Wilson Chandler Signs Five-Year Deal With Nuggets

Denver Nuggets Sign Wilson Chandler To Long-Term Contract

The Denver Nuggets and Wilson Chandler have been flirting with each other ever since the latter returned from China, but it took a little while for the two to come to terms on a contract. Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri was finally able to re-sign the swingman on Sunday night, as he continues to add talent to an already solid team.

Chandler played 21 games for the Nuggets last season following the Carmelo Anthony trade, but the 24-year-old restricted free agent decided to take his talents to China instead of deal with the uncertainty of the NBA lockout this summer.

Ujiri said in a press release:

"It is great to have Wilson back on our roster. It was a very unique situation signing a talented free agent in the middle of the season, and we worked extremely hard to find an agreement that was best for everyone. Wilson will be an excellent addition for the rest of this season and for years to come."

Citing Chandler's agent, the Denver Post's Benjamin Hochman reports that the deal is for five years and worth $37 million. He'll join JaVale McGee, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards, as new additions to the Nuggets lineup.

For more on Chandler and the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver.

Denver Nuggets Nearing Long-Term Deal With Wilson Chandler, According To Report

The Denver Nuggets are closing in on a long-term deal with restricted free agent forward Wilson Chandler, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, citing sources close to the situation. The deal could be finished as soon as Friday.

Terms of the deal are unclear, but Stein revealed that one possibility being discussed is a five-year deal worth $30 million, with the Nuggets holding an option for the fifth year of the contract.

Chandler recently returned from China. He did not sign a restricted free agent offer sheet with the Nuggets ahead of the March 1 deadline. That left Chandler with a choice between sitting out the season, playing in China or signing a deal with the Nuggets. He apparently chose the latter.

Denver cleared up some space on the books on Thursday when they sent Nene and his five-year, $70 million deal to Washington in a three-team trade that landed the Nuggets former Wizards center JaVale McGee.

For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver.

Wilson Chandler Does Not Sign Offer Sheet, Will Join Nuggets Or Sit Until 2012-13

Wilson Chandler, a Denver Nuggets restricted free agent who recently returned from China, did not sign an offer sheet by Thursday's deadline, meaning that the forward will either have to sign with the Nuggets, go back overseas or sit out until the 2012-13 season.

If he sits, Chandler will remain a restricted free agent, meaning that the Nuggets will be able to match any offer sheet that he signs with another NBA team. Restricted free agency serves to depress player salaries. The only way out of it for Chandler, assuming that Denver won't sign him to a one-year deal now for the remainder of the season, is to take the Nuggets' compulsory qualifying offer this summer, play out the 2012-13 season and became an unrestricted free agent in July 2013.

The Nuggets are shorthanded due to injuries to Nene and Danilo Gallinari, but remain right in the middle of the West playoff race.

For more on the Nuggets, please visit Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver.

Wilson Chandler Options Seem Limited To Nuggets Or Italy, Not Raptors

Wilson Chandler is once again a restricted free agent in the NBA, following clearance from FIBA officials upon his return from China, making Thursday the deadline to submit offer sheets for his services. It seems the swingman will likely be returning to the Denver Nuggets, his team before the lockout happened, as reports indicate the Toronto Raptors won't submit a bid.

Chandler met with Raptors officials last week in Toronto, but they've apparently decided to pass on Chandler for the time being, according to the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat.

The Raptors would love to have the versatile swingman who can both defend and score, but don't have the cap space to submit an offer Denver would not match.

[...]

According to sources, Toronto has balked at Chandler's asking price, but has not completely closed the door if he becomes unrestricted and is willing to accept less money.

The Sun also reports that the Nuggets want to sign Chandler to a long-term contract, not just for the remainder of the season. If the swingman isn't interested in that proposal, numerous reports indicate that he has a job waiting for him in Italy for the remainder of the season.

For the Raptors perspective, visit RaptorsHQ. For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver.

Wilson Chandler Could Opt To Remain Unsigned Until July, According To Report

Wilson Chandler, who met with the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, could opt to remain a free agent until July and look to sign a long-term contract as a restricted free agent then, reports SI.com's Sam Amick. As a restricted free agent, Chandler is subject to having any offer sheet he signs matched by the Denver Nuggets, who hold his RFA rights. Chandler cannot sign an offer sheet for less than three years with any club, and Amick reports that the Nuggets are not interested in signing Chandler to a one-year deal, which would allow the forward to become unrestricted in July.

Chandler could, however, sign his Nuggets qualifying offer by March 1 and play out the season on a small contract in order to reach unrestricted status in July.

The Nuggets have invested quite a lot of money in the team's core since the lockout ended. Danilo Gallinari, Nene and Arron Afflalo all have signed lucrative long-term deals; Ty Lawson will be eligible for an Early Bird extension in the summer, as well. But Denver's front office and coaching staff is believed to think highly of Chandler, who averaged 12 points per game for the Nuggets last season.

For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs.

Wilson Chandler Visiting With Raptors, According To Report

Wilson Chandler is meeting with the Toronto Raptors to discuss the possibility of joining the team according to his agent, says SI.com's Sam Amick.

Wilson Chandler Expected To Meet With Nuggets, According To Report

Wilson Chandler is apparently done with his Chinese basketball career and ready to return to America. The first team that will have a chance to sign him will be the last team he played for in the NBA, apparently, as the swingman is expected to meet with the Denver Nuggets on Monday.

Chandler averaged 12.5 points and five rebounds for the Nuggets last season before being one of the first players to sign abroad during the extended NBA lockout. He averaged 26.6 points and 11.6 rebounds with Zhejiang Guangsha, but is now eligible to return to the Association.

Just got word that Wilson Chandler will be in Denver tomorrow to meet with the team about a possible signing.

— Benjamin Hochman (@nuggetsnews) February 20, 2012

It'll be interesting to see how far the two sides get considering Chandler should have a few teams interested in his services, though it seems the Nuggets are the front-runners.

For more on Chandler and the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver.

Wilson Chandler Expects To Sign With Denver Nuggets After Return From China, According To Report

The deep Denver Nuggets bench is expected to get even deeper in the coming weeks. Wilson Chandler, a restricted free agent that went to play in China over the summer, is expected to re-sign with the Nuggets as soon as the Chinese Basketball Association season ends, according to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

It remains unclear whether the Nuggets sign Chandler for just this season or to a long-term contract extension, but either way, Chandler is likely to stick in Denver even though his agent told Spears that several teams have expressed interest in his services. General manager Masai Ujiri told Spears that his "goal" is to re-sign Chandler.

Chandler averaged 12.5 points and five rebounds per game with the Nuggets after coming over in the Carmelo Anthony trade at midseason. The Chinese Basketball Association's regular season ends on February 15, but Chandler's team is expected to qualify for the playoffs.

For more on Chandler and the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver.

Wilson Chandler Takes One For The Team

Wilson Chandler risked more than any other NBA player has by signing in China. Will the bet pay off? Also: why we hold David Stern to a higher standard.

Wilson Chandler Signs In China Without NBA Lockout Opt-Out, Says Reports

J.A. Adande of ESPN reports that Wilson Chandler has signed a one-year deal in China with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association. The terms of the deal beyond length aren't known, though Adande reports that Chandler will be paid more than the $1.7 million reported in recent rumors but less than the $3.1 million Chandler would be eligible for via a qualifying offer from the Denver Nuggets. Chandler, who was a part of the Carmelo Anthony trade last February, is a Nuggets' restricted free agent.

The CBA passed a rule earlier in August banned clubs from signing players under NBA contract and also prohibiting opt-out clauses allowing players to end their Chinese contracts in the event of the NBA lockout ending. That means Chandler will be in China all season, no matter what happens with the lockout. It also means that unless NBA rules change, Chandler will remain a restricted free agent in 2012.

Chandler is the first current starting-level NBA player to sign in China. More than two dozen players have signed in Europe and South America.