No Elson might mean Evans return to Nuggets


July 22, 2006
So long, Cisco. Welcome back, Reggie?
By declining to match San Antonio's two-year, $6 million offer sheet for free agent center Francisco Elson, the Nuggets could be poised to re-sign free-agent forward Reggie Evans.

Evans' agent, Dan Fegan, said he and the Nuggets are "working through a number of things," and he was optimistic Evans would return to Denver.

"We're still confident that he'll end up with the Nuggets," Fegan said Friday. "I think it'll work out."

Acquired in a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics on Feb. 23, Evans averaged 5.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in 26 games with the Nuggets.

Though well over the salary cap for next season, the Nuggets have their $5.2 midlevel exception available to offer Evans and other free agents.

The Nuggets are not expected to spend the entire sum, though, because they are about $4 million from reaching the NBA's $65.42 million luxury-tax level.

Nuggets player personnel director Mark Warkentien declined comment on negotiations with Evans. Coach George Karl said he expects Evans' status to be determined by other moves around the NBA.

"There's two or three free agent situations or trade situations that are going to maybe open up some windows for us to participate," Karl said.