Pavel Podkolzine won't be coming to Denver for a workout. He won't be going to any other NBA cities for a while, either.

Podkolzine, a 7-foot-4 Russian center, pulled out of the 2003 NBA draft by the deadline Thursday. He had been scheduled to work out with the Nuggets on Monday.

"He wants to take another year and get more experience and solidify his position in the draft," said Podkolzine's agent, Justin Zanik, who added that his client's need for surgery to treat an unusually large pituitary gland was not a factor in pulling out. "Next year, he could be a top-five pick or even No. 1."

Zanik was unable to receive a guarantee from an NBA team that his client would be chosen in the top 10 of the draft, which is Thursday (5 p.m. MDT, ESPN). Because Podkolzine, 18, has a buyout with his contract for a team in Varese, Italy, he might lose money if he were drafted too far out of the top 10.

"I guess it wasn't the right year for him," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "He's young. He'll be back in the draft."