When the Nuggets declined their team option on Vlatko Cancar for the 2024/25 season, multiple reports indicated that the two sides would likely work out a new minimum-salary deal that would both increase the forward’s salary (from the $2.35MM the option would have paid to $2.43MM) and reduce Denver’s cap hit (from $2.35MM to $2.09MM).
That deal hasn’t happened yet, but Cancar – who is representing Slovenia at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece after missing the 2023/24 season with a torn ACL – expressed a desire to return to Denver, per Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops.
“I’m still waiting on their decision, We’ll see,” Cancar said. “… I want to be back. My goal is to be back. Hopefully there’s room.”
As Harris Stavrou of SPORTS24 tweets, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was at the Olympic qualifiers on Thursday watching Cancar and the Slovenians secure a spot in the semifinals by defeating New Zealand. Nuggets scout Marty Pocius was also in attendance with Booth, tweets Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports.
Here are a few more notes on free agency:
- Even after signing Monte Morris, the Suns are still believed to have interest in veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. However, Gambadoro says Lowry may be a long shot for Phoenix since the team can only offer the veteran’s minimum to outside free agents. The Suns are also still working on a new deal for their own free agent Josh Okogie, Gambadoro adds.
- The Sixers definitely have interest in free agent forward Caleb Martin, according to Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link), but he may be out of range of what they can realistically offer him. Philadelphia is expected to continue to monitor Martin’s market, says Neubeck.
- The Pistons and Lakers were among Buddy Hield‘s other free agent suitors before he decided to join the Warriors, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. According to Charania, the veteran sharpshooter chose Golden State “because of the opportunity to win.”
Martin needs to understanding his value is comparable to KCP but it’s too late
He is on auction
I want to get rid of his agent
Cancar unfortunately isn’t an NBA-level caliber player, and I think the Nuggets are not going to offer him a contract after seeing him play with Slovenia.
The Lakers were an option but he chose a play-in team from last year because he “wanted the opportunity to win.” That’s gotta hurt.
Maybe. Or maybe the Warriors offered the most money. Usually when someone says it’s about something other than the money, it’s actually about the money.
More likely its because the Lakers has not improved at all this offseason instead a worse team.
Where have you been, seamaholic 2? The Lakers were also a play-in team last year, and everyone around the league knows their first priority this coming season is to please Brawny Sensation; the priority to win falls a tad further down the ladder.
Cancar has truly been one of Slovenia’s worst players at this tournament so far. He’ll probably be their primary defender on Giannis for most of their game on Saturday. I would say his performance vs Greece in that game will greatly determine whether he still has an NBA future.
indiana traded away sabonis, a great player, but in return got haliburton the franchise cornerstone who led them to the ECF when nobody gave them a shot. plus pacers got buddy hield in that deal, who was traded midseason for two 2nd rounders incl furphy who is 1st rd talent that fell to the 2nd. also they traded 3 late 1st rd picks for siakam who just re-signed for 4 years and was a major catalyst in their playoff run. this is how small markets succeed. by out smarting other tms. not by signing every superstar on earth to max deals. look at the C’s. took a few yrs but all those draft picks they acquired by trading veteran garbage turned into a championship.
With the new CBA there is no small market or big market teams. CBA was designed so big market teams can’t out spend anyone.
Even Trent Jr is still unsigned…