| 10 August 2009
(Denver-CO) While some teams in the West get better with big-name talent. The Nuggets continue to see pieces of the team that went all th way to the Western Conference Finals last year break off. Linas Kleiza is the latest departure from the Nuggets having agreed to a two-year, $12.2 million dollar deal with Olympiakos of Greece.
To me, this move is surprising for a couple of reasons.
From a player perspective, J.R. Smith is now a starter. This would mean that Linas probably would have been the first man off George Karl's bench this upcoming season. Furthermore, and despite the fact that Linas was a huge part of the Denver bench last season, players that have the ability to put together lengthy NBA careers usually do not stray from the NBA. But aside from those points, we can only speculate as to other reasons why Kleiza took the money and went to Europe . The Nuggets did offer a qualifying deal to Kleiza for $2.5 million dollars making him a restricted free-agent within NBA confines, but when Olympiakos offered nearly three times as much it seems like a no-brainer financially.
Now the Nuggets are in a position to fill a roster spot with a lot of weight. Kleiza was a solid performer, who despite having an off year, was still a great player coming off the bench.
At least I'm able to say I was there to see him light the Jazz up for 41 points in a Nuggets win.
Go Nuggets!
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