Veteran forward Vlatko Cancar is expected to leave the Nuggets and head to Europe next season, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com reports. The Italian team Olimpia Milano has emerged as the leading candidate to sign Cancar, Urbonas adds, with a report from Aris Barkas of Eurohoops suggesting the two sides are on track to complete a two-year deal.
Cancar, 28, has spent the past five seasons with Denver. He has battled health problems in recent years, having missed all of 2023/24 due to a torn ACL and then undergoing another knee surgery this past season. In 13 total appearances in 2024/25, he averaged 1.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11 minutes per contest.
Cancar is an unrestricted free agent after playing on a one-year veteran’s minimum deal.
Here’s more news on the free agent front:
- Nikola Jokic lamented the Nuggets’ lack of depth after the team was eliminated by the Thunder in the playoffs. That issue has been addressed, as The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando notes (subscription required). Denver agreed to trade Michael Porter Jr. and replace him with Cameron Johnson from the Nets, made another agreed-upon trade for big man Jonas Valanciunas, and reached agreements with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown in free agency.
- Despite a report from the Indianapolis Star’s suggesting they went higher, both The Athletic and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) contend that the Pacers’ best offer to Myles Turner was in the $20-22MM per year range. Turner agreed to a four-year, $107MM deal with Central Division rival Milwaukee on Tuesday. According to Spencer Davies of RG.org, Turner would have stayed in Indiana for $25MM per year, but the organization held firm, offering a three-year, $66MM contract, with no player option on year four.
- The Athletic’s John Hollinger notes that the league “middle class,” solid rotation players but not superstars, are doing surprisingly well in free agency. He points out that eight such players received some or all of a team’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception on the first day of free agency.
- Factoring in all the reported moves prior to Wednesday, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith examines the remaining spending power of all the Eastern Conference and Western Conference teams.
Thank the basketball gods. Denver has been wasting a roster spot on Cancar for YEARS.
He’s Jokic’s best friend in the NBA. Worth every penny.
Vlatko was great before his injury. His personality and game iq were the only thing keeping Jokić relatively sane up until the point in which C Braun was drafted. Now that MPJ‘s buttface is gone you can start releasing the glue guys and focus on talent rather than salvaging an unhealthy locker room! Hence, the signing of THJ, whom is a mini MPJ.
Praising the Hoop Gods with a 1 year vet minimum.
Would Indiana consider trading Siakam, at this point?
Nuggs are in good shape after all these moves …would love another pt guard to run the 2 nd unit…maybe Ben Simmons 🤔….don’t laugh..
He guards 1 to 5.,.don’t need him to shoot just run the half court…he’s great in transition and a tremendous passer…he could guard players like AntMan and SGA and Luka and Kawhi Leonard…to name a few..,not shut them down but give them trouble…especially with his length…
I know it all depends on him staying on the court…that’s a problem but could be worth the league minimum…Imo