Denver Nuggets Season Review: Vlatko Čančar
When Jeff Green accepted an $8 million per year contract with the Houston Rockets, the Denver Nuggets knew they were losing a key rotation player. Green provided not only veteran leadership but also contributed a reliable twenty minutes per game as a versatile big off the bench. The Nuggets likely anticipated that fifth-year forward Vlatko Čančar would compete for Green’s role in the upcoming season. However, Čančar’s plans were derailed by a torn ACL during the qualifying round of the basketball World Cup, sidelining him for the entire season and forcing Denver to adjust their strategy.
2023/2024 Season Stats: N/A
Season Story:
Čančar’s injury had a significant impact. Although his playing time was not guaranteed, the departure of Green and the similarities in their sizes and skill sets made Čančar a likely replacement. Čančar’s development as a playmaker could have allowed Denver to incorporate some of the bench unit actions that the starters perform with Nikola Jokić. Nevertheless, as an undersized center, it was uncertain whether Čančar would have played over DeAndre Jordan or Zeke Nnaji. Denver’s bench struggled with defensive rebounding from the season’s start, resulting in more playing time for Jordan, the biggest guaranteed contract player. Even if Čančar had been healthy, Jordan might have still secured more minutes. Čančar’s injury and year-long recovery left Denver without a clear solution for their bench frontcourt. His future with the team now remains uncertain.
2024/2025 Outlook with the Nuggets:
Čančar’s future with the Nuggets is uncertain. The team holds a $2.3 million option on his contract for next season and must decide by June 23rd. If Čančar had played and performed well last season, retaining him at that price would be a straightforward decision. However, coming off a major injury complicates the situation, particularly given Denver’s roster constraints and the uncertainty of Čančar’s post-injury performance.
Denver is unlikely to have many available roster spots this summer. If Čančar cannot contribute meaningfully, they may look elsewhere, especially if they draft a combo big and still have Zeke Nnaji and potentially DeAndre Jordan. Additionally, if they aim to bolster their point guard depth and find a replacement for Justin Holiday, Čančar’s roster spot could be at risk. With five roster spots available, one is likely for Reggie Jackson if he exercises his player option, another for Denver’s first-round pick, and a third depending on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s decision. This leaves limited spots before free agency begins, increasing the pressure on Čančar’s position.
Despite these challenges, Čančar’s cost-effectiveness and familiarity with Denver’s system make him a valuable asset. He has a strong relationship with Jokić, providing a unique locker room presence as a fellow Balkan player. Although Čančar will need time to readjust to NBA play post-injury, the benefits he brings both on and off the court suggest Denver may retain him. Given the limited options the Nuggets have due to their salary cap constraints, letting Čančar go would be surprising.
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