The Denver Nuggets chose not to pick up the third year option on Julius Hodge, whose NBA career has been anything but standard after being shot during his rookie season.

Hodge will now be a restricted free agent after the upcoming season.

"I just look at it definitely as some weight off my shoulders," Hodge said. "Now I can basically focus primarily on the season and getting better each and every day. As long as I'm the first guy in the gym every day and the last to leave and I know I'm the hardest worker on the team, I know I'm going to get better. When I get my opportunity, I'm going to make the best of it."