DENVER -- The assumption is that Dan Issel will return to his familiar spot on the Denver Nuggets' bench Saturday, the day he is eligible to return from a four-game suspension.

The reality is that nothing is certain.

Numerous NBA sources say the Nuggets coach and president, who is expected to coach practice Monday, is contemplating resignation, the Rocky Mountain News reports.

And, despite the public stance the Nuggets organization has taken, choosing to suspend Issel for four games without pay, the team still has the option of firing Issel without paying the remainder of his contract.

According to the newspaper, a moral turpitude clause in Issel's deal allows the team to sever ties without compensation. Issel makes about $2.5 million a season and is in the third year of a four-year deal. If the team opted to fire Issel, it would have to be done before Issel returned for Saturday night's game in Denver against Golden State if the move was made to avoid paying the remainder of Issel's contract.

Or Issel and the Nuggets could agree on a buyout -- Issel agreeing to step down, the Nuggets agreeing to pay a portion of the remainder of his contract.

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said Issel will return to the bench Saturday night.

The Nuggets are scheduled to practice Monday at the Pepsi Center, and Issel is expected to conduct the workout. He has been in contact with the team since being suspended Wednesday, a day after shouting an ethnically explicit insult at a fan, but he has not actively coached the Nuggets. Nor has he publicly commented on the incident.

Vandeweghe said Saturday he was not sure when Issel would make himself available for comment. The Nuggets were off Sunday.

"It's a hard time for him," Vandeweghe said. "I think that this is different than anything he's ever been through. I think it's going to take him a little longer to get over it. I hope it's soon, but we'll give him as much time as he needs."

Issel did make a brief statement of apology at a Wednesday news conference before leaving Vandeweghe alone to field questions. Issel also appeared at a downtown Denver hotel on Friday to apologize privately to local Hispanic leaders. Issel will make a public apology to the Hispanic and Mexican community this week, possibly Wednesday.

"This is not going away any time soon," Vandeweghe said.

The Nuggets have won two straight as Issel endures his suspension since the Tuesday incident. Prior to that, they had lost nine of 10.

Players say the atmosphere is markedly improved under assistant coach Mike Evans. They call things relaxed, positive, and simply fun.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.