DENVER, CO – JANUARY 11: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets works towards Dario Saric (20) of the Phoenix Suns in the course of the second quarter at Ball Area in Denver on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. (Picture by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Put up)
Free company lulled Nuggets followers to sleep, solely to jolt them awake finally.
Croatian massive man Dario Saric and the Nuggets have agreed to a two-year, $10.6 million contract with a participant choice on the second 12 months, league sources instructed The Denver Put up on Saturday. An eight-year NBA veteran, Saric has performed with 5 groups, most just lately averaging 8.0 factors, 4.4 rebounds and a pair of.3 assists for the Golden State Warriors final season.
Saric, 30, has additionally reprised his nationwide workforce position this summer season at Croatia’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Event. He registered a 19-point triple-double in a gaggle stage win over Slovenia final week, whereas Nuggets common supervisor Calvin Sales space was in attendance for the event in Piraeus, Greece.
After defeating the Dominican Republic on Saturday, Croatia will face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greek nationwide workforce in Sunday’s remaining with a spot within the 2024 Paris Olympics on the road.
Six days after the start of the NBA’s free company moratorium interval, Denver was one of many final remaining groups that hadn’t acquired a brand new participant but this offseason. A part of the delay with Saric was his personal dilemma. The Nuggets seen him as a top-priority goal, however he was within the means of deciding whether or not he needed to play within the NBA or Europe subsequent season, in accordance with a league supply. A number of NBA groups confirmed curiosity in him, in addition to the Greek membership Panathinaikos. Denver, a supply mentioned, felt assured about Saric even whereas different free brokers had been taken off the board all through final week.
Saric spent two years below contract with the Turkish membership Anadolu Efes after he was drafted twelfth general in 2014. When he lastly debuted with Philadelphia, he completed second in NBA Rookie of the 12 months voting for the 2016-17 season. He has performed stints with the 76ers, Timberwolves, Suns, Thunder and Warriors.
In 2016, Saric was on the Croatian Olympic squad that obtained eradicated by Nikola Jokic and Serbia within the Rio de Janeiro quarterfinals. Now Saric is coming to Denver to contribute to a crowded frontcourt behind Jokic. He joins a middle depth chart that at the moment consists of Zeke Nnaji and DaRon Holmes II.
Nnaji has been out and in of the rotation for his whole four-year profession, so Nuggets coach Michael Malone and the entrance workplace might envision Saric as a extra dependable veteran choice to play small-ball heart with the second unit. And Sales space has made clear that he views the first-round draft choose Holmes as extra of a 4 than a 5 — one key purpose the Nuggets nonetheless noticed it essential to pursue one other bench massive within the free agent market. They will additionally lean on positional dimension extra if Holmes performs the 4 and Peyton Watson is ready to play the three, his extra pure match.
Saric ought to present one other floor-spacing choice for Denver’s second unit. Since getting back from an ACL harm that sidelined him for the 2021-22 season, he has made 38.1% of his 3-point makes an attempt the final two years.
If the Nuggets deliver again frontcourt free brokers Vlatko Cancar and DeAndre Jordan, the acquisition of Saric will depart them with one roster spot left. Backup level guard is their greatest remaining want. Denver has proven curiosity in Russell Westbrook as a potential resolution at that place behind Jamal Murray, in accordance with a league supply.
Westbrook is below contract with the Clippers after selecting up his $4 million participant choice in June, however the workforce is reportedly searching for commerce companions or might purchase out his contract. The Nuggets now not have their taxpayer mid-level exception after signing Saric, however that doesn’t rule out a Westbrook transfer.
Throughout the frontcourt, Saric is prone to push Jordan farther out of the rotation subsequent season. Jordan alternated with Nnaji at backup heart in 2023-24, however assuming he returns to Denver for his age-36 season, his position can be extra centered on locker room management.
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