DENVER -- Los Angeles Clippers free-agent point guard Andre Miller signed an offer sheet Wednesday with the Denver Nuggets, addressing one of the Nuggets' critical needs.

	Miller

Miller signed a six-year offer sheet totaling more than $51 million, according to his agent, Lon Babby. The offer includes a $10 million signing bonus and performance bonuses totaling $4.5 million, meaning the deal could exceed $55 million.

Denver will also give Miller $14 million up front, including $10 million of which will be in the form of a signing bonus. The point guard will also receive 70 percent of his first year's salary by Oct. 15, ESPN's David Aldridge reported Wednesday.

Because Miller is a restricted free agent, the Clippers have 15 days to match the offer.

During the 2001-02 season, the 6-foot-2 Miller led the NBA in assists at Cleveland with a 10.9 average as well as scoring 16.5 points per game. After being dealt to the Clippers last year, he slipped to 6.7 assists and 13.6 points on a team that had injury woes and contract problems.

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe called Miller "a great point guard. He led the league in assists. I think people forget how good he is.''

Nuggets rookie forward Carmelo Anthony is expected to sign a three-year guaranteed contract, including bonuses, worth $10 million on Thursday, making him eligible to play in the final Summer Pro League game that night against the Clippers.

Anthony missed the first two summer games because he agreed to remain unsigned, giving the Nuggets an extra $540,000 to spend on free agents.

Late Tuesday, the NBA and the players' union announced that the salary cap for the 2003-04 season will be $43.84 million, an increase of about 9 percent from last season. That means the Nuggets will have at least $18 million to spend on free agents.

Denver was continuing discussions with center Brad Miller of Indiana and point guard Tyronn Lue of Washington, both unrestricted free agents.

Lue, a five-year veteran who averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 assists primarily as a reserve last season, also has been talking with Orlando but has said Denver is his first choice.

The Nuggets had discussions with center Michael Olowokandi on Monday night but did not make him a formal offer. Olowokandi, an unrestricted free agent, then agreed to a three-year, $16 million deal with Minnesota.

The Timberwolves went after Olowokandi when Rasho Nesterovic bolted to San Antonio.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.