We knew the Nuggets had interest in trying to extend the contract of scoring forward Danilo Gallinari but was the interest mutual?
Apparently so. At the Italian national team media day, Gallinari confirmed that he and his agent are talking contract extension with the Nuggets, reports Sportando.
Gallinari is finally healthy after some rough times following a botched surgery and is entering the final year of his contract, worth $11.5 million.
Gallinari averaged 12.4 points a game and shot 35.5 percent from three last season. He is a versatile scorer who also has some handles and can get a few boards. He had a PER of 16.4, a little above the league average. He would be someone coach Mike Malone could lean on to provide points on the court (something that may be a challenge for Denver at times).
In theory, the Nuggets could offer up to three years and $40 million, but an option to keep an eye on is a two-year extension, maybe in the financial range he is right now. The advantage to the two-year deal for the Nuggets is that they can trade him right away (that three-year deal means for six months he stays). We know the Nuggets have already explored some trade talks about Gallinari as they look to reshape their roster and franchise. Him not being a free agent after this season makes him a more attractive trade piece.
The issue for Gallinari is to balance the security of what the Nuggets are offering now — he has had injury problems in the past — versus trying to cash in when the salary cap spikes next summer and he can be a free agent. It likely comes down to how many dollars the Nuggets are putting on the table.