George Karl Set for Surgery as Nuggets Taking Auditions

Filed under: Nuggets, NBA Coaches

DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets will begin to audition players Monday as they wait to learn the fate of injured forward Kenyon Martin. But coach George Karl won't be around to see the workouts.

Agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed to FanHouse late Sunday afternoon the Nuggets on Monday will work out two of his free-agent big men, Brian Cook and Jake Voskuhl.

But cancer-battling Karl will undergo surgery Monday morning to have a feeding tube installed in his stomach. He will be away from the Nuggets at least until Friday's game at New Orleans, definitely missing Wednesday's game at Minnesota.

"They'll come in (Sunday night) and leave Tuesday,'' Bartelstein said of Cook and Voskuhl. "Both of them are in good shape.''

Bartelstein said Cook has been working out in Los Angeles since being waived Feb. 23 by Houston after playing in 15 games. He said Voskuhl, even though he hasn't played at all since being in training camp with Dallas, has been keeping in shape in Phoenix.

It's just a start for the Nuggets as they decide what to do with their big-man situation due to Martin having what the team has called tendinitis in his left knee. Martin has missed the past two games and five of the past 12, and it's possible his situation could be serious and he's sidelined for a while.

The Nuggets also have talked to Bartelstein about three other of his big-man clients: Mikki Moore, Mark Blount and Rob Kurz. Bartelstein said it's possible any still could work out for the Nuggets, although Moore might not be able to go until around the middle of March due to continuing to recover from Dec. 18 surgery to remove a right heel spur.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/03/08/george-karl-set-for-surgery-as-nuggets-taking-auditions/