The Denver Nuggets have agreed to deal Sonny Weems and Walter Sharpe to Milwaukee for Malik Allen, an NBA source said Tuesday.

"Sonny is an athletic player that's got to learn how to play basketball," Nuggets coach George Karl told the Post during the summer league.

"At times it looks like he's taking that step, and then at times it doesn't look like he's taking that step. He has 10 days here at summer league. He's going to have to figure out his niche. He's got the talent to play in the league. The question will be: Does he have the mind to play in the league?

"I think, in general, this summer and September and October will be very important to him."

Nuggets coach George Karl still wants to see the team retain Anthony Carter and Linas Kleiza this summer.

"My hope is that we get (Anthony Carter) and (Linas Kleiza) back in a happy manner," Karl told HoopsWorld. "Free-agency right now, both of them are looking for a better deal than what is out there.Maybe they'll get it, maybe they won't.  I would like to keep our team fairly intact from last year along with (Arron) Afflalo and Ty (Lawson). I think that would be a good step. Our improvement is going to come with our younger players mostly meaning Nene, Melo and J.R (Smith). People don't understand that we are a fairly young basketball team. The nucleus, we have four or five guys under the age of 25 or 26 years of age. They made some big steps last year, but there is still a window of improvement there."

He'd rather see the team re-sign Carter and Kleiza than acquire new players.

"Change doesn't always make you better," Karl added. "In fact, I think there should be some things written that change a lot of times doesn't work. I like what San Antonio's done, but you don't know the chemistry and how they're going to fit. It makes the media have a lot of fun in the summertime. Everybody's predicting. Like last year, everybody thought we were done. Somehow, someway the pieces fit better than they ever did. We got kind of a miracle year out of Chris Andersen, we found a great pickup in Dahntay Jones, and J.R. and Melo took great steps along with Nene."

Olympiakos is interested in another NBA star, as they have their eyes set on Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza.

Kleiza is a member of the Lithuanian national team and is a restricted free agent in Denver.

A number of NBA teams have shown interest in him, but nothing is imminent.

The Nuggets and coach George Karl are closing in on a contract extension, sources close to the situation told HoopsWorld.

"He will get an extension before next season, and we knew that after the postseason," one source said.

Another source added that Karl won't enter the season with "lame-duck status."

Karl's current contract is set to expire after the 2009-10 season.

Detroit traded Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe to Denver for a future second-round pick, a move that creates another $1.8 million in salary cap space for the Pistons, a league source said Monday.

Marc Stein of ESPN reports Glen Davis and Drew Gooden are the two main targets.  Davis is a restricted free agent.

The Denver Post has reported that the Nuggets and Pistons are discussing a trade involving guard Arron Afflalo.

Detroit general manager Joe Dumars is trying to deal Afflalo to clear up roughly $1 million in cap space to sign a free-agent power forward or center.

Afflalo averaged 4.9 points in 16.7 minutes last season.

Nuggets restricted free-agent forward Linas Kleiza has had no shortage of teams show interest in his services.

Denver can match any offer Kleiza receives, however, which might be scaring some clubs off.

The Indiana Pacers have reached an agreement with former Nugget Dahntay Jones, ESPN's Chad Ford is reporting.

It is believed the deal will be worth $11 million over four years.

The Nuggets and forward Chris Andersen have agreed to a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $26 million, according to the player's manager.

"We're ecstatic to stay in the community," manager Mark Bryant said.

Andersen will make $3.7 million next season in the backloaded and incentive-based contract. He had a number of suitors, but said all along that he wanted to remain in Denver.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Cavaliers and free agent forward Linas Kleiza have mutual interest in one another.

Kleiza is a restricted free agent with the Nuggets.

Agent Bill Duffy said Monday that the two sides are expected to continue to have dialogue.