DerMarr Johnson may not be happy with his playing time.

He has gone from starting 40 games last season - the Nuggets went 28-12 in those games - to sitting out healthy 18 times entering Sunday's game. But that doesn't mean his eye is wandering with the NBA's Feb. 23 trade deadline near.

Before sitting again Sunday, Johnson said of his situation: "I just want to play. I love Denver, the city. That's why I haven't asked to be moved. I love my team. ... I want to be a Denver Nugget, but I want to play. Sitting on the bench ain't for me."

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe reiterated Sunday that he will try to place veteran guard Voshon Lenard, who has not played since Dec. 15, on a team before the deadline. Vandeweghe is not as firm on moving Johnson, who hasn't asked for a trade.

"I still go back to last year when we were really good and he was starting and playing a lot for us," he said. "There may be a place. I think D.J.'s very valuable. But certainly if there's a place that he wants to go, I would look at that, because he's in a tough spot."

In the meantime, coach George Karl said Johnson's work on off- days will impact his game days.

"Anytime he could put a couple of practices together," Karl said. "Intensity in practice sometimes relates into changing my decisions on the court. That's the recommendation I would make to him and have made to him."

Johnson does not plan to talk further to his coach about the matter.

"He said before it was about practicing habits," he said. "I think that's ridiculous.  That's so far from the truth. I practice harder than anybody."