Nuggets coach George Karl is undecided about who will be on his coaching staff for next season.

Assistants Scott Brooks, Adrian Dantley, Rex Kalamian and Chip Engelland all have contracts that expire on June 30 and their future is unclear at that moment.

Assistant Doug Moe, who was the only assistant hired by Karl, is expected to return though.

"I'm thinking about it," Karl said, adding that he needs to talk with owner Stan Kroenke and general manager Kiki Vandeweghe before making a decision.

No timetable has been set for a coaching staff to be in place.

Former Denver Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik was named head coach of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Terms of his deal will not be released until it is reviewed and finalized by academy personnel.

"His teams have always played like successful Air Force teams do, hard, aggressive and with passion," said Air Force Athletic Director Dr. Hans Mueh. "Jeff is also committed to academics and has an understanding of the military and what our mission at the Academy is about. He'll be a great leader for our young people."

?We are very happy for Jeff," said Denver GM Kiki Vandeweghe.  "He has a passion for working with young players and will be a great fit for Air Force.  The Academy is getting a man of great integrity, dedication and basketball acumen.  We wish him the best of luck.?

The Denver Nuggets reportedly will not grant the Cleveland Cavaliers requested permission to interview Kiki Vandeweghe for their vacant general manager position.

Vandeweghe's agent, Warren LeGarie, confirmed Tuesday that Cleveland attempted to get permission last week from Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke. The fourth-year Nuggets GM is under contract through the 2005-06 season.

"It's a very interesting situation," Legarie said Tuesday before it became apparent the Nuggets would not allow Vandeweghe to talk with Cleveland. "All this was controlled by what Stan is willing or not willing to do."

"I love it here in Denver," said Vandeweghe, who declined to go into detail about Cleveland's interest. "(My family has) had a great time here. Still, I think I have work to do. I'm excited about being in Denver. I was excited when I got here. I'm still excited."

Multiple sources have told the New York Post that Kiki Vandeweghe is emerging as the leading candidate to preside as president of the Cavaliers next season.

With George Karl as head coach, it is possible that Nuggets' ownership feels he is sufficiently able to make personnel decisions.

Rick Sund's name continues to be included in the speculation, but reports out of Seattle indicate that a contract extention for the Sonics GM is likely.

The other leading candidate remains Pacers' VP David Morway.  Morway has reportedly met with Dan Gilbert multiple times.

Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin had successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today.  Dr. Steve Traina, the Nuggets team physician, performed the surgery.
Martin will begin rehabilitation in 10 days to two weeks.  His prognosis is excellent for next season.

Martin appeared in 70 games for the Nuggets this past season, averaging 15.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.43 spg and 1.11 bpg.

The Cavaliers interviewed Denver Nuggets assistant GM Jeff Weltman on Tuesday, several league sources said.

Weltman, the son of former Cavaliers GM Harry Weltman, has been the assistant GM in Denver since 2001. Weltman, 39, works closely with Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe. The Nuggets have continued to improve since Weltman has been on board. In 2003-04, the Nuggets posted the sixth-biggest turnaround in NBA history, improving their win total by 26 games and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

Ex-coach Dan Issel, who retired from the Denver Nuggets after making an ethnic slur toward a Hispanic fan in December 2001, is trying to find either a coaching job or get some work in a TV booth in the NBA.  Issel?s agent Warren LeGarie is convinced that his client can return to the league and it seems that Issel also has the backing of the commissioner David Stern.

"I think Dan would be open (to returning to the NBA)," LeGarie said Monday. "There's a couple of situations I'm waiting to hear back from that I'm optimistic about. (Current Nuggets coach) George (Karl) and (Memphis Grizzlies coach) Mike Fratello are guys who have done it before and been successful and they've (come back after absences)."

Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin can't help but feel nervous about having arthroscopic knee surgery this month. He has heard stories about athletes who never regain explosiveness after a knee operation.

"That's my only concern," Martin said. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen, but who's to say. You never know. That's the only thing I'm nervous about."

Martin missed only four games because of his chronically sore left knee but said he regularly felt pain. His surgery will take place within the next few weeks, with rehabilitation expected to begin in June.

"I ain't going to have no pain," said Martin, who credited the Nuggets athletic training staff for keeping his knee strong enough to make it through the season. "That's what I'm looking forward to."

Tony Parker scored 21 points, Tim Duncan had 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Spurs eliminated the Nuggets with a 99-89 victory Wednesday night.

After dropping the first game in the series, the Spurs won four in a row, though Games 3 and 4 were very close.

Carmelo Anthony had 25 points and Andre Miller had 16.

Despite blowing an early lead in the series, the Nuggets have to be happy with their season, since the playoffs seemed to be just a dream before George Karl was hired.

Tim Duncan followed one of his worst playoff performances with one of his best on Monday.

Duncan scored 39 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Spurs' 121-113 victory over the Nuggets.  With the win, the Spurs now has a commanding 3-1 lead as the sereies shifts back to San Antonio.

Tony Parket outplayed Andre Miller, scoring 27 points to the Nuggets' point guard's 11.

Earl Boykins kept the Nuggets in the game with 32 points off the bench, while Carmelo Anthony had a breakout game, scoring 28.

Kenyon Martin fouled out with several minutes remaining in the 4th quarter and Duncan picked up his sixth foul in the overtime session.