PLAYER NEWS:
--G Chauncey Billups spent three weeks late in the summer working out in Las Vegas with G J.R. Smith and offering him advice. Smith recently spent 24 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving for a 2007 accident in which a passenger in his car was killed. After his release, it was reported there were posts on Smith's Twitter page written in a way commonly associated with the Bloods street gang. "The latest thing with the Twitter, that's immaturity," Billups said. "Those are mistakes that we've got to stop him from making."
--F Renaldo Balkman is staring at the possibility of an NBA suspension. Balkman was recently arrested in his home area of Tampa, Fla., on the suspicion of driving under the influence. Unless Balkman is found innocent of the charge, the NBA norm for such an incident is a two-game suspension.
--C Johan Petro, acquired by the Nuggets last January from Oklahoma City, recently re-signed with Denver as a free agent. But it doesn't appear Petro is in a position to get more playing time. He was the fifth post player last season. Unless there are injuries, Petro again will be the fifth post man, behind Nene, Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen and newly-acquired Malik Allen.
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.
