DerMarr Johnson, a shooting guard who has played the past two seasons with the Nuggets, said Thursday he's "going to (re-sign) before training camp" begins Tuesday in Durango.

The Nuggets also are on the verge of signing point guard Anthony Carter, a seven-year veteran who played the past two seasons for Minnesota, to a nonguaranteed deal.

Johnson said he will sign a guaranteed deal for more than the minimum of $932,015. He wouldn't offer further details.

"That's what they're talking about now," Johnson said of discussions between agent Dan Fegan and Nuggets officials. "I don't even want to say nothing (more) and be wrong. It feels good (to return). I've been working on my game all summer (primarily in Denver)."

Nearly six months after being shot four times in his legs and hip, Nuggets guard Julius Hodge is still struggling with his recovery.

Hodge recently suffered a foot infection related to his gunshot wounds, and he might be limited when training camp begins Tuesday in Durango, Nuggets athletic trainer Jim Gillen said.

Tracy McGrady said Wednesday he feels 100 percent health-wise and is pushing hard to get Bonzi Wells to come to Houston.

Wells' new agent, Merle Scott, said he expected Wells to make a decision by Friday. The Rockets, Nuggets, Heat and Bobcats are the leading interested teams, but the Rockets have an edge because of what they can offer both Wells and his old team, the Sacramento Kings.

While the Heat and Nuggets are right up against the luxury tax and thus would only acquire Wells through a sign-and-trade for another player, Houston could offer a sign-and-trade for a second-round pick and a trade exception worth $4.2 million left over from the deal that sent Moochie Norris to the Hornets last season. The Kings have said they do not want to take back additional salary that would put them above the luxury-tax threshold, and getting even a little something for Wells would be better than getting nothing.

McGrady hinted that he had pressed his pitch to Wells as recently as Wednesday morning, and said a decision from the nine-year veteran seemed imminent.

Bonzi Wells, the highest profile free-agent still available, could make a decision by early next week about where he will play this season.

Wells met with Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien this month. Houston, Charlotte and Miami also are interested.

For much of the summer, free-agent guard DerMarr Johnson has been working out with Nuggets players.

Portland and Golden State are believed to be interested in Johnson.

Injured guard Julius Hodge expects to begin playing for the Nuggets again in training camp, said Hodge's agent, Marc Cornstein.

Hodge has been attempting to overcome hip, leg and foot injuries from a drive-by shooting April 8 while in his car in north Denver.  He hasn't played full court basketball since.

"By the start of camp he'll be 100 percent cleared," Cornstein said. "It's taken a lot of summer to fully rehab and make sure he's 100 percent healthy. Hopefully, his medical stuff is behind him.

"He's coming off a tough year. It's a very traumatic experience to be shot."

Free-agent swingman Bonzi Wells will visit the Charlotte Bobcats today, to meet the coaching staff and discuss the possibility of signing here, coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff confirmed Wednesday.

Is Bonzi Wells in the Charlotte Bobcats' future?

Bobcats coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff confirmed Tuesday he plans discussions with Wells' representatives sometime this week to gauge the free-agent swingman's interest in signing with the team, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer is reporting.

Wells averaged 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds last season for the Sacramento Kings. He's also been linked to the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat.

Since scoring at the wing positions is a clear need for the Bobcats, Wells' skill set would be a good fit. Also, the Bobcats are several million under the salary cap, so they could seemingly make a competitive offer.

The greater question is a roster spot. The Bobcats already have 15 players under contract, plus a qualifying offer of about $3 million to restricted free agent Melvin Ely. Bickerstaff indicated that resolving Ely's situation probably takes precedence over any other move between now and the start of training camp Tuesday in Wilmington.

Nuggets forward-center Nene, who was limited to one game last season because of a knee injury, has been participating in pre-training camp workouts at the Pepsi Center, Marc Spears of the Denver Post is reporting.

Free agent Bonzi Wells met with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy and general manager Carroll Dawson on Monday at Toyota Center as the Rockets stepped up their long-shot pursuit of the veteran guard, Jonathan Feigan of the Houston Chronicle is reporting.

Though the Rockets are limited by the salary cap and some of their free-agent spending this summer, Wells has clearly not ruled out the Rockets while also considering the Nuggets, Heat and Bobcats.

Wells, who went from expecting to be a top free agent to searching for a place to land two weeks before training camps open, replaced longtime agent William Phillips last month, with the switch to Merle Scott forcing a delay in the already protracted process.

Wells, who turns 30 on Wednesday, averaged 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds with the Kings last season and 23.2 points and 12 rebounds in the playoffs against the Spurs.

After earning $8 million last season, he turned down a five-year, $36 million offer from the Kings, a strong indication that an offer of a mid-level exception would not work. The Kings instead signed John Salmons, and the majority of teams over the cap spent their mid-level exceptions.

The Rockets have just $2.1 million of their mid-level exception remaining to offer unless they can work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Kings. The Rockets have a $4.2 million trade exception in which they could sign a free agent for as much as $4.2 million and send only a draft choice, but as with any sign-and-trade arrangement, that would require an agreement with the Kings.