10:58am: Cancar’s new deal is now official, per NBA.com’s transactions log.
9:30am: Free agent forward Vlatko Cancar has reached an agreement with the Nuggets, according to agent Misko Raznatovic, who tweets that his client will sign a three-year contract. The third year of the deal will be a team option, per Raznatovic.
The 49th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Cancar remained overseas for two more years, then signed with the Nuggets in 2019. He has spent the last three seasons with the team, but has only appeared in 70 games during that time, averaging 2.3 PPG and 1.3 RPG on .484/.333/.742 shooting in 7.2 MPG.
Cancar appeared to be in line for a little more playing time in 2021/22 before his season was derailed by a right foot fracture in January. The injury took about three months to heal — the 25-year-old returned to action in the Nuggets’ regular season finale, then saw some brief action in two playoff contests.
Despite Cancar’s limited role during his first three NBA seasons, the Nuggets issued him a qualifying offer last week, making him a restricted free agent, and have now reached a deal that will keep him on the roster. While the team held the Slovenian’s Bird rights, it would be surprising if his new deal is worth more than the minimum, and it’s unclear how much of it will be guaranteed.
Denver has 11 players currently on guaranteed contracts, with Bruce Brown, DeAndre Jordan, and Davon Reed set to join that group once they officially sign their respective contracts. That puts Cancar in line to fill the 15th and final spot on the team’s standard regular season roster, though it’s possible there will be more changes between now and opening night.
No offense to Mr. Cancar, but I’m surprised Denver, who should be an upper echelon team in the West next year, would not value an available vet wing on the minimum over him. There are still quite a few specialists that are out there at that position, whether valuing outside shooting, defense or volume scoring.
He’s a really good player, versatile and perhaps most importantly, a close friend of Mr Jokic.
We haven’t seen him play at all but he reminds me of Nicholas Batum. Steady, solid and positionally fluid. He can really shoot it and is a great glue guy.
I hope to see him get more chance to show that this upcoming season
Yeah Vlatko is frankly better than anyone else available at that price, and a lot younger. And Jokic wants him around. I’m a little surprised no one offered him a little more than minimum. Maybe someone did.
Career 58% TS & rising. Minimum contract favors the team, 2+1(team). This may not matter, but that I saw, Cancar was maybe the #2 talent on a good Slovenia MNT with Doncic. He did not seem hard to cover, and so was covered, but he should be accurate & versatile when needed.