There has been talk the Nuggets might be interested in Ron Artest, Chicago Tribune writer Sam Smith is reporting.

It was George Karl who talked Bucks management into adding Anthony Mason and then asking why they let him after Mason effectively broke up the team.

USA Basketball wanted Marcus Camby to be part of its senior men's national team, but the Nuggets center turned down an invitation Wednesday because of a "serious family situation," the Denver Post reported.

Camby was extended an invitation on Monday, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball's senior men's team managing director, told the Post. Camby was grateful to be included in the organization's plans, according to the newspaper, but by Wednesday his agent told Colangelo his client could not accept it.

USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller acknowledged Tuesday that managing director Jerry Colangelo is interested in adding Nugget bigman Marcus Camby to the national team program.

Because of his family obligations, Camby has yet to talk to Colangelo.

Camby's agent, Rick Kaplan, said an invitation would be "flattering" but Camby's family situation might prevent him from playing.

Camby's wife recently gave birth to a baby girl - the couple also has a 4-year-old daughter - and the prospect of spending much of his next two summers on the road and in the gym might not be very appealing.

The Magic, Hawks, Pacers, Heat and Cavs are all expected to jockey for free agent point guard Steve Blake.

The Nuggets have also expressed a strong interest in retaining Blake.

DerMarr Johnson of the Denver Nuggets might have trouble getting a guaranteed contract this summer. But Johnson said it's "not even a consideration" to play overseas.

The Nuggets are expected to make changes to their core to lower their salary cap figure.

Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and Nene are all nearly certain to return.

Three players who could be on the trading block for salary cap reasons include NBA defensive player of the year Marcus Camby ($9 million next season), forward Eduardo Najera ($4.95 million) and forward Reggie Evans ($4.32 million). Injured forward Kenyon Martin, who only played two games because of knee surgery, is expected back.

"I just want to be somewhere where I'm wanted," Camby said. "I'd be happy with that. But I'd love to finish my career in Denver."

Steve Blake, whose season was revived by a Jan. 11 trade from Milwaukee to Denver, will become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Of the Nuggets' top 10 players, he is the only one not under contract for next season.

"I would say it was a great three months," Blake said after the Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs. "I couldn't have asked for anything more. This has been a great time."

With that in mind, Blake said he will weigh interest from Denver and other teams before making any kind of decision.

"If you just look at basketball wise, I don't know if there would be a better situation out there for me (than Denver)," he said. "I'm going to do what's best for my family, myself and my career."

The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly are interested in Blake, who played for them in 2005-06. The interest should grow after Blake averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games for Denver.

At the beginning of the week, Nuggets guard J.R. Smith expressed interest in signing a contract extension that would keep him in Denver beyond the 2007-08 season.

A banishment to the bench has done nothing to change his attitude about his long-term future.

"I love my teammates too much (to want to leave)," Smith said during Denver's morning shootaround Wednesday. "I'm not going to let one person affect my whole lifestyle and the way I am toward my teammates."

Michael Finley set a San Antonio playoff record with eight 3-pointers Wednesday night and the Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 93-78 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Finley finished with 26 points, Tim Duncan had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Tony Parker added 16 points and 10 assists for the third-seeded Spurs, who dropped Game 1 to the Nuggets at home before winning the next four in the first-round series.

It was a virtual repeat of 2005, when the Spurs lost Game 1 at home before winning the next four to eliminate Denver.

The Spurs will meet either the Los Angeles Lakers or Phoenix Suns in the second round. Phoenix, which led 3-1, hosted Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Forward Eduardo Najera said Tuesday he won't opt out of his contract and become a free agent, meaning seven of the eight players the Nuggets have used in the playoffs will be under contract for next season.

Najera, who told the Rocky Mountain News in January he likely wouldn't opt out, said he recently met with his agent, Dan Fegan, and has been talking with his family. A final decision was reached that he won't forego the $4.95 million he's due next season in the final year of a six-year, $24 million deal.

"I like my chances here," said Najera, 30. "And I hope that I can stay here. . . . I talked to (Fegan and) my family and I think the best thing to do is stay here and see how it plays (out).

"The bottom line is that it makes sense financially to play my last year (of the contract). I just don't want to have an injury or whatever. I am getting older."