ducks
09-14-2004, 11:37 AM
The turnover on the Nuggets' bench will continue if veteran guard Jon Barry signs with Atlanta, which is how a source familiar with the negotiations said Barry was leaning Monday.
Denver has lost reserve forwards Chris Andersen and Michael Doleac to free agency. Rodney White's future with the team remains in limbo as the free-agent forward sits in a Washington, D.C., jail on a felony charge of carrying a pistol without a license.
Barry could not be reached for comment. He averaged 6.2 points and started a career-high nine times in 2003-04, his first season with Denver.
He has stated a preference to sign with the Nuggets but has acknowledged the Hawks' interest. His family plans to live in Atlanta through this season.
Meanwhile, the agent for free agent Greg Buckner said while interest between the swingman and Denver remains strong, he may wait while the Nuggets use their salary-cap space to sign another player.
"I think they will try to do that," Steve Kauffman said of Denver, which has approximately $2.4 million in cap room.
"We know they want him and Greg wants them. We're patient. It's not really a problem for us. ... They've got it under control. We'll get our thing done in appropriate time."
Even if the Nuggets used up their cap space on another free agent, they still could re-sign their own players and add anyone else at the veteran's minimum.
It might be easier for Buckner to accept less money because his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, agreed to pay him a reported $8 million before waiving him.
Kauffman counted Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers among other teams asking about Buckner, but said many of the questions have been to double-check whether the five-year veteran is committed to signing with Denver.
"We have a lot of interest in Buckner," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "I'll leave it at that."
Asked whether a trade or any other major move is pending, the GM replied: "We have a month to go until the (preseason) starts. At the moment we're going to save our cap room, see if anything comes down the pike. If it doesn't, it doesn't."
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or [email protected].
www.denverpost.com/Storie...9,00.html# (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~2399809,00.html#)
Denver has lost reserve forwards Chris Andersen and Michael Doleac to free agency. Rodney White's future with the team remains in limbo as the free-agent forward sits in a Washington, D.C., jail on a felony charge of carrying a pistol without a license.
Barry could not be reached for comment. He averaged 6.2 points and started a career-high nine times in 2003-04, his first season with Denver.
He has stated a preference to sign with the Nuggets but has acknowledged the Hawks' interest. His family plans to live in Atlanta through this season.
Meanwhile, the agent for free agent Greg Buckner said while interest between the swingman and Denver remains strong, he may wait while the Nuggets use their salary-cap space to sign another player.
"I think they will try to do that," Steve Kauffman said of Denver, which has approximately $2.4 million in cap room.
"We know they want him and Greg wants them. We're patient. It's not really a problem for us. ... They've got it under control. We'll get our thing done in appropriate time."
Even if the Nuggets used up their cap space on another free agent, they still could re-sign their own players and add anyone else at the veteran's minimum.
It might be easier for Buckner to accept less money because his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, agreed to pay him a reported $8 million before waiving him.
Kauffman counted Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers among other teams asking about Buckner, but said many of the questions have been to double-check whether the five-year veteran is committed to signing with Denver.
"We have a lot of interest in Buckner," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "I'll leave it at that."
Asked whether a trade or any other major move is pending, the GM replied: "We have a month to go until the (preseason) starts. At the moment we're going to save our cap room, see if anything comes down the pike. If it doesn't, it doesn't."
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or [email protected].
www.denverpost.com/Storie...9,00.html# (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~2399809,00.html#)