Nene will opt out of the final year of his contract worth nearly $12 million and, as a result, become an unrestricted free agent, a source familiar with the situation said Wednesday night.

It means Nene can sign with any team he wishes without the Nuggets getting a chance to match the offer when free agency begins after the expected NBA lockout, which likely will start Friday.

Nene had until today to make a final decision.

The Nuggets tried to sign him to a contract extension before today, the last day of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, but to no avail.

Brazil has been dealt a blow in preparation for this summer's FIBA Americas Championship with news that big man Nene will not be part of the team.

According to the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB), Nene on Friday asked to be released from the national team citing personal and contractual reasons.

The FIBA Americas Championship takes place in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from 30 August to 11 September. The top two teams qualify automatically for the London Olympics.

Former Nuggets assistant coach Adrian Dantley said he sat behind the bench for the final 67 games of the regular season and during the playoffs and wouldn’t rotate to the front of the bench. Nuggets assistants Chad Iske, John Welch and Melvin Hunt sat on the bench for those games.

"I didn’t rotate,’’ said Dantley, an NBA star forward from 1976-2001 who was named in 2008 to the Hall of Fame. "I wasn’t going to rotate. If they (other assistants) want the publicity to sit up front, I don’t need the publicity… I got no problem not being seen on TV and sitting at the back of the bench.’’

Dantley would not single out any specific assistants. The New York Post reported "one or lower-level assistants’’ suggested the rotation to Karl.

"This had to do with a whole lot of backstabbing,’’ Dantley said. "I got fired because I wouldn’t rotate. And people felt uncomfortable (about that).’’

Nene is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent, which leaves him free to sign with whomever he wishes.

Nuggets executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri, however, reported good news on that front, saying they've had good meetings and positive feedback from the Brazilian big man since the end of the season.

"We've been having good talks," Ujiri said late Thursday night after all of the draft day picks and trades were made. "We're making good progress, I think. And I think Nene is excited. We've met a few times with him and a few times with his agent."

Jordan Hamilton was chosen by the Dallas Maverickswith the 26th pick in the first round, and eventually ended up with the Denver Nuggets as part of a three-team deal.

Some were projecting Hamilton higher. When NBA writer Chris Tomasson asked Hamilton about it, the Longhorns standout said he felt Barnes had some influence. Tomasson tweeted Hamilton's response to him.

"(Barnes) called some teams and said that I probably wasn't coachable and things like that. But I feel I can be coachable"

He also told Tomasson that he "got some feedback" that led him to believe that information.

The Denver Nuggets and assistant coach Adrian Dantley parted ways three days ago.

Dantley’s contract wasn't renewed by head coach George Karl.

Dantley took over the Nuggets’ head coaching duties for the final 17 games of the 2009-10 season when Karl began treatment for throat and neck cancer.

The Nuggets dropped seven of their final 13 regular season games before losing 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs to No. 5 seed Utah, which was without two injured starters.

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Raymond Felton from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for guard Andre Miller, while sending Rudy Fernandez and Petteri Koponen's NBA rights to Dallas as part of a three-team trade.

Portland also acquired the draft rights to Jordan Hamilton (taken 26th overall) and Tanguy Ngombo (taken 57th overall) from Dallas for Fernandez and Koponen. Hamilton's rights were then sent to Denver as part of the Felton trade and Portland is currently in discussions to trade Ngombo's rights.

"I want to acknowledge our basketball personnel staff for their hard work and thorough preparation for tonight's NBA Draft," said Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen. "I thought it was a very good night for the Portland Trail Blazers and our fans.

"I also want to thank both Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez for their contributions to the team these past few seasons and wish them all the best for the future."

Rudy Fernandez will be traded to the Mavericks for Jordan Hamilton, with that pick being conveyed to Denver as part of the Raymond Felton for Andre Miller trade.

According to Marc Spears of Yahoo!, the Blazers and Nuggets are holding serious talks concerning a swap of Raymond Felton for Andre Miller.

They would also swap first round picks.

The San Antonio Spurs are engaged in discussions about trading point guard Tony Parker to secure a high pick in Thursday’s draft, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Spurs have talked to teams in the lottery, including the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings, who hold the fifth and seventh picks, respectively. The Kings are determined to get a frontline point guard, and have also talked with the Denver Nuggets about Raymond Felton.

It’s unclear who the Spurs would prefer to take if they acquired a high lottery pick.