DENVER -- Nick Van Exel and team officials will meet Monday to discuss the possibility of a trade, which Denver Nuggets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe said may not happen.

Van Exel, frustrated by his team's 0-4 road trip that was capped by Saturday's 109-99 loss to Cleveland, said he was tired of losing and asked to be traded.

"I think Nick took that loss last night especially hard," team spokesman Tommy Shepard said Sunday. Monday's meeting is "an opportunity for everybody to vent their feelings and move forward."

Vandeweghe told The Denver Post he plans to keep Van Exel and "take it as a challenge to make him happy."

"I really don't have any intention of trading Nick. I think he's one of the best players in the NBA.... Given that Nick's such a competitor, I understand. As a player I had similar feelings at different times."

Van Exel is averaging team bests of 25.1 points per game and 6.7 assists for the 7-13 Nuggets.

Van Exel is in the third year of a $77 million, six-year contract that will end after the 2005-06 season. The 30-year-old is making $10.1 million this season.

Since being acquired by Denver in 1998, Van Exel has not experienced a winning regular season.

Besides the team's losing seasons, Van Exel said he was upset at several trades. The Nuggets have traded away players such as Bobby Jackson, Danny Fortson, Keon Clark, Bryant Stith, Ron Mercer, Popeye Jones and Kevin Willis.

"I just want to win, man," Van Exel said after Saturday's game. "That's the bottom line. I don't see it happening."

Van Exel said he and Vandeweghe have spoken about a trade. He said he promised Vandeweghe he wouldn't quit on his teammates.