Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith was cited by Miami police on Saturday for driving a scooter without a driver's license, the website TMZ reported, another in a line of automobile charges for the six-year NBA pro.

The website, citing law enforcement officials, reported that Smith signed a notice to appear in court at a later date.

Smith in 2009 was suspended by the league for the first seven games of the season after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving during a 2007 auto accident that killed his friend, Andre Bell.

Nene told Denver Post reporter Chris Dempsey earlier this month that he might well opt out of his contract and that the Nuggets "don't realize all of the sacrifices I made. When you don't feel appreciated, it's hard."

Karl seemed optimistic that the Nuggets could persuade Nene to stay. The Brazilian is due to make $12 million next season but could sign a three-year extension with Denver, the team he's played for his entire career.

"I have no problem with Nene expressing his opinions on his position. I think me and the organization very much want him here," Karl said. "I think with the situation of this year, maybe he felt like he needed more contact (about the contract). (But) from what I know with my relationship with Nene and his love for Denver, I just think things are going to get worked out, I really do.

"I know (executives) Masai (Ujiri) and Josh (Kroenke) have kind of talked to him, and I'm going to follow up on that — I'm sure it will be in the next couple of weeks."

Stacey Augmon, a 15-year NBA veteran who spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, is returning to college basketball to accept a position on the staff of new UNLV Rebels coach Dave Rice.

Augmon was a starting forward for UNLV's 1990 NCAA championship team. He was considered the defensive star of the Rebels and was a three-time winner of the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ defensive player of the year award.

Augmon became a player development coach for the Nuggets after playing for, among others, the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic.

Nene said Monday he is strongly considering opting out of the final season of his six-year, $60 million contract, which would pay him $12 million, and testing the free-agent market.

After nine seasons in the NBA, Nene has full control of his future and it could take hard work for the Nuggets to make him happy enough to return.

"I've been here for nine years," said Nene, 28. "If that doesn't work how you want it, you need to sit down and evaluate everything and see what you can do."
The overarching issues in this situation are his level of happiness with the Nuggets and, ultimately, his value on the open market.

Players similar to him — Utah's Al Jefferson, Chicago's Carlos Boozer and Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge — will make $11 million to $14 million next season.

George Karl would like Denver to keep reserve point guard Raymond Felton.

"My hope is Raymond and (Ty Lawson) could stay together and kind of work the point guard position into a two-guard position," Karl said. "When we play them together, I still think that is one of our most powerful weapons. It wasn't as successful against OKC, but in those last few games, (but) it was really important to us. I still think that both of them are fantastic little guards, and I would like to have both of them back next year." …

The Nuggets surely will listen to offers for Felton. The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and will make $7.5 million next season, compared with Lawson's $1.6 million.

Asked what they do about Felton, general manager Masai Ujiri said, "I think with what we've done so far, there's chemistry. Is that going to continue to next year? That's something we'll have to evaluate in the next couple of months. But Felton has had a great spirit here and has brought us leadership and a tough point guard mentality.

"Does Felton think he's a starting point guard in the NBA? Yes, he does. Is Felton a starting point guard? Yes, he is. He has proved that. So we'll figure it out."