Nuggets' Cassell quest may come up short

The guard is also considering returning to the Clippers

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 2, 2006 at midnight

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The Nuggets have made a run at Sam Cassell. It's possible it will be short-lived.

The Los Angeles Clippers free-agent guard said in a brief phone conversation late Saturday afternoon that he spoke on the phone earlier in the day with Nuggets coach George Karl, and that he was strongly considering the Nuggets.

"Me and George talked," Cassell said. "It's (Cassell's interest) pretty serious."

Karl, who coached Cassell with Milwaukee from 1998-2003, agreed matters were serious.

"He's a wonderful human being," Karl, whose team is also taking a long look at Sacramento shooting guard Bonzi Wells, said Saturday night. "If we weren't interested in him, I wouldn't have made the call. But we have restrictions."

The foremost restriction is the Nuggets only have the midlevel exception of $5 million to offer Cassell, who made $6.1 million last season. And there are reports from the Los Angeles Times and Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Cassell has agreed to return to the Clippers for $13 million over two years.

Cassell could not be reached to comment on the report, although he told ESPNNews "it's looking pretty good'' for the Clippers. One of his agents denied the Atlanta report late Saturday night.

"I don't think so," Charles Tucker said of an agreement being reached with the Clippers.

Tucker did say that agent David Falk is also working with Cassell on a deal. He said both the Clippers and the Atlanta Hawks have given Cassell two-year, $13 million offers.

As for the Nuggets, Tucker said does not believe they can land Cassell unless it's in a sign-and-trade.

"I would think it probably would have to be that," Tucker said.

Using the midlevel exception, the most the Nuggets could offer Cassell over two years is about $10.5 million.

Cassell wants to play two more years, and get into coaching. His great respect for Karl is one reason he has talked about possibly joining the Nuggets.

Cassell spent Saturday in his hometown of Baltimore. He joined Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony, who also is from Baltimore, at a three-on-three event Anthony hosted.

Having just the midlevel also could hamper the Nuggets in their pursuit of Wells, who made $8 million last season and doesn't appear ready to take much of a pay cut. Wells' agent, William Phillips, said has spoken to the Nuggets about his client.

"Their interest is very strong," Phillips said. "But there are teams under the cap that are interested (and could offer more)."

Phillips said the Kings have made Wells an offer for more than the midlevel exception, but he declined to give precise details. Phillips believes the Nuggets would need to put together a sign-and-trade to land Wells.

Phillips said he will set up visits for Wells to five or six teams. He declined to say whether Wells, who played in Portland when Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentien and assistant coach Tim Grgurich were there, would visit Denver.

With Saturday being the first day teams could contact free agents, the Nuggets were busy on the phones. Agent Mark Bartelstein said they called to ask about several of his players.

"They called about Darius Songaila, Eddie House, Tony Delk, Jake Voskuhl, Aaron Williams and Devean George," Bartelstein said.

With shooting being Denver's top priority, House, who did not pick up his player option with Phoenix, and George, almost certain to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after they agreed to a deal with Vladimir Radmanovic, look to the two of the most interest on that list. The Nuggets did try to acquire Delk when his contract was bought out by Atlanta late last season, but he ended up in Detroit.

"I think everybody knows we need shooting," Warkentien said. "We were 30th in the league in (three-point shooting)."

Warkentien would not talk about free agentss. The Nuggets are also believed to be interested in Cleveland shooting guard Ronald Murray.

The Nuggets have six free agents. Warkentien said he spoke Saturday to the agents of all of them, including Dan Fegan, who represents restricted free-agent big man Nene.

"I can confirm we've begun negotiations with Nene," said Warkentien, declining further comment on the big man who could command $10 million a year.

Karl reiterated his interest in wanting to hold on to Nene.

"I'm very confident about Nene," Karl said. "Everybody knows that I'd like to keep Nene."

The Nuggets would have seven days to match any offer for the big men. Among teams with cap room, Atlanta is said to be in the mix while Chicago is looking first at Ben Wallace and Joel Przybilla. Toronto looks as if it may not go after Nene after having drafted Andrea Bargnani and trading for Rasho Nesterovic.

NBA observers expect Nene's negotiations to not go quickly. Due to missing the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in the opener, he would have to be looked at carefully by another team before an offer is made.

Also, the risk is increased due to Nene, who got married Saturday in Brazil, being a restricted free agent.

The Nuggets have two other free-agent big men in Reggie Evans and Francisco Elson, who is restricted. Karl said the Nuggets will move slowly on those two.

"Nene is ahead of him," Karl said when asked about Evans. He put Elson in a similar category, but then added that both "could be in our plans."

Elson has a better chance of staying than Evans. Because he is restricted, the Nuggets can match any offer and they can exceed the salary cap to sign him. The Nuggets would have to use part or all of their midlevel exception to retain Evans.

Teams Evans is believed to be looking at include New York, Memphis and Minnesota.

Elson's agent, Calvin Andrews said three or four teams have called about Elson. He said the Nuggets have no problem with Elson looking at other teams.

"They want him back," Andrews said. "But we're going to field offers and see (what happens)."

Karl also spoke of wanting to hold onto free-agent guard Greg Buckner.

"Of course, I'd like to keep Buck," Karl said. "He's an important part of our first seven players."

Karl was less strong on free-agent guard DerMarr Johnson, saying he would be addressed later in the process. If the Nuggets trade disgruntled forward Kenyon Martin, it would seem unlikely that Johnson, his good friend, would return.

ETC. — Andrews, who represents Anthony, said Anthony will have the third edition of his Brand Jordan shoe come out Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving. It will the M3 (for Melo's third shoe), and will sell for about $120. "It's beautiful," Andrews said. "It's a clean cut. The one I saw was gray with Nuggets blue." ... The Nuggets begin practice Sunday at the Pepsi Center in preparation for the (Las) Vegas Summer League ... Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera, a native of Mexico, will hold a charity game Aug. 5 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Nuggets players scheduled to attend are Buckner, Johnson, Julius Hodge and Ricky Sanchez.

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5125

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