--F Carmelo Anthony has a rare summer to relax. This marks the first summer since 2005 that Anthony isn't playing for USA Basketball. Anthony played in the 2006 World Championships, a 2007 Olympic qualifier and won a gold medal at last summer's Olympics.
"I don't really know what to do with myself right now," Anthony said. "I took a month off to rest my body. Before, I had to get right back into the gym to train for the U.S. team." Despite some inactivity to start the summer, Anthony said he weighs 236 pounds, about the same as his season-ending weight. He wants to be a few pounds lighter by training camp.
--Nuggets coach George Karl realizes that, with the luxury-tax line having gone down to $69.92 million, the Nuggets can't sign all their free agents. Restricted free agent F Linas Kleiza could end up being sacrificed.
"L.K. is a guy that I think we're both in position of trying to figure out what will work," said Karl, realizing there's a chance Kleiza might not return to Denver. "I could see (Kleiza) being on the team next year. But I think (during the) free agency (period), everybody is going to be trying to figure it out."
Kleiza made $1.82 million next season, and has been tendered Denver's one-year, $2.7 million qualifying offer. He could return for that, and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. If Kleiza gets an offer from another team, the Nuggets would have seven days to decide whether to match. If the offer is anywhere near the midlevel exception of $5.854 million, it's doubtful the Nuggets would match.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's a good thing you don't feel like you have the gun to your head. It's not often that your coach is real happy with your roster. He's way happy with this roster." -- Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien, on Nuggets coach George Karl not wanting to tinker much during the offseason with the roster.
