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.
PLAYER NEWS:
--F Kenyon Martin says all is fine between him and Dallas owner Mark Cuban. Cuban drew fire for making a reference to Martin's mother during the playoffs in May that Martin was a thug. Cuban later said Martin used obscene language after a playoff game to Mavericks' employees and family members.
"(Cuban) reached out to me," Martin said at his basketball camp in Dallas, where he attended high school. "I didn't reach out to him. But he reached out, and I'll leave it behind. It wasn't negative."
--G Dahntay Jones, an unrestricted free agent, left the Nuggets to sign a four-year, $11 million deal with Indiana. The final year is a player option. The Nuggets wanted to give only a minimum contract to Jones, who was the team's starting shooting guard for much of the season. However, Nuggets coach George Karl already has said he expects J.R. Smith to start next season.
--F Carmelo Anthony has gone international with his basketball camps. About a month after the May 29 end of Denver's season, Anthony played host to a basketball camp in Malaga, Spain. Anthony then returned to Denver to host his fifth Camp Melo. In early July, Anthony resumed workouts in preparation for next season.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--C Nene suffered a broken forearm in the Nuggets' playoff finale May 29 against the Los Angeles Lakers. But he's expected to be ready for training camp.
