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The Nuggets, a bankroll ... and two guardsIt could be Miller time in Coors country. With Gilbert Arenas' salary demands possibly being too high, Andre Miller of the Los Angeles Clippers has emerged as a more viable point guard option for the Denver Nuggets entering the free-agent signing period. "It's definitely a consideration," Miller said Sunday from his Sacramento, Calif., home about signing this summer with the Nuggets. Throughout the season, Arenas, named the NBA's Most Improved Player for Golden State, was thought to be at the top of Denver's list. But Miller might prove to be a better bargain. Dan Fegan, Arenas' agent, is likely to push for a contract with a first- year salary of about $9 million when teams begin negotiating Tuesday with free agents. Teams can't sign players until July 16. Fegan's thinking apparently is that Arenas, a restricted free agent who can't sign with Golden State for more than the midlevel exception of $4.6 million because of the team's salary-cap situation, could return for one season at that amount. He then could sign a seven-year maximum deal with the Warriors, which would start at about $10 million. If that were to occur, Arenas would make more in the long run with the Warriors than if he signed with the Nuggets for a first-year salary of $7 million, about all Denver might want to pay. Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Free-agent wishlist filled with youthThe Jazz's hopes of reaching the top of the NBA standings may depend upon how well they mine the bottom. Clippers, Warriors and Hawks -- those are the teams the Jazz wouldn't mind raiding for free agents next month, a seemingly contradictory strategy given that none have reached the playoffs in this century. But that's where the young talent lies in the 2003 free-agent class. Gilbert Arenas of Golden State, who averaged 22.5 points and 5.8 assists in four games against the Jazz last season, would add a scoring boost in John Stockton's vacated point-guard spot. Jason Terry of Atlanta, who averaged 26 points and 8.5 assists in two matchups with Utah, isn't a bad option, either. Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Agent pumps up Warriors' PietrusIn describing Mickael Pietrus, agent Herb Rudoy recalled the words of an NBA scout. "He told me, 'Whomever Mickael is playing, I'm sure that guy doesn't sleep the night before,' " Rudoy said. Rudoy believes Pietrus can make NBA players toss and turn with the Warriors, who took the 6-foot-6 French swingman with the 11th pick in Thursday's draft. The agent said he could envision the defensive-minded Pietrus, 21, having an impact on the Warriors in the same way another one of his clients and a rookie last season, Manu Ginobili, sparked the champion Spurs. "His upside is extraordinary," Rudoy said. "He has a chance to have a wonderful rookie year. The fans will like him because he plays hard all the time. He comes with no baggage. He just wants to play." Rudoy said he was not surprised that the Warriors added a fourth shooting guard to their roster because general manager Garry St. Jean showed a lot of interest when he scouted and met with Pietrus over a three-day span in France earlier this month. Besides, Rudoy said, "If Mickael comes there and earns it, Eric (Musselman) will find time for him. Eric will be hard-pressed to not play Mickael. He is too athletic and determined defensively for him not to earn time." Golden State Warriors, NBA Draft Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Warriors Jun 2003 Archive
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