The Nuggets are making their first big decision of the offseason, but it may not be what it seems

Sunday was a big day for the Denver Nuggets and their offseason as they faced their first major deadline day, Vlatko Cancara’s team option. After Cancar sat out all of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Cancar’s contract included a $2.346 million team option for the 2024-25 season, which would have been the final year of his contract.

However, on Sunday, the Nuggets decided to decline that option, making Cancar an unrestricted free agent. On the surface, it might seem like this is the end of the road for Vlatko in Denver, but that may not actually be the case.

There is a scenario in which Cancar now agrees to a new minimum contract with the Nuggets that will pay him slightly more next season while lowering his cap on the team. This would be a win-win situation for both sides, but of course that assumes both sides want to meet again in Denver.

Cancar was drafted by the Nuggets in 2017 and was a starter before suffering a knee injury. He’s still only 27 years old, and the big 6-foot-10 winger with shooting ability would be a great addition to the Nuggets next season. Much of his skill set is still based on upside and potential, but given the limited resources the team has, Cancar is a worthy risk. Later this month, he will play for the Slovenian team in the Olympic qualifiers.

If the Nuggets re-sign Cancar to a new contract, he could earn about $90,000 more with an extra year of work in the league. However, his cap for the team would be reduced by approximately $300,000. This could result in savings of nearly $1 million in luxury tax fees and will help customer service staff on the sidelines during the off-season.

This may seem like a small matter, but it could have huge implications for the Nuggets this offseason. Every move and every dollar counts, and the team must be extremely careful and diligent when operating on the margins. There will be bigger and more important moves in the offseason, but everything is interconnected and this seems like a pretty solid start.