"I think it's fair to say that both sides are motivated," Nuggets director of Basketball operations Mark Warkentien said Wednesday afternoon. "That's why we're in L.A. and meeting today."

Warkentien is currently in Los Angeles meeting with Andersen's representatives, notably Denver-based attorney Mark Bryant and agent Steve Heumann of the L.A.-based Creative Arts Agency.

Bryant said the goal is to try to get Andersen a five-year deal around the mid-level exception (in the $5 million range annually).

"I think that's possible. But we're a team player," Bryant said Wednesday morning. "We'll make the necessary adjustments if we can and find the right fit."

There are numerous teams inquiring about the NBA's No. 2 shot-blocker from last season, notably Houston, which has all-star center Yao Ming shelved indefinitely, as well as Dallas, Portland and Memphis. But Andersen, who lived in Denver during his two-year banishment from the league for drug abuse, adores the city of Denver and has publicly said he wants to return home.

And the Nuggets' top priority this summer is locking down the reserve center, who bolstered the bench during the playoff run to the Western Conference Finals.

A free agent can't officially sign with a team until July 8, and, "It's open season," as Bryant said, "but I think realistically, we could find our range in the first week of July. That would be nice. That would be one of the (situations) - we respect you, you respect us, here it is, let's do this."

Ready to teach. Chauncey Billups was in the Nuggets' draft room when the team picked the player many already see as the heir apparent to the star guard.

Former North Carolina guard Ty Lawson is in the fold and ready to learn. Billups said he's ready to teach.

"That starts in training camp," Billups said. "I love to be in position where I can bring a young player along. Especially at my position, which is the toughest position in Basketball. I enjoy that. So, I'm going to of course give him all the knowledge and all that I can to make him successful. We're going to need him."

Kleiza waiting. Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza said he's in a "waiting" mode at the start of free agency. Kleiza, a restricted free agent, worked out a couple weeks in Denver, even showing up to pickup Basketball with the DU men's Basketball team before spending recent days in New York. He traveled to his home country, Lithuania, on Wednesday.

Footnotes. Dahntay Jones' agent, Mark Bartelstein, said "it's too soon to tell" if Jones will be back with Denver. The free agent played excellent defense for much of the season, but also is interested in a multiyear deal. ... An NBA source said the Nuggets are interested in Phoenix veteran Grant Hill, who could be a steal at around $3 million a year, though there are other teams interested in the former all-star.

Benjamin Hochman and

Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post