It’s Official: Miller Becomes a Nugget

Point guard Andre Miller became a Denver Nugget on Thursday, with the Clippers formally declining to match a $51-million offer sheet for the next six years.

For now, the Clippers will make do with Keyon Dooling or Marko Jaric at point guard.

“It was a lost season, something you want to put aside and work harder for next year,” Miller told the Denver Post about his one season with the Clippers.

Now, the Clippers’ focus is trained on retaining small forward Lamar Odom, the last of their four restricted free agents to have his contract status for next season settled.

Odom’s focus is as yet unclear, according to Jeff Schwartz, his agent. And it could be another two weeks before Odom determines his next move, although that could change with the right offer.

“Basically, Lamar is thinking right now about what he wants to do,” Schwartz said. “It’s been said before, but he’s really thinking about taking the one-year offer from the Clippers and testing free agency next year. With that said, there are still teams interested in him [now].”

Odom has rejected a Clipper offer of a three-season deal worth $24 million. The Clippers declined to comment.

The Miami Heat is another team interested in Odom and, with $11 million in space under the salary cap, plenty of money available.

The Clippers recently matched the Heat’s six-year, $82-million offer to power forward Elton Brand, and Miami is reportedly hesitant about losing out to the Clippers twice in less than a month.

Odom was said to be encouraged by owner Donald Sterling’s willingness to match the Heat’s offer to Brand and the Utah Jazz’s six-year, $42-million offer sheet to shooting guard Corey Maggette.

“Matching those guys is a step in the right direction,” Schwartz said. “It indicated to a lot of people that they’re serious about their future. But [Odom] still wants to think about what’s right for him.”