If the Nuggets don't sign Los Angeles Clippers guard-forward Lamar Odom to a contract, at the very least they should consider hiring him as a spokesman.  

The Nuggets haven't been to the NBA playoffs since 1995 and won just 17 games last season. But with the team's current front office and coaching regime, a reputation for a strong work ethic, the recent addition of high draft pick Carmelo Anthony, renovated facilities and salary-cap room in mind, Odom said Denver is a great destination for free agents, himself included.

"The Denver Nuggets are an organization on the rise because there are a lot of moves they can make," Odom said Saturday in a telephone interview. "A lot of teams can't make these moves, but they want to make their teams better. I know (the Nuggets) are going to make their team better.

"It's not only because of the money that they have. It's about where the organization is going. When we went to play the Nuggets (last season), I saw the coaches working out players hard. And this was before the game. So I know what direction they want to go. They want to make their team better. They want to win. I think that's the big difference. If you're a free agent, you can see that and decipher that. And as a free agent, you think you can help their organization because they want to help themselves."

NBA teams can begin negotiating with free agents Tuesday and begin signing them July 16. Odom and fellow Clippers Elton Brand, Michael Olowokandi, Andre Miller and Corey Maggette are free agents and have said they would consider signing with Denver.