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Fazekas wants to come home to Nuggets

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 23, 2008 at 8:24 p.m.

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Nick Fazekas, a Ralston Valley High School graduate who played with the Clippers and Mavericks last season, plans to sign with the Nuggets and go to training camp next week.

Photo by David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Nick Fazekas, a Ralston Valley High School graduate who played with the Clippers and Mavericks last season, plans to sign with the Nuggets and go to training camp next week.

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The Nuggets haven't had a player from a Denver area high school on the roster since trading Chauncey Billups in February 2000.

Nick Fazekas would like to change that.

Fazekas, a 2003 Ralston Valley High School graduate, said Tuesday he will sign a nonguaranteed contract with the Nuggets before the start of next week's training camp. The 6-foot-11 forward said he had "lots" of camp offers but believes he can make the Nuggets, who recently lost big men Marcus Camby and Eduardo Najera.

"I'm confident I can," said Fazekas, who will sign for the $711,517 minimum after averaging 4.1 points in 26 games last season as a rookie with Dallas and the Clippers. "I don't want it to sound like I'm talking with an ego, but I feel I'm good enough to play in the NBA."

If Fazekas, who worked out at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday for a second straight day after having recent workouts with Cleveland, Dallas, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, doesn't bring local flavor to the Nuggets, forward Michael Ruffin could. Ruffin, who also has been working out at the Pepsi Center, expects to attend training camp with Denver or Chicago.

"I'll know in the next few days," said Ruffin, a 1995 Cherry Creek High School graduate who played last season with Milwaukee and has a 1.8 average in eight NBA seasons. "I'll talk to my agent (Andy Miller) and talk to (Denver) coaches and try to get an idea about them keeping a 14th player."

The cost-cutting Nuggets might begin the season with the minimum of 13 players. But word now is a 14th could be kept, especially if a young prospect such as Fazekas shows promise.

While Fazekas said it would be "unique" playing for his hometown team, he'll get paid this season regardless. Dallas, which waived him in February after signing him to a two-year guaranteed deal, owes him $711,517.

HARRISON OVERSEAS? Free-agent center David Harrison, a former University of Colorado player, will work out today with Minnesota. Harrison, who said he's not a candidate to attend the Nuggets' camp, recently had workouts with Chicago and San Antonio.

If Harrison isn't offered guaranteed money, he said he will head overseas. Agent Chris Emens said he has multiple offers from Europe and Asia.

"Maybe this will end up helping me," Harrison said of his struggle to find NBA work after four erratic seasons with the Pacers. "I came into the NBA with a chip on my shoulder."

Meanwhile, Richard Roby, undrafted in June out of CU, has signed a one-year deal with Israel's Bnei Hasharon. Emens, also Roby's agent, said Roby's NBA chances were hindered last summer by a broken hand and he'll give it another shot next year.

WEEMS MENDING: Nuggets athletic trainer Jim Gillen said rookie Sonny Weems, who underwent sports hernia surgery July 31, will be limited when camp starts Tuesday but it won't be long before he's back to full strength.

Weems injured his groin 1 1/2 years ago. But the injury wasn't properly diagnosed until last summer.

"It's feeling good, but I haven't done any explosive jumping or full-speed running," Weems said.

Weems signed last week, calling it a three-year contract with the first year guaranteed for the minimum of $442,114. Three years at the minimum would make the deal worth $2 million.