With the Nuggets pushing for Sacramento free agent Cuttino Mobley, the Kings have made it clear what they want in return - Nene.

Chris Tommason of the Rocky Mountain News reports that Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe would not comment directly on a possible sign-and-trade deal with the Kings for Mobley, but he did say Wednesday he is not shopping the power forward.

"I am not looking to trade Nene," Vandeweghe said. "I like him. I view him as one of our core guys."

The Nuggets have had discussions about possibly acquiring Mobley, a free agent after opting out of a contract last week that would have paid him $6.4 million next season.

Nuggets coach George Karl said it is no surprise the Kings want Nene, who will make $3.04 million next season and would have to be combined with another player in a possible sign-and-trade with Sacramento because of Denver's lack of salary-cap room.

"Mobley, Nene. That's an interesting call," Karl said. "But my thing is we did a pretty good job (last season) of figuring out the two position, so let's not go crazy (about looking to deal)."

"We have to be patient," Mobley's agent, Andy Miller, said of any possible deal.

Michael Coyne, Nene's agent, is not surprised Vandeweghe is reluctant to deal his client.

"That's consistent to what he's expressed to me and Nene," Coyne said.

Vandeweghe, who already has post players Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin with big contracts, sees no problem with Nene also perhaps getting a big deal from the Nuggets.

"You look at the Detroit model," Vandeweghe said. "They've got Rasheed (Wallace) and Ben (Wallace) and (Antonio) McDyess (rotating in the post). . . . I view (Nene) as a starter."