The Nuggets have added draft pick Ty Lawson and traded for forwards Arron Afflalo and Malik Allen. Some of the team's recent moves appear to have been done to save money, but the savings are not as much as they might seem.

While $6.1 million in salary is out the door with the loss of Kleiza and Hunter, the Nuggets have just 10 players under contract at about $69 million. Every team must carry at minimum of 13 players. So salary will be added back onto the roster, no matter whom the Nuggets sign.

And there is considerable work to be done. The Nuggets are trying to bring back guard Anthony Carter, who is an unrestricted free agent. Carter was seeking a multiyear deal but may have to sign a one-year contract for the veteran minimum, which for him would be $1.3 million.

"We're definitively trying to sign A.C.," Nuggets vice president of Basketball operations Mark Warkentien said.

As far as Kleiza, the Nuggets had given him a one-year, $2.7 million qualifying contract. Had the native Lithuanian accepted, he would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. He can opt out of his contract with Olympiakos after one year, and the Nuggets still retain his NBA rights.

"The qualifying offer was the equivalent of an 80 percent raise," Warkentien said. "He signed for in excess of twice as much."

Of the final three roster spots, Warkentien said he was "hopeful" Carter would take up one spot and the Nuggets "will go and get another wing player" to replace Kleiza. One name floating around is that of veteran guard Wally Szczerbiak, who last played with Cleveland. He is an unrestricted free agent and would fill the need for a perimeter scorer off the bench.

"Of our remaining roster spots, etch this in stone," Warkentien said. "One of them will be a wing."

Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com