Craig receives qualifying offer
Torrey Craig is about to sign a full NBA contract.
The Nuggets have sent a qualifying offer to Craig, a league source confirmed to The Denver Post, paving the way for him to become a restricted free agent. That means Denver can match any contract offer from another team.
Craig was one of the Nuggets’ feel-good stories last season. The 6-foot-6 wing carved out a rotation role while playing on a two-way contract, meaning he split time with Denver and with G League affiliate Sioux Falls. He averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds over 39 games with the Nuggets and was a multipositional defender.
“It’s neat when a story like this kind of materializes,” Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said of Craig last season. “It’s certainly welldeserving. … The league’s looking for guys like him — guys who can make a shot and play defense.
“It’s fun because it’s happening to a good person. It’s gratifying because he’s a guy that I think is unanimously liked by the coaching staff and the font office.”
Craig, who went undrafted in 2014, started his professional career in the National Basketball League in Australia and New Zealand. He earned his twoway contract, which was worth $75,000, after a successful stint with the Nuggets during summer league.
Free agency begins Sunday.