NBA Rumors: Nuggets Need to Re-Sign Wilson Chandler

If you've been wondering where some familiar NBA faces are this year, you need look no further than China.

Okay, so that's a pretty far look.

NBA players who signed contracts without an opt-out clause overseas have been largely held to those contracts.

One such player is Wilson Chandler, who is currently earning his paycheck in the Chinese Basketball Association and can't be released until sometime between February 15 (when ths regular season ends) and March 28 (the end of the postseason), depending on whether his team makes the playoffs and how far they advance.

Odds are he will rejoin the Nuggets upon his return. From Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld:

"

Chandler, who will be a restricted free agent when he returns from China, will weigh his options but there’s a strong possibility that he ends up re-signing with the Denver Nuggets. General manager Masai Ujiri wants to bring back Chandler after trading for him last February. Chandler’s agent, Chris Luchey, confirmed that the two sides have been in contact frequently throughout this process.

“We speak to Masai quite often, in great detail about the future of the team and about a potential extension with them,” Luchey told HOOPSWORLD. “One day at a time is all we’re doing.”

"

Chandler averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season (12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21 games with the Nuggets), and you would think his production would be missed in Denver, as would that of J.R. Smith, also in China.

But the Nuggets raced to a 6-2 start before cooling off recently, losing two straight. With the possibility of Smith not re-signing with the team—he'll be an unrestricted free agent once he returns to the NBA—holding on to Chandler becomes that much more important for the Nuggets.

Unless they keep winning with the roster they have, that is.

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