DENVER ? When last we heard from Tariq Abdul-Wahad in the spring, neither he nor the Denver Nuggets hierarchy was exactly jumping for joy over their working relationship, which might be best described as icy cold.

It got so bad as last season was winding down to another disappointing ending that Abdul-Wahad said he'd consider asking the Nuggets to trade him.

That talk never resulted in any tangible changes, though Abdul-Wahad's name occasionally has surfaced in trade rumors. And not only is the French-born forward/guard still in Denver, he has the inside track for the lone starting position that was undecided entering training camp.