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Cleaves' signing with Nuggets imminent

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 26, 2008 at 12:33 p.m.

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With Chucky Atkins injured, point guard Mateen Cleaves will get another chance to return to the NBA.

Danny Servick, the agent for Cleaves, confirmed Friday his client will sign with the Nuggets before training camp, which begins Tuesday. Cleaves, a six-year veteran, last played in the NBA in 2005-06.

Cleaves, scheduled to arrive in Denver on Friday afternoon, will sign a one-year nonguaranteed minimum contract. While Servick said Cleaves had been invited to Denver’s camp before it was known that Atkins would undergo right knee surgery Wednesday, his chances of at least starting the season with the Nuggets are now obviously better.

Atkins is expected to miss six weeks. That would keep the point guard out of all of training camp and the early part of the regular season, which begins Oct. 29.

“The Nuggets have always kept in touch with me regarding Cleaves,’’ said Servick, noting Cleaves worked out with them in April 2007, when the Nuggets chose to sign point guard Anthony Carter instead, and also in the summer of 2007.

Cleaves, 31, who won a national championship with Michigan State in 2000, has NBA averages of 3.6 points and 1.9 assists in 167 games. The 6-foot-2 Cleaves split 2006-07 with a team in Russia and the NBADL’s Bakersfield Jam and last season was with a team in Greece and the Jam.

“A lot of people have written off Mateen, thinking that he hasn’t continued to improve,’’ Servick said. “But his body is in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in.’’

Servick said Cleaves also has improved his shot, which had been a problem. He has an NBA career three-point percentage of 26.7 percent.

Also, forward Michael Ruffin,a 1995 Cherry Creek High School graduate, said Friday he will decide by this weekend whether he will attend camp with the Nuggets or Chicago.

Comments

  • September 26, 2008

    2:27 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Willy writes:

    Would be great to see him make it here. His performance in the 2000 national champ game was one of the gutsiest ever. He willed the team to win.

  • September 26, 2008

    9:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spider writes:

    Just what they need, another journeyman.