SEPTEMBER 28TH, 7:52am: The move indeed took place Friday, according to the RealGM transactions log, though the team still hasn’t made an official announcement.
SEPTEMBER 25TH, 4:12pm: The Nuggets have waived Papanikolaou, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link).
AUGUST 3RD, 8:01am: Papanikolaou’s camp is unaware of any pending waiver, according to Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops.net. Denver’s plan is to keep him until the Eurobasket tournament begins in December, and evaluate him then, sources tell Varlas. Nuggets GM Tim Connelly and assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas are set to head to Europe to scout Papanikolaou and others.
AUGUST 2ND, 3:03pm: Papanikolaou is not being waived by the Nuggets at this time, Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post tweets.
AUGUST 1ST, 2:30pm: The Nuggets will waive Kostas Papanikolaou, a source told David Pick of Eurobasket.com (Twitter link). His $4,797,664 deal was non-guaranteed.
Papanikolaou played for the Rockets last season and was traded to Denver as part of the Ty Lawson swap last month. Pablo Prigioni, Joey Dorsey, Nick Johnson and a protected 2016 first-round pick were also forwarded to the Nuggets in the deal. Houston exercised its option on Papanikolaou in June and his salary would have been guaranteed if he remained on Denver’s roster past October 4th.
With plenty of other forward options, the Nuggets had no intention of keeping Papanikolaou and wanted his non-guaranteed contract in order to shed salary.
The 6’9” forward was a regular part of the Rockets’ rotation during the first half of the 2014/15 season, but the acquisition of Josh Smith cut into the 24-year-old’s minutes and he also battled an ankle injury. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game before Smith joined the team and 2.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG and just 12.1 MPG in 21 appearances afterward.
Sixers!!!!! Pay attention!!!
Somebody will pick him up. Might be a good fit in Philly. Also have to wonder if he’ll pursue opportunities overseas.
True but we need floor spacers to open room for Okahfor
That’s one of his drawbacks — shot below 30 percent from long range last season.
He is a good shooter from outside.Don’t look at his stat in stacked Houston lineup full of shooters.2 years before coming to the NBA he maintained a 67 percent from long range on Euroleague duting the top 16
Perhaps with a better point guard and a coach who values his perimeter shooting, he can show that.
lakers should definitely give this a shot
He was having a pretty solid season until the Rockets brought in Smith and then injuries sidelined him.
Come on,lakers get him
Los Angeles Lakers need a legitimate SF. Here comes Papanikolaou to fill the void… C’mon Mitch… Sign Kostas…
Los Angeles Lakers Rotation
Starting Unit
C Roy Hibbert
PF Julius Randle
SF Kostas Papanikolaou
SG Kobe Bryant
PG D’Angelo Russell
Second Unit
C Robert Upshaw
PF Brandon Bass
SF Metta World Peace
SG Lou Williams
PG Jordan Clarkson
PF/SF Larry Nance Jr
PG Marcelas Huertas
D League Potential
PF/C Tarik Black
SF Anthony Brown
PF/SF Jonathan Holmes
Interesting thought but I anticipate the Clarkson will start at SG with Kobe moving to SF.
Interesting point Dana…. TBH I would hate to see Kobe log minutes at the 3 position… He’s a bona-fide 2Guard… Playing him out of position will hurt the team in the long run, hence IMO why it is important for the Lakers to make a play for Harrison Barnes or Kostas Papanikolaou….