Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on Friday while playing for Slovenia in an exhibition game against Greece leading up to the 2023 World Cup, per The Denver Post’s Mike Singer. According to Singer, there’s no timetable as of yet for the surgery.
A torn ACL typically necessitates upward of a year of recovery time, meaning it would be somewhat surprising to see Cancar suit up in 2023.
It’s unfortunate news for the 26-year-old, who began carving out a bigger role with the Nuggets last season. With Jeff Green and Thomas Bryant, along with hybrid guard Bruce Brown, departing Denver in free agency, it looked like Cancar was in line for an even larger responsibility this upcoming season.
Cancar is in the second year of a three-year, $6.8MM deal he signed in 2022. He has a team option for next season, his final year of club control before he hits the open market. Given that Cancar made noticeable strides last season and the fact that he’s been in Denver’s system for so long, it’s possible that the Nuggets will keep him around through next season, despite the injury.
The 6’8″ forward joined the Nuggets in 2019 after being selected by the team with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. In his first three seasons with Denver, Cancar averaged 2.3 points per game in 70 appearances. This past season, Cancar averaged 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 60 contests (nine starts).
Cancar wasn’t just an important piece for the Nuggets, but also for Slovenia, who are aiming to medal in the World Cup. Cancar averaged 12.8 points in six games in the 2020 Olympics and averaged 11.6 points in seven EuroBasket contests in 2022.
I don’t agree with the assessment that Denver will keep him around to pick up next year’s club option. He’ll be coming off ACL surgery without having played in over a year. The smart move is to get the salary exemption for Cancar, cut ties and sign JaMychal Green or Wenyen Gabriel to be their backup PF.
Back up PF will be Nnaji/Watson/Hunter.
Vlatko is one of my favourite players but if anything it clears what might’ve ended up being a logjam. If he is waived and Denver gets an injured player exemption it will likely be a point guard or a backup 5.
Currently it’s Jackson/Pickett, Braun, Watson, Nnaji and Jordan/Huff in play for the bench unit. Fans hopeful Tyson cracks the rotation with Nnaji sliding to the 5.
Green or Gabriel wouldn’t be in the rotation.
I thought Watson was more of a SF/SG . Tyson will be spending most of his time in the G league. Jordan is cooked and needs to be on the 3rd unit with Nnaji splitting time between C and PF.
At first glance, all I saw was Nuggets, torn ACL and a thumbnail of a white guy and for a second I was really scared! No offense Cancar who is decent.
Huh? Did you really come to troll basketball players based on their race?
Could he have thought it was Joker ? I would be scared it was the MVP myself. Maybe he just didn’t communicate it properly.
Get well Cancar!
Meanwhile y’all get ready to say the name
“Braxton Key”
26 year old 2 way is Jokers type of PF
Fast feet and faster hands
Better than JaMichael on switchable Defense
They should trade him, not waive him