Bryon Russell, a 13-year veteran coming off a knee injury in the preseason, is still in talks with the Sonics about his status.

"He was the consummate professional. I talked to him on the phone and told him, 'Hey, to get the deal done, you had to be in the deal. I don't want you to catch a flight and fly to Seattle if it's not a good situation for you,' " general manager Rick Sund said.

Nene has been recovering strongly for the Denver Nuggets, and according to the Denver Post he has hopes of coming back this season.

He is expected to begin practicing in April.

"I will work as hard as I can to come back as quickly as possible," Nene said. "If the timing works out that I can practice or play, that is great. I want to get back to playing as soon as possible and get this setback behind me.

"I am told I am ahead of schedule. I have regained my muscle mass and am starting to work on my movements. The knee feels strong. I am told I will be 100 percent in the next few months."

Said Vandeweghe: "He's looking awful good, and he's in great shape. The knee is really healing well. The doctors are excited."

Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe called a published report "ridiculous" that he doesn't expect to return next season.

The New York Daily News reported Sunday that Vandeweghe, in the final year of a five-year contract, has confided to friends that Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke will not meet his salary demands.

"I've never commented on it," Vandeweghe said. "The only thing I will say is I'm very appreciative of what has been done for me and I like (Denver) a lot."

Responded Kroenke via e-mail, "As I've maintained, our policy is to address contract matters at their conclusion."

There has been much speculation Vandeweghe will not return next season. Director of player personnel Mark Warkentien has been called a possible successor, with the New York Post reporting Sunday that Warkentien is "all but definite" to replace Vandeweghe.

"Kiki hired me and it's Kiki's name at the bottom of my contract," said Warkentien, saying any further comment would be "inappropriate."

The Denver Nuggets have re-assigned guard Julius Hodge to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League (D-League), General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe announced today. Austin has been assigned the Nuggets? D-League affiliate for the 2005-06 season.

Hodge, 6-7, 210, was assigned to Austin on February 7 and was recalled February 24. He did not play vs. Minnesota on the 24th.  He has appeared in 11 games for the Nuggets this season, averaging 1.0 ppg and 0.6 rpg in 2.7 minutes. Hodge has played in five games for the Toros, averaging 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Nuggets coach George Karl said Thursday the team is considering signing Wesley Person, who is expected to work out at the Pepsi Center on Saturday or Sunday.

The 34-year-old sharpshooter was with Denver for the final two months of 2004-05 but has not been on an NBA roster this season.

Person's agent, Herb Rudoy, said his client has been working out regularly in his hometown of Brantley, Ala.

"We've been talking about it the past two months," Rudoy said. "My impression is he's very interested (in returning to Denver)."

Kenyon Martin is happy he's staying put.

The NBA's trading deadline came and went Thursday and the Nuggets power forward, whose name has been mentioned as trade bait for weeks, is still in Denver.

"I'm excited," said Martin after practice. "It's tough to get up and move."

He expects trade rumors to resume once the offseason begins, however.

"It is what it is. The talk is not going to stop," Martin said.

The Denver Nuggets have recalled G/F Julius Hodge from the Austin Toros of the D-League, Nuggets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe announced today.

Hodge was originally assigned to Austin on Feb. 7.  He played in five games for the Toros, averaging 15.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.6 apg and 1.20 spg in 24.2 minutes.

The rookie swingman has appeared in 11 games for the Nuggets this season, averaging 1.0 ppg in 2.7 minutes.

The New York Post and TNT reported that the Sixers came very close to dealing Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for players including Nene Hilario, Earl Watson and Voshon Lenard. The reports said Sixers chairman Ed Snider signed off on the deal but was overruled by the board of directors of Comcast Spectacor, the team's parent company.

King said the Sixers were never close to dealing Iverson to Denver. He called the report of a directors vote "absolutely false. There was no board vote on a situation like that."
King said he had "a great conversation" with Iverson last week.

"We talked about a lot of things," he said, "and as he's stated to you guys, he wants to retire a Sixer, and he's content with that. He told me, `If you make a move, great. If not, I believe in my teammates.'"

The Seattle SuperSonics announced today they have acquired Earl Watson, Bryon Russell and a 2008 second-round draft pick from the Denver Nuggets in a four-team, nine-player trade including Portland and Sacramento.

As part of the deal, Denver will receive Seattle?s Reggie Evans and Portland?s Ruben Patterson and Charles Smith. In addition, Seattle?s Vitaly Potapenko and Portland?s Sergei Monia will join Sacramento while Denver?s Voshon Lenard  and Sacramento?s Brian Skinner head to Portland.

?We drafted Earl in 2001 after his solid career at UCLA, and it will be great to have him back with the Sonics,? said Sonics General Manager Rick Sund. ?With his talent, we?ll have a good flow at the point-guard position. We thank Reggie and Vitaly for their hard work over the past few years and wish them the best of luck in Denver and Sacramento.?

The Seattle Supersonics completed two trades on Thursday afternoon, acquiring Earl Watson, Bryon Russell, Mike Wilks and a second-round draft pick.

The Sonics have been discussing acquiring Watson, a former Sonic, for several months and ended up getting him in a four-team trade.

Seattle acquired Watson, Russell and a second-round pick from Denver. Denver received Reggie Evans, Charles Smith and Ruben Patterson. Sacramento Sergei Monia and Vitaly Potapenko and Portland received Brian Skinner and Voshon Lenard.