The Denver Nuggets have picked up the 2009-2010 contract option on Renaldo Balkman's contract, his agent Andre Buck confirmed to the Denver Post on Wednesday afternoon.

The Nuggets are reportedly close to a contract extension with forward Linas Kleiza.

The rumored extension for Kleiza would begin next season and could keep him in Denver through 2013.

"We're very close," said Kleiza, who expects the deal to be signed by Friday's deadline. "We haven't finalized it yet. But I think that everything is going well. Denver is where I want to stay. I really like it here."

The Sporting News has reported the deal could be worth about $25 million for four years, but Kleiza wouldn't discuss numbers.

Denver is also leaning towards picking up forward Renaldo Balkman's contract option.

Nuggets' guard Allen Iverson has declared himself ready for the team's opener against the Jazz on Wednesday.

Iverson said on Monday that the ankle that has been bothering him is no longer an issue.

"Oh, no, I don't worry about that," Iverson said. "That's what I do best, is play offense. So I feel like it will come. My jump shot is not where I want it to be, but every aspect of my game, as far as everything else, I'm happy with it. I'm able to get to the basket. I'm able to finish at the basket. I'm able to move my feet on defense and get in the passing lane and get steals like I usually do. Just the offensive rhythm is not there. And that's just from not playing."

The Nuggets are continuing to discuss the possibilty of a contract extension that would kick in next season for reserve Linas Kleiza.

However, if Kleiza doesn't sign an extension by Friday, he'll become a restricted free agent next summer.

Deron Williams is doubtful for the Jazz' season opener against the Nuggets on Wednesday due to a sprained left ankle, as reported by Yahoo.com.

Williams suffered a second-degree inversion sprain of the ankle in a game against the Bulls on October 18.

The Jazz also announced that forward Matt Harpring is doubtful for the opening game with a right ankle injury.

The Denver Nuggets cut Ruben Patterson and Nick Fazekas from their roster on Thursday, reducing their roster to 14 players, the Denver Post is reporting.

Also cut were guards Smush Parker and Mateen Cleaves and forward James Mays.

Nuggets' big man Chris Andersen claims that he is in a better place right now than he has ever been before, both on and off the court.

"I'm mentally, physically, emotionally better ? on and off the court ? than I've ever been," said Andersen. "And stronger. It's just made me a better person, going through what I've been through. Life-changing experiences will make you stronger. I'm definitely more intelligent, more mature about decisions."  

Andersen was kicked out of the league, following a positive drug test in January of 2006, but has fought his way back into the NBA.

The Nuggets are expected to wait until just before the Oct. 31 deadline before announcing whether they will pick up next season's $2.11 million option on the contract of Renaldo Balkman.

"I talked to the Nuggets, and they said it's their policy to make their decision or announce it just before Oct. 31," said Balkman's agent Andre Buck.

Balkman would become an unrestricted free agent next summer if his option is declined.

Denver officials claim that trade talks involving Jamaal Tinsley are dead, but Indiana president Larry Bird says that negotiations are still active.

"We've been talking to Denver quite often, and I think it's in their hands now," Bird said on the radio earlier this week. "And I think we'll be talking a little bit more this week."

Nuggets coach George Karl said last week he "never knew it was alive" when asked about the possibility of landing Tinsley.

Nene, Kenyon Martin, Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Anthony Carter, and Chris Andersen lost a combined 76 pounds during the off-season as the Nuggets try to get quicker, the Denver Post is reporting.

"We sat down at the end of the season with the coaching staff, and then George was like, 'We need to be faster, we need to be stronger, we need to be quicker,' " Nuggets' strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess said. "We want to remain strong, but we want to make sure everyone loses fat and comes in leaner and meaner. So we pretty much told every player our goal is to keep your body fat as low as possible, get you as lean as possible, and get you as fast as possible."