Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: The Denver Nuggets coaching search continued Friday as Dallas Mavericks assistant Donn Nelson interviewed.
Nelson, son of Mavericks coach Don Nelson, interviewed while having lunch with Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe and assistant GMs David Fredman and Jeff Weltman. Nelson was the first candidate interviewed since Wednesday's NBA draft. The 39-year-old has 18 years of NBA experience and coached the Mavericks to a 15-8 record during his father's absences over the past two seasons.

"It went well, and I appreciate the opportunity," said Nelson, who has been an assistant with Dallas since Jan. 2, 1998. "It was nice to sit down and exchange some basketball ideas with them. It's nice to be considered as a candidate. I think we're just progressing."

Nuggets interim coach Mike Evans, Milwaukee assistant Terry Stotts, Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins and former Nuggets great Alex English all have talked to Denver about the position. Other candidates expected to interview include Dallas assistant Del Harris, New Jersey assistant Eddie Jordan, Utah assistant Phil Johnson and possibly Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. Nuggets assistant Clyde Drexler is in the mix, too, but may not need an official interview because of his longtime relationship with Vandeweghe.

Vandeweghe has said he hopes to have a hire by July 14, which is the beginning of summer-league training camp.

Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News reports: FC Barcelona, Efthimios Rentzias' team in Spain, decided against picking up an option on his contract yesterday, clearing the way for him to open negotiations with the Sixers.

"They had to notify me in writing by 6 p.m. [yesterday] if they were exercising their option," said Keith Glass, Rentzias' agent. "That didn't happen."

Instead, Barcelona was required to pay Rentzias a buyout fee that will net him nearly $200,000. Had he remained in Spain, his contract for next season would have been worth nearly $1 million.

"I think the people over there think he'll still re-sign with them, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen," Glass said.

"I hope things work out," Sixers general manager Billy King said via e-mail. "They look good right now."

In other news: NBA teams can begin speaking with free agents Monday, and players can begin signing July 16. It remains to be seen whether the Sixers consider either Boston forward Rodney Rogers or Minnesota guard Chauncey Billups as priorities.

"Rodney thinks a lot of Philly, and wants to stay in the East," said James "Butch" Williams, Rogers' agent. "I think Philly is one place he'd seriously consider."

Andy Miller, Billups' agent, said, "From our perspective, Philadelphia would be on a short list. If they don't call, I'll call them. I will definitely inquire."

Billups, who opted out after the second year of a three-year contract, is thought to have an interest in returning to Denver, his hometown.

Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson may have the inside track on the head coaching position for the Denver Nuggets, the Star Telegram's Dwain Price reports, because of his experience with international players.  The Nuggets just drafted Brazilian Nene Hilario and Georgian Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

The younger Nelson has been an assistant coach for the Lithuanian Olympic team, has helped in the acquisition of many of the Mavs' foreign players and has traveled and run clinics extensively in Europe and elsewhere.

Nelson is glad to be considered.  Also under consideration are Mike Evans, Bob Huggins, Terry Stotts, Alex English, Del Harris, Eddie Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Tubby Smith and  Phil Johnson.

STOCKTON HAS BONE CHIPS REMOVED FROM ELBOW
  John Stockton underwent surgery to clear bone chips out of his right elbow last month, owner Larry Miller revealed Wednesday, but perhaps that is good news for Jazz fans. It may be one of the best indications that the future Hall of Famer is leaning toward returning this fall for a 19th season.
 
The reclusive point guard "has not given me one single hint" about his plans for next season, Miller said, but he is willing to give Stockton all the time he needs.

...

The Jazz have given the Denver Nuggets permission to interview assistant coach Phil Johnson for their vacant head coaching position, but Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe has not yet called him.
 
"I guess when someone is interested in you, it's good for your ego, but I try not to get too excited," said Johnson, who had two stints coaching the Kings, one in Kansas City and one in Sacramento. "It would take a lot to get me to leave here. I have a lot of loyalty to Jerry [Sloan] and this team."

Greg Logan writes that ignoring calls from some quarters to tear down the Knicks' bloated salary structure and start over, Layden traded injury-prone center Marcus Camby to Denver for All-Star power forward Antonio McDyess during the NBA draft last night at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. It's a move geared toward making an immediate turnaround after missing the playoffs for the first time in 15 seasons.

The deal almost was sidetracked when McDyess at first refused to make any promises about not exercising the opt-out clause in his contract after next season. It has two years to run at $12.6 million next season and $13.5 million in 2003-04. The trade wasn't completed until about five minutes before the Knicks had to pick, but agent Andy Miller said, "I anticipate [McDyess] will have a long career in New York."

As part of the deal, the Knicks used the seventh pick to select Brazilian forward Maybyner (Nene) Hilario for the Nuggets. They also unloaded 37-year-old point guard Mark Jackson and the final two years of his contract. They received the 25th pick in the first round from the Nuggets, who used it to draft Illinois point guard Frank Williams for the Knicks.

Kyle Ringo of the Rocky Mountain News speculates that the Denver Nuggets could try to enter the battle for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Andre Miller.

After acquiring the #17 pick from the Hornets, the Wizards offered the pick to the Nuggets for James Posey. If the Nuggets were to make that trade, they could use the pick in a package to make a run at Cleveland point guard Andre Miller.

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe would not confirm the trade proposal, but he did say teams often ask about Posey. "There's the draft (today), there is free agency, there are possible trades," Vandeweghe said. "So we'll explore all our options."

Denver needs a point guard even more after paying Tim Hardaway a $1 million buyout and releasing him Tuesday. The Nuggets' only current options at point guard are Kenny Satterfield and Carlos Arroyo. The #17 pick could also be used to pick up a point guard like Gonzaga?s Dan Dickau.

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: A potential trade in which Denver Nuggets swingman James Posey would have been dealt for the Washington Wizards' 17th pick in the first round of today's NBA draft dissolved Tuesday.

The Wizards acquired the 17th pick Tuesday, trading guard Courtney Alexander to the New Orleans Hornets. Washington then spoke with Denver about dealing the newly acquired pick for Posey. The Nuggets, however, decided against the move since they consider Posey to be a better player than anyone available at No. 17.

Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said it's possible his client still could be dealt.

"There are a lot of teams that would like to get (Posey)," Bartelstein said. "(Nuggets general manager) Kiki (Vandeweghe) is not looking to just give him away. We are just going to see how this thing plays out."

The Associated Press reports that the Denver Nuggets finally waived Tim Hardaway. The move has been expected for a while, but was finalized on Tuesday.

By Waiving Hardaway, the Nuggets will save about $2.8 mil off their cap next season. Hardaway had a salary of about $3.8 million slated for the 2002-03 season, of which, only $1 million was guaranteed. The Nuggets are responsible for the guaranteed portion of the salary. That $1 million will count against the Nuggets? salary cap next season.

A 12-year veteran, the 35-year-old averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 assists in 68 games last season.

By waiving Hardaway, the Nuggets could opt to select a guard with the fifth overall pick in Wednesday's draft. Memphis' Dajuan Wagner is one player Denver could target.

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: For those who believe Denver Nuggets forward Antonio McDyess wants out of the Mile High City, agent Andy Miller begs to differ.
"That is a rash and unnecessary and contrived assumption," Miller said Monday from New York City. "McDyess has given me no indication at this point that he wants to pursue any other options other than Denver. I have a very good relationship with him. If he had a desire or even an inkling of a desire to explore other options, I am 100 percent confident that he would have already told me.

"He wants to kind of evaluate how the team improves while he helps himself get better."

The 6-foot-9, 245-pound McDyess played in 10 games last season after preseason surgery on his left knee.

The Nuggets could re-sign McDyess to a contract extension in January, or he could opt out of the final year of his contract in the summer of 2003.

Tim Hardaway may be a victim of economics. Kyle Ringo of the Rocky mountain News reports that unless a trade can be worked out, chances are Hardaway will be waived by the Nuggets today.

The veteran point guard, obtained in a trade last season with the Dallas Mavericks, has a clause in his contract that allows the team to pay him $1 million this summer to be free of the final two years of his $11.3 million deal. The deadline to take advantage of the buyout clause is today.

Hardaway is due to make $3.7 million next season, so by going ahead with the buyout, Denver would save $2.7 million toward next season's total team salary. That would give the club a little flexibility in trying to sign free agents this summer. The team is expected to be near the luxury tax threshold next season.

Nuggets GM Kiki Vanderwege refused to confirm the teams? plan. "We're going to wait until (today), see how the draft shapes up and look at all our options," Vandeweghe said.

If Hardaway is bought out, it would be the third time in two years that Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke has doled out cash to players on their way out of the organization. Kroenke paid guard Cory Alexander $7.5 million in a contract buyout before the 2000-01 season. The owner also paid former coach Dan Issel about $4 million when Issel resigned in the middle of last season.

Ultimately, the Nuggets lose nothing by paying Hardaway the buyout, because they received $1 million in cash from the Mavericks in the trade for the aging guard.

"I think he really would like to have a realistic shot at a (championship) ring," agent Henry Thomas said of Hardway. "That's something that really does drive him as it does most guys who have been at it as long as he has without a ring." Hardaway probably would be more attractive to other teams once he is free of his current contract, which makes a trade unlikely.