Nuggets guard Julius Hodge, who was shot four times in his legs and hip April 8 while driving, is recovering, but perhaps not quick enough for him to particpate in the team's summer league team, the Rocky Mountain News is reporting.

"His spirits are good," his agent, Marc Cornstein, said Monday. "He seems to be recovering well."

But well enough to play in the summer league, which begins with a practice Sunday?

"I'm not qualified medically to answer that," Cornstein said.

The Timberwolves are rumored to be talking to the Denver Nuggets about a trade that would bring forward Kenyon Martin to Minnesota for Marko Jaric and somebody else, possibly Ricky Davis.

Nuggets coach George Karl expects that director of player personnel Mark Warkentien will remain the team's designated negotiator on basketball matters through the 2006-07 season, and the Nuggets' front office will operate as a team as it has since the departure of Kiki Vandeweghe.

"I think it's going to be a team structure," Karl said Saturday about how the Nuggets will run basketball operations. "I think we're all going to do it together."

According to the Rocky Mountain News, shortly after Vandeweghe's contract as general manager was not renewed May 5, the Nuggets instituted a team structure to take them through Wednesday's NBA draft. Warkentien was named to lead the draft and be the team's designated negotiator on basketball matters.

Warkentien is working with assistant general managers David Fredman and Jeff Weltman, although neither is said to be under contract for next season.

The Nuggets apparently have not made a lot of headway toward bringing in any other front-office officials, and those close to the situation don't foresee anything happening until late July at the earliest. But it doesn't appear any executive will be brought in to have a role similar to Vandeweghe's.

"We're going to add some people," Karl said of the front office. "There could be some changes in philosophy, but it's not major changes."

Steve Kauffman, the agent for Nuggets guard Greg Buckner, reiterated Thursday that Sunday's deadline will pass without his client picking up his $1.8 million player option for next season.

While Kauffman said no action is needed for Buckner to become a free agent, the Rocky Mountain News is reporting that Kauffman plans to write the Nuggets a letter as a courtesy. Buckner can begin negotiations with any team July 1.

"He's said before that he'd like to return (to Denver)," Kauffman said. "We'll find out July 1."

Buckner, who averaged 6.7 points during his second season with the Nuggets, signed a two-year, $3.47 million deal last off-season.

Because Buckner has Early Bird rights, the Nuggets will be able to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him up to about $5 million for next season.

In his first interview since the Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Clippers, Carmelo Anthony endorsed out of favor forward Kenyon Martin's return to the team next season.

Anthony also suggested Denver will need more talent if it is to get past the first round, according to the Denver Post.

Asked if he thought Martin and coach George Karl could resolve their differences, Anthony replied: "Hopefully they work it out, but everybody's got to do what they've got to do....I would love to play with him."

Carmelo Anthony is looking for a quick resolution to contract extension talks, a deal which could be worth maximum dollars, according to the Denver Post.

"Our plan is to hopefully have someone to talk to, even if it's (owner) Stan (Kroenke), on July 1, and move to get something done," Calvin Andrews, Anthony's agent, said Tuesday. "I know there's no GM in place, but somebody should be. We'll deal with that somebody. There's enough conversation to know that's what everybody wants to do. That's what everybody wants to get hammered out."

The Nuggets may, however, lose big man Francisco Elson to free agency.

"Francisco's neutral," Duffy said. "He likes Denver. They drafted him, and he's prospered there. But when he looks around the periphery, I don't think he's any different than any other free agent. He just wants to look around and see his options."

Bill Duffy, agent for Axel Hervelle, a 2005 second-round pick of the Denver Nuggets, said he will soon sign a three-year contract extension with Spain's Real Madrid that begins next season.

Duffy said it will have a buyout clause, meaning Hervelle could play with Denver as soon as next season.

The Nuggets still expect Hervelle to play on their summer league team.

ESPN Radio's Ric Bucher reported that Minnesota Timberwolves scout Rex Chapman should get an interview for the Nuggets general manager job.

"I haven't been officially contacted by anyone from the Denver Nuggets organization," Chapman told The Arizona Republic.

According to an NBA source, the Sacramento Kings and new coach Eric Musselman have offered an assistant position on the team's coaching staff to current Denver Nuggets assistant coach Scott Brooks.

Brooks once played for Bill Musselman, Eric's late father.

The Denver Nuggets have reportedly fielded multiple offers from various teams looking to deal for Kenyon Martin.

None of the proposed deals interested the Nuggets at all, requiring them to laugh at each one.