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Wells, Nuggets eye sign-and-trade deal

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 3, 2006 at midnight

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Bonzi Wells turned down a five- year, $36 million offer. Now he's eyeing the Nuggets, who are concerned about the luxury tax.

It doesn't appear to be a merger with a good chance of happening. But both sides are looking into it.

William Phillips, Wells' agent, said Wednesday he has had discussions with the Nuggets this week about the free agent shooting guard. Wells recently rejected a deal to return to Sacramento at a starting salary of about $6 million.

"It's just as strong as from the beginning (of free agency)," Phillips said of the Nuggets' interest in Wells. "We're focusing on a sign- and-trade."

Phillips wouldn't name players who have been discussed. Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentien declined comment.

The Nuggets wouldn't mind trying to get Wells for a one-year, low- dollar deal, giving him a chance to test the market again next year.

But Phillips said his concern now is putting together a sign-and- trade.

Wells made $8 million last season. After he turned down their offer, the Kings last week signed guard John Salmons.

"We just didn't get to the number (Wells wanted)," said Phillips, not offering details. "I believe we can still get to that number."

The Nuggets have the $5.2 million midlevel exception, which is less than what Wells rejected. The Nuggets are being cautious because they are $3 million from the luxury tax.

Nuggets free agent forward Reggie Evans is said to be seeking an amount around the midlevel exception, further complicating matters. The Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal reported Evans met with Cleveland on Tuesday.

JACOBSEN UNLIKELY: The Nuggets had wanted to bring free agent shooting guard Casey Jacobsen to training camp. That now appears unlikely.

Jacobsen said last month he rejected an offer by the Nuggets, which included $75,000 of guaranteed money, to attend camp. Jacob- sen, in line to make the minimum of $771,331, didn't want to lock himself out of a possible better deal.

"I wanted to get more (from the Nuggets)," said Jacobsen, who added he is talking with four or five undisclosed teams. "If they didn't offer more, they didn't want me as much as I thought. . . . I live with my decision."

Warkentien declined comment on the offer, which Jacobsen said came "about three days" before he finished play July 12 with the Nuggets in the Vegas Summer League. Jacobsen averaged 16.4 points.

Shortly thereafter, the Nuggets added shooting guards J.R. Smith and Yakhouba Diawara. With that in mind, Jacobsen doesn't believe he would accept a Nuggets camp invitation if another is extended.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE: The Nuggets preseason schedule will have an international look.

The schedule is expected to be released today. The Nuggets begin Oct. 10 at the Pepsi Center against Efes Pilsen, a Turkish team, and face Golden State on Oct. 14 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Another highlight is an Oct. 18 game against Indiana in Cincinnati. Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin and guard Ruben Patterson played with the University of Cincinnati.

The Nuggets have one other home game, Oct. 24 against Utah. They have road games against Milwaukee on Oct. 21, Detroit on Oct. 22, the Los Angeles Lakers in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 26, and the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 27.

ETC.: Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke was said to have returned from a European vacation. Discussions are expected in the next week or two about the removal of Warkentien's interim title as basketball boss . . . The Nuggets are exploring having a 2007 preseason game in Albuquerque.

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