.
It all means no rest for the weary during what should be a hectic summer.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
