The Nuggets tried very hard, but came up short in their pursuit of center Mikki Moore.

Mark Bartelstein, Moore’s agent, said Tuesday his client will sign with Boston after having cleared waivers earlier in the day.

Bartelstein said Moore, waived last week by Sacramento, seriously considered the Nuggets.

“To the Nuggets’ credit (vice president of basketball operations) Mark Warkentien, he worked his butt off on this thing,’’ Bartelstein said. “He did everything imaginable to sell us on Denver being the right place (for Moore).

“He drove to my office (in Chicago on Monday) from Indianapolis (where Bartelstein said Warkentein was scouting) to make a presentation.’’

Bartelstein said Nuggets coach George Karl called Moore on Monday to make a pitch. Ultimately, though, Moore agreed to sign a prorated minimum deal with the Celtics for the remainder of the season.

“He’s had a long relationship with (Boston coach) Doc Rivers, and he knows a lot of the players there,’’ Bartelstein said of Moore, who played briefly with the Celtics in 2002-03.

The Nuggets are looking to beef up their roster for the homestretch, and would like to sign a player in the next week, most likely a big man. They now are keeping their eyes on whether Oklahoma City might buy out forward Joe Smith.

Another possibility could be center Chris Mihm, who could be bought out by Memphis. Mihm was traded last week by the Lakers, and could be a help for any team that might meet the Lakers in the playoffs.

Bartelstein said he has continued to talk to the Nuggets about Aaron Williams and Scot Pollard, a pair of his big-men clients who haven’t played this season. A Nuggets source, though, has called them longshot targets.