Monday, February 18, 2002 - EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe has said that if point guard Nick Van Exel "lives up to his word" of giving up the final two years and $26.5 million of his contract, he would have a good chance of being traded by Thursday's deadline.

However, Van Exel dismissed talk of giving away millions Sunday, thus possibly ending his dream of being dealt.

The two years in question for Van Exel, who has asked for a trade, are the 2004-05 and '05-06 seasons. Van Exel says, at best, he'd restructure his deal after the 2003-04 season.