Nene Hilario may not be free in time to play for the Nuggets? summer league team. Kyle Ringo of the Rocky Mountain News reports that a contract dispute with Hilario?s Brazillian team will likely keep the Nuggets from signing the 7th pick in last month?s draft.

There will be an arbitration hearing this week to settle Hilario's status his Brazilian team, Vasco da Gama. Hilarios? representative, Michael Coyne, said that the arbitration hearing could be avoided if the Nuggets could reach a settlement with Vasco da Gama. Coyne also said that Hilario would not be part of the settlement because they feel that his Brazillian club breached their contract by not paying him.

If the Brazilian contract is ruled to be invalid, Hilario is free to sign with the Nuggets. Coyne said. "If I'm the team down there and I know there is problems with my contract, I'm going to settle it because then you can get money from Denver at least."

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he is optimistic something can be worked out, but it is not pivotal for Hilario to participate in the summer league. "He's going to be with us for a long time," Vandeweghe said.