Vanderbilt signs rookie contract
Denver’s roster is full, which could lead team to trade Faried, Arthur
The Nuggets have signed Jarred Vanderbilt to a full rookie contract, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is for three years and $4 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Vanderbilt, who was drafted 41st overall by Orlando before being traded to Denver, is recovering from foot/ankle injuries that limited him to 14 games during his only season at Kentucky. But in 17 minutes per contest, he averaged an eye-popping 7.9 rebounds to go along with 5.9 points. He is not participating in NBA summer league in Las Vegas and has been in a walking boot in recent days.
“The rebounding numbers fly off the page,” Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said of Vanderbilt on draft night. Connelly added: “You watch his high school tape, he’s handling the ball, he’s de- fending all over the court. He’s not undersized. He’s a face-up (power forward). He can defend and push the ball on rebounds. He’s fought injuries for the last year, so we don’t see the guy you
saw in high school as a top recruit.”
Vanderbilt’s signing means Denver’s roster is full with 15 players. This week, Nikola Jokic signed his max extension with the Nuggets, and free agents Will Barton and Torrey Craig re-signed with Denver.
That full roster means there is not currently a spot for Monte Morris, who is on a two-way contract but vying for a full deal and the Nuggets’ backup point guard spot. But Denver could still be looking for a salary-dump trade — probably involving the expiring contracts of Kenneth Faried or Darrell Arthur — in an effort to move closer to the $123 million luxury tax line.
Nuggets’ 2018-19 projected payroll
Nikola Jokic: $29.6 million (average for fiveyear, $148 million max extension)
Paul Millsap: $29.2 million
Gary Harris: $16.5 million
Kenneth Faried: $13.8 million
Will Barton: $13.3 million (average for fouryear, $53 million contract)
Mason Plumlee: $12.9 million
Darrell Arthur: $7.5 million
Jamal Murray: $4.5 million
Trey Lyles: $3.4 million
Michael Porter Jr.: $2.9 million
Juancho Hernangomez: $2.2 million
Torrey Craig: $2 million
Tyler Lydon: $1.9 million
Malik Beasley: $1.8 million
Jarred Vanderbilt: $1.3 million (average of reported threeyear, $4 million contract)
Total payroll: $142.8 million
Salary cap: $101.9 million
Luxury tax line: $123 million