APRIL 30: The Nuggets have officially signed Rivers for the remainder of the season, the club confirmed today in a press release.
APRIL 29: The Nuggets and Austin Rivers have reached an agreement on a rest-of-season deal, which they’ll complete after his 10-day contract with the team expires on Thursday night, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
As Mike Singer of The Denver Post explains (via Twitter), Rivers made a strong positive impression on the Nuggets’ coaching staff and front office during his first 10 days with the team. As a result, Denver will forgo a second 10-day contract for the veteran guard in favor of a rest-of-season commitment.
Rivers, who has been thrown into the deep end with guards Jamal Murray (ACL) and Will Barton (hamstring) both on the shelf, has averaged 24.2 minutes per game in his first five appearances with the Nuggets.
The 28-year-old’s numbers so far have been modest – 5.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, and .345/.167/.750 shooting – but his career track record suggests he’s capable of more. He posted 7.3 PPG on .430/.364/.714 shooting in 21 games (21.0 MPG) with the Knicks earlier this season.
Assuming Rivers’ new contract is formally completed on Friday, it should pay him about $270K for the rest of the season. Denver would have a cap hit of approximately $189K.
With Rivers in the fold, the Nuggets have a full 17-man roster, so barring any cuts over the next couple weeks, they appear prepared to enter the postseason with their current group.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Seems like everyone has written off the Nuggets after Murray got injured. Their chances of reaching the WCF are probably just as good as the Suns or the Lakers.
Huh?
Might as well
Of course his stats have been modest; he’s not very good.
PER 6 in 121′. DEN was probably looking at his not-horrible defense and assuming the rest will come around.
This shows why I switched to favoring the Clippers for #1, who just signed Yogi Farrell to a rest-of-season contract.
I played against him when he was 15 at a Y in Winter Park. He lit me up when I had to guard him. Of course, I was like 35 or 36.
You’re depraved…
They should have gone with Waiters or Lin over Rivers