Want to hear an absolutely crazy stat? Out of the entire 2008 NBA Draft, only four players have signed an extension with their respective teams: The first two were Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, followed by Kevin Love choosing the shorter deal with the ‘Wolves to stay in Minnesota. Now, per the Denver Post’ Benjamin Hochman, Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari has reached an agreement as well.
Hochman reports that Gallinari has signed a four-year, $42 million extension before the Wednesday deadline and will now be locked up with the Nuggets until 2016. Gallo, who was apart of the Carmelo Anthony trade, is basically their new ‘Melo so-to-speak. He’s easily their best scorer and has the ability to heat up at anytime. In 17 games this season he’s averaging 17.4 points while shooting 46.2% from the floor (a career-high), but has a career-low of 31.1% from 3s. Luckily, for Denver, he’s getting to the free-throw line an average of six times a night and hitting 89.2% from the stripe.
Although Denver might have struggled with this extension, they did the right thing by not letting Galinari go. He’s only 24 years old and is improving every year. He can be a 20+ scorer in this league but with so many options on Denver, he doesn’t have to be. You just can’t let that kind of talent walk away to another championship contending team. His main focus now need to be on becoming Denver’s “clutch time” player because he’s the only one on the team with that ability (maybe Al Harrington with the way he’s been playing).
Still angry at the Knicks for letting him go. Guess they had to do it to get Carmelo though.
Posted by jumpingpolarbear | January 25, 2012, 12:43 PM