July 12: Saric’s deal with the Nuggets is now official, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).
July 6: The Nuggets will add veteran power forward/center Dario Saric on a two-year, $10.6MM deal, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Saric will have a player option on the second season of the contract, Wojnarowski adds.
Denver will use its $5.2MM taxpayer mid-level exception and will become hard capped at the $188.9MM second apron, according to cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link). The Nuggets are currently $12.6MM below the apron with 12 players under contract. They will be limited to minimum signings to fill out the roster.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports revealed last week that Denver had ongoing interest in signing Saric. He reportedly also had an opportunity to join Panathinaikos in Greece if he didn’t receive an NBA offer to his liking.
Saric earned $2.7MM last season with the Warriors on a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract. He appeared in 64 games, making nine starts, and averaged 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 17.2 minutes per night.
He’ll likely fill a similar role with the Nuggets, who have been looking to add some experience to their roster after suffering significant free agent losses since winning the 2023 championship. His signing may also clear the way for a trade of forward/center Zeke Nnaji, who is reportedly being made available. Nnaji saw limited playing time last season, and his four-year, $32MM contract extension will begin with the 2024/25 season.
Saric, 30, was selected with the 12th pick in the 2014 draft. Before coming to Golden State, he spent time with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Phoenix and Oklahoma City.
Cool beans. What about a backup point guard?
Russ…
Zeke Naji leaving?
They are trying to trade Naji for Russell Westbrick
That can’t happen for salary reasons. Unless Clips want to throw in Amir Coffey. That would work very nicely (for the Nuggets).
Kinda wanted him for the Knicks
I like this for both him and the Nuggets. He took the minimum to play for the Warriors last year and I was one of the loudest proponents and supporters of that.
I think he’s a pretty nice player and has a lot to give. Glad he’s getting a little bit of a Payday here and doubling last year’s salary, plus getting 2 years.
Good for him and sorry his time with the Warriors was not longer.
I agree, I loved his sign on paper, but on the court, he seemed to really be finding his way, then the DM tragedy hit him and he was 100% checked out the rest of the year.
He sucked 75% of the season
Overpay
He was outsranding for Warriors and didnt play regularly in the 2nd half as the youngsters had to play. He should have been traded at the deadline for at least a 2nd roumder.
Solid move ….. now get Russ
all the euros on the backside of their carees will line up season after season to get a chance for a chip with jokic.