Day: June 23, 2024

The Denver Nuggets are declining their team option for Vlatko Cancar for the 2024-25 season. Cancar was set to be on the Nuggets book for $2.3 million for this upcoming season.

Cancar will now head into unrestricted free agency. The 6-foot-8 forward missed all of last season due to a torn left ACL he suffered last summer while playing with the Slovenian National Team.

Denver and Cancar may link back up on a new contract. He’s a popular teammate and someone the Nuggets would like to keep. Cancar will could sign a new veteran minimum deal, which would help Denver save a bit off their tax bill for next season.

Paul George is considered the key free agent “domino” by at least one NBA team. That’s a sentiment likely shared by many teams.

If George hits free agency, he’s expected to have several suitors. That may be true, even if George takes another path and opts into his contract and seeks a trade. That will open up the market to teams that can’t pursue the LA Clippers star in free agency or via sign-and-trade.

One team that may have interest in trading for an opted-in George is the New York Knicks. A lack of cap space, and potential hard-cap issues that would arise via sign-and-trade, would keep the Knicks from pursuing George unless he opts in for $48.8 million for next season.

If George opts in, he’d have to wait six months, but could eventually work out an extension with a new team. An extend-and-trade transaction is also possible, but less likely.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is becoming an increasingly sought after free agent target. If the Denver Nuggets are unable to sign Caldwell-Pope to an extension, the veteran guard is expected to decline his option to become a free agent.

In free agency, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are two teams that are rumored to have interest in signing Caldwell-Pope. Both teams should have plenty of cap space to pursue free agents this summer.

The Sixers are undergoing a roster overhaul around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Caldwell-Pope would fit in perfectly as a premiere 3&D player in their new-look rotation.

Orlando is looking at options at the guard position alongside Jalen Suggs. The Magic have a somewhat limited spending window, before extensions kick in for their younger players in 2025 and 2026.