Inside The Nuggets

Denver Nuggets Pursuing Free Agency Deal With NBA Champion

The Nuggets are reportedly working towards a free agency deal

Joey Linn

Mar 31, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar (31) during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar (31) during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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It was announced on Sunday by Bennett Durando of The Denver Post that the Dever Nuggets would be declining the 2024-25 player option for Vlatko Cancar, but maintained interest in re-signing him to a new contract. In additional update on Tuesday, it was announced by Tony Jones of The Athletic that Denver is indeed pursuing a new deal with Cancar to remain with the team.

Cancar was on the 2023 Nuggets roster that won the NBA championship, but he did not play at all this past season after tearing his ACL over the summer. In that 2022-23 campaign, Cancar appeared in 60 regular season games and five postseason games.

After the Nuggets lost some key free agents following their championship, it looked as if Cancar would have a potential path to rotation minutes. This was never allowed to play out, as his ACL injury cost him the entire 2023-24 season, but Cancar should be ready to play again when the 2024-25 season begins.

The Nuggets have done well to keep their core group together for several years while rotating in different pieces to fill out the rotation. Showing some flashes of potential in his limited opportunities, Cancar looked to be one of the next possible key role players for Denver prior to his injury, so perhaps that can finally come to fruition next season.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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