The Denver Nuggets had a deal to trade Jameer Nelson to a projected lottery team for a protected second round, but ultimately decided to release him. By waiving Nelson, they allowed him to choose his destination.

"You can't make decisions with your heart only," Connelly says, without confirming any Nelson deal. "But these are good guys. To view them as just assets -- that's not something we ascribe to. Guys we've had here will speak highly of how we've treated them."

Michael Malone wanted to keep Nelson, who gave him reliable minutes at point guard.

"It was tough to see Jameer go," Malone says. "The players trusted him. I find value in veteran mentors. In our meetings, of course I brought up all the reasons it made sense to keep him. But you have to think big picture. It wasn't like I was kicking and screaming. By the end, we were all on board."

Nelson signed with the New Orleans Pelicans when he cleared waivers.

The New York Knicks have waived Mindaugas Kuzminskas.

Kuzminskas, 6-9, 215-pounds, averaged 6.3 points over 14.9 minutes in 68 games during his rookie season for the Knicks in 2016-17 after signing as an undrafted free agent on Jul. 9, 2016. The Lithuanian native has appeared in one game this season.

“The respect this franchise has for Mindaugas cannot be overstated,” Knicks General Manager Scott Perry said. “His professionalism and work ethic were greatly appreciated by his teammates, coaches and the entire staff. This decision was extremely tough for us. We wish him nothing but the best moving on with his playing career.”

Mindaugas Kuzminskas is likely to be waived by the New York Knicks to create a roster spot for Joakim Noah who is coming off his drug suspension. Ramon Sessions is the other potential candidate to be waived.

The Knicks have been attempting to trade Kuzminskas.

Kuzminskas is a Phil Jackson signee who didn’t dress for a single game until Wednesday.

Michael Beasley is also an outside candidate to be waived.

The Washington Wizards have waived Carrick Felix.

Felix was signed as a free agent prior to the team’s training camp.