Nuggets Interested in Signing Rider

J.R. Rider, a Laker washout after one season, is negotiating with the Denver Nuggets, among one or two other teams, for a 2001-02 contract.

Nugget General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe said Tuesday that he would consider signing Rider, a natural scorer with chronic behavioral issues.

“J.R. is a fantastic player and a good athlete with unquestionable scoring ability,” Vandeweghe told the Denver Post. “Anytime you have someone with such physical talents, you have to look at that.”

The Miami Heat might also be interested, but the Nuggets appear most interested. Rider, 30, has a longtime relationship with Nugget media relations director Tommy Sheppard.

Rider, whose next team will be his fourth in four seasons, averaged 7.6 points in 67 games for the Lakers. He was suspended for five March games for failure to comply with the NBA’s anti-drug program, and then was left off the club’s playoff roster, partly because the team did not consider him trustworthy.

Vandeweghe said he would not ignore Rider’s past.

“That is something we have to discuss with J.R. and see where he is right now,” he said.