Nuggets bring back talented international bench player, add depth

Vlatko Čančar has mainly kept the bench warm for three seasons in Denver, saving Stan Kroenke from spending on seat heaters.

But there’s more to Čančar’s game than being a friendly Balkan face for MVP Nikola Jokic to confide in. Čančar is re-joining the Nuggets on a three-year deal, the team announced Thursday. The 6-foot-8 Slovenia power forward has appeared in 70 games (two starts) for Denver over the last three years, averaging 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game. Čančar showed flashes last season when he was relied upon due to injuries at the forward slot. But Čančar got hurt before he could prove to be a valuable rotation player.

The 25-year-old played in six games for Slovenia during last Summer’s Tokyo Olympics, scoring 12.8 points per game for the Luka Dončić-led squad. On both the international and NBA stage Čančar has proven to be a decent three-point shooter.

Čančar completes the Nuggets roster at 15 strong. Moves to get Davon Reed, DeAndre Jordan and Bruce Brown have not been finalized. Čančar will provide depth to the Nuggets frontcourt, and he’s not a bad option to do so; he is familiar with the team and system as well as skilled in several ways with something to prove.

Denver can only improve their roster via the lone remaining two-way contract they can offer. That role will likely be won in this year’s Summer League, which tips on Friday for the Nuggets.

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