The optimism surrounding the Denver Nuggets can be summed up with one adjective: well-guarded.

As expected, Voshon Lenard became the fourth free-agent guard to join the Nuggets this summer when he signed a multiyear contract Friday.

Point guards Andre Miller and Earl Boykins and shooting guard Jon Barry also have signed with Denver, which often started two rookies, Junior Harrington and Vincent Yarbrough, in the backcourt last season.

"Everyone told me I had to improve my backcourt," general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "Hopefully, we've done that."

Lenard, 30, averaged 11.8 points for the Nuggets from 2000-02 before signing a one-year, $824,935 deal with the Toronto Raptors in September 2002. In Toronto, he averaged a career-best 14.3 points, while Denver finished last in the NBA in scoring (84.2 points a game) and three-point percentage (.278).

In eight NBA seasons with the Nuggets, Raptors and Miami Heat, Lenard has averaged 11.9 points on .414 shooting, including .389 from three-point range.

He agreed to return to the Nuggets earlier this week, but the deal did not become official until he passed a physical Friday. The signing was delayed so Lenard could attend the birth of his third child.