PLAYER NEWS: --C Nene said he feels "perfect" after he suffered a broken left arm in Denver's final playoff game last season, a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. Nene said he took about six weeks off following the May 29 game. While he has a shot to make the All-Star team, Nene said helping the Nuggets advance farther this season is his primary goal. --G J.R. Smith said he doesn't care if he comes off the bench this season or starts. Nuggets coach George Karl had talked about moving Smith, who last season was second in voting for the NBA Sixth Man Award, into the starting lineup. But Karl now is thinking he might not want to tinker with Denver's strong bench.
"I have no idea how we're going to rotate the team," he said. "We're trying to balance and figure it out."
--F Carmelo Anthony had 15 technical fouls last season, which is how many it takes for a player to get a one-game suspension. But Anthony wasn't suspended since a player gets a free pass if No. 15 comes in the final regular-season game, which was the case with Anthony.
Despite his problems, Anthony said he isn't worried about replacement officials in the NBA.
"They'll learn the game," Anthony said. "They watch films. We've got to play. They've got to ref."
DRAFT PICKS:
Ty Lawson, G, 5-11, North Carolina (first round, acquired by Nuggets after being drafted by Minnesota) -- Nuggets like him because he brings youth to point guard, where the Nuggets have starter Chauncey Billups, 33 in September, and Anthony Carter, 34, likely to be re-signed as a free agent. In several years, he could replace Billups as the starter.
Sergio Llull, G, 6-3, Spain (second round) -- The Nuggets traded his rights to Houston for cash. After acquiring first-round selection Ty Lawson from Minnesota on draft night, the Nuggets felt they didn't need another rookie.
