Danilo Gallinari Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Nuggets SF
Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari had been made available via trade prior to the 2015 NBA draft, but now it seems the team is interested in offering the sharpshooter a contract extension, per Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post.
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Nuggets Interested in Keeping Gallinari
Friday, July 17
Dempsey reported "Wilson Chandler's contract extension could be just the beginning for the Nuggets. If they have their way, they'd like to open talks on an extension for Danilo Gallinari as well, according to a league source."
On June 25, ESPN's Marc Stein reported the Memphis Grizzlies were looking to add a shooter after trading for defensive forward Matt Barnes, and Gallinari was a target.
Gallinari appeared in just 59 games last season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in December, but he returned in time to put together a solid post-All-Star break showing. Over the course of his final 24 appearances, Gallinari averaged 18.6 points while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three.
However, that small sample size may not be enough to alleviate concerns regarding Gallinari's injury-prone knees. Prior to tearing his meniscus, he missed the entire 2013-14 season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
With the Nuggets undergoing a regime change that's seen Mike Malone come on board as head coach and former Sacramento Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro join the ranks as the team's senior vice president of business and team operations, Gallinari isn't the first Denver player to hit the trade block.
Malone also acknowledged the team is likely to alter its depth chart over the course of the offseason during his introductory press conference.
"The roster I have today will probably not be the roster we have come training camp," Malone said, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "That's life in the NBA. Change is inevitable. But there's talent."
Gallinari fits the mold of a modern-day stretch 4, and his skill set should be coveted. Following the All-Star break, he shot 43.2 percent on catch-and-shoot threes and 37 percent on pull-up looks from beyond the arc, according to SportVU player-tracking data.
Entering the final year of his contract at $11.5 million, according to Basketball Insiders, the Italian big resembles one of the more appealing players on the NBA trade block due to the short-term nature of the financial commitment.
