Danilo Gallinari just signed a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets for two years and $34 million that will take him through the 2017-18 season. Earlier this offseason it was unclear whether the Nuggets and Gallinari would be able to agree on a deal but the two sides got it done and Gallinari couldn't be happier. Gallinari was so happy to get an extension with the Nuggets that he said he wants to play for them for the rest of his career, according to Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post.
Gallinari's value wasn't the highest it had ever been this offseason as he just finished up a season where he was working his way back from a torn ACL and it wasn't until the very end of the year when he looked like himself. Despite his value not being too high Gallinari still made out just fine in the deal as the Nuggets paid him for what they expect him to be in the coming years. Gallinari played this summer for the Italian National Team in the Eurobasket tournament and looked like his pre-injury self so the Nuggets should be pleased with the deal they made as of right now.
Gallinari has been with the Nuggets for the past four and a half seasons and he likes it there enough that he does not want to play with any other teams for the rest of his NBA career.
"I was just glad to stay in Denver that was my goal. If you see my history with contracts, it's never been about money because if it was about money I would have made other choices. But I love Denver and I want to stay here as long as I can. I would like to finish my career here. I was glad we were able to sign this contract," said Gallinari.
The Italian forward will enter his seventh NBA season at just 27 years old and has proven that he can be a very good NBA player. Now with this extension the Nuggets are hoping that Gallinari takes another step forward and becomes the Nuggets go-to-guy. Gallinari is just entering the prime of his career and is fully healthy so there is no reason he shouldn't be able to have the best season of his career.
For his career Gallinari has averaged 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 30 minutes per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. Gallinari will have every opportunity this season to earn that $34 million extension and he should do just that.
