Nuggets Make Multiyear Offer to Karl

DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets have a made a multiyear contract extension offer to coach George Karl, but sources said the sides remain a good bit apart when it comes to finalizing a deal.

Sources said the offer is for three years for a total amount a little more than $11 million, but the third year hasn't been guaranteed at this point by the Nuggets. The average amount per year is similar to what Karl, earning a $3 million base salary plus incentives in the final year of his deal, is currently making but is less than the average coach's salary in the West of a little more than $4 million.

Indications are Karl and the Nuggets are a few million dollars apart on the total value of the deal. And there also are questions regarding how much of the third year might be guaranteed.

Bret Adams, Karl's attorney, would not comment on any specifics regarding negotiations. All Adams would say is that the sides are talking.

"Both parties are working hard and trying to use the end of the year as a point of a soft deadline," Adams said.

That is in line with what Karl told FanHouse on Dec. 11. Karl said he wants to return to the Nuggets but there could come a point around the start of 2010 in which it wouldn't be prudent to continue negotiations on an extension.

"There's got to be a point probably after the first of the year that you say, 'If we don't get anything done by this date, let's shut it down and let's worry about winning,''' Karl said.

It could be a very interesting next several weeks for the Nuggets. They are looking to acquire a big man before the Feb. 18 trade deadline, and there is one deadline before that.

The Nuggets have a $3.24 million trade exception from last January's Chucky Atkins deal that expires Jan. 7, 2010. If that one isn't used, the Nuggets also have a $3.696 million trade exception from last August's Steven Hunter trade that doesn't expire until Aug. 7, 2010.

The Nuggets (19-9) have dropped two straight games with star point guard Chauncey Billups out due to a left groin strain. There isn't said to be any panic that has set in, but the Nuggets still are hopeful of acquiring another big man by the trade deadline in order to match up better with their top West rivals, the Lakers.

It must be said the Nuggets could have competition in their big-man search from Portland. The Trail Blazers already have lost center Greg Oden for the season due to a knee injury and his replacement, Joel Przybilla, went down Tuesday night with a serious knee injury.

Karl said there's a "50-50' chance Billups will return for Wednesday's home game against Atlanta. If he's not back then, the Nuggets are at least hopeful of having him Friday at Portland.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson