OCTOBER 22: The signing is now official, per a Denver press release.
OCTOBER 21: Zeke Nnaji has agreed to a four-year, $32MM extension with the Nuggets, agent Adam Pensack tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
The new contract includes a player option for the final season, Wojnarowski adds. Nnaji will earn $4,306,281 this year before the extension begins in 2024/25.
A 22-year-old power forward, Nnaji was selected with the 22nd pick in the 2020 draft. He has become a valuable reserve for the defending champions, averaging 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 53 games last season while shooting 56.1% from the field.
Nnaji was on the court for 13.7 minutes per game in 2022/23, and he’s expected to see more playing time during the upcoming season after the loss of Jeff Green and Thomas Bryant in free agency.
Monday is the last day that teams can sign eligible players to rookie scale extensions. Those who don’t reach new agreements will become restricted free agents next summer.
[RELATED: Players Eligible For Rookie Scale Extensions In 2023]
Nnaji is the eighth player to agree to a rookie scale extension this year, joining LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Desmond Bane, Devin Vassell, Isaiah Stewart, and Payton Pritchard.
Seems like an overpay
Seems? This is Felicio 2.0
Lol. Yeah… as a nuggets fan I’m not thrilled.
The talent there. It’s just wasn’t no minutes for him the rotation. I see them being there for him.
They have to pay to keep their own. They will be near that 2nd tax apron with Jokic, Murray, and Porter making max levels. KCP gets paid a decent amount. They are expecting Nnaji to step up, if not money can be used in a trade.
Who ? In the playoffs last year this guy played 5 total games, 2.4 minutes per game. I guess they figure he’ll take Jeff Green’s Spot?
It was actually sneaky smart. The Nuggets did nothing this off-season but locking him up before him showcase him as a talent is a great idea.
Trust the talent evaluation process and sign guys before they prove it.
Imagine how much a team would have saved locking up Rui last off-season. Without the Lakers trade he would be at sub 8 million this year if that if he stayed with the Wizards.
Going into his fourth yr. It’s time to join the rotation. This man has talent for his size. Development takes time. Nuggets are doing it right. Why must you think everyone has to play big time right away. Better not to rush them and kill their confidence and growth.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Imagine if the Knicks locked up Sims for 4/20 on a extension right now. Non Knock fans would complain and say overpay, he isn’t proven. But trusting the talent and energy is the right path.
Nuggets are super capped out, if they don’t lock in their home grown talent they will eventually fall off. Plus next season he’s tradeable at a reasonable number.