Nuggets close to deal with Weems

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 12, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.
Updated September 12, 2008 at 2:54 p.m.

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Expect a Sonny signing soon.

Rookie swingman Sonny Weems said Friday he is on the verge of signing his first Nuggets contract.

“It should be done this weekend. I’m flying to Texas today to meet with my agent,’’ said Weems, who went to San Antonio to huddle with agent Roger Montgomery.

Both Montgomery and Weems anticipate the second-round pick’s deal for next season will be for the rookie minimum of $442,114. Weems said his agent has been trying to get three years of guaranteed money, but Montomery wouldn’t discuss contract details other than the likely starting salary.

“If I had to take a stab at it, I would probably say that, with the Nuggets cost cutting, I doubt it will be beyond minimum numbers (for next season),’’ said Montgomery, who expects the contract to be finalized “in the next few days.’’

Montgomery said Weems received interest from several European teams, which he wouldn’t name, but that his client never seriously considered going overseas. Montgomery met earlier this week in San Antonio with Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien to hammer out details on Weems’ contract.

Another immediate concern for Weems is whether he’ll be ready when training camp starts Sept. 30. Weems, who underwent sports hernia surgery July 31, said he has yet to return to the basketball court.

“I don’t know,’’ Weems said about whether he’ll be able to practice when camp opens. “I’m still doing rehab.’’

Montgomery, though, said Nuggets athletic trainer Jim Gillen expects Weems to be ready for the first day of camp. Weems has working his way back into shape in Denver under the watchful eye of the Nuggets.

Weems said he first began to feel pain in the groin area during the 2006-07 season while a junior at Arkansas. Montgomery said the injury initially wasn’t properly diagnosed.

“It was one day in practice 1 1/2 years ago that I tore it,’’ Weems said. “I had trouble with it ever since.’’

The pain continued during July’s NBA Summer League. Weems was then diagnosed with a sports hernia.

Despite the injury, Weems still won the college slam-dunk contest last April during Final Four weekend. And Weems, acquired in a draft-night trade after being taken No. 39 in the second round by Chicago, was able to average 9.2 points for the Nuggets in the summer league.

“He was playing in pain,’’ Montgomery said. “That shows how tough he is. He’s going to be feeling a whole lot better.’’

• September 12, 2008

  7:13 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Broncody writes:

  I hope he gets a chance to play. I like what he was able to do physically in school and think he could be a solid contributor for 7-12 minutes a game.

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