Wilson Chandler Contract: Guard's New Deal Has 4 Years After Remainder Of 2012 Season

The Denver Nuggets signed Wilson Chandler to a contract that is four-plus years in length and worth $37 million, according to Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick:

Wilson Chandler's deal with Denver is four-plus seasons (this one and four more) for $37 million, with no options, his agent says.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) March 18, 2012

The terms of this deal are not unexpected since the Nuggets would only sign Chandler to a multi-year deal. Had he signed for the remainder of the season, Chandler would have been an unrestricted free agent, leaving the Nuggets without any compensation or a chance to match any contract offer, which the team could have done this season had Chandler inked his name to an offers sheet.

Chandler is expected to be in action on Monday with JaVale McGee also making his debut.

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Wilson Chandler Re-signs With Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets, after several long months, have guard Wilson Chandler back in the fold. He has agreed to sign a contract with the team on Sunday afternoon, according to his agent:

Breaking: Wilson Chandler has agreed to sign with Denver, agent tells me

— Benjamin Hochman (@nuggetsnews) March 18, 2012

Wilson was a restricted free agent who signed with a Chinese Basketball Association team to play during the NBA lockout. He played the regular season over there and then sat out the playoffs while he worked to get clearance back to the NBA.

Once that happened near the end of February, Chandler started to look at other teams to sign an offer sheet, but he never did so before the March 1 deadline. That left him with signing with the Nuggets or sitting out and being a restricted free agent once again this summer.

When everything is announced, we should expect a long-term deal since the Nuggets didn't want to sign him for just the remainder of the season -- that would have left him an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

UPDATE: The Nuggets announced a multi-year deal.

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Wilson Chandler Rumors: Forward And Denver Nuggets Close To Agreement On Long-Term Deal, According To Report

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Denver Nuggets and Wilson Chandler are close to coming to an agreement on a new contract:

"It's very, very close," one source said.

Final parameters are still being discussed, sources said, but one scenario on the table is a five-year deal worth in excess of $30 million with a team option in the fifth year.

Related: Stein: Nuggets reach long term deal with Wilson Chandler

The deal could be done as early as Friday, according to Stein's source. The Nuggets traded away Nene Hilario on Thursday, and it appears that move helped the Nuggets find the salary cap space needed in order to get a deal with Chandler done.

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Wilson Chandler Rumors: Agent Of Nuggets' RFA Makes Cryptic Tweet

Wilson Chandler Update: It's Nuggets Or Nothing With No Offer Sheet Signed Before Deadline

Restricted free agent swingman Wilson Chandler did not receive an offer sheet from any other NBA team before the league's Thursday deadline, so his only options this season are to resign with the Denver Nuggets or sit out until the 2012-13 campaign. It's not necessarily that teams lacked interest in Chandler, but rather that they lacked sufficient cap space to offer him a deal the Nuggets would be unable to match.

Chandler and his agent had been preparing for this development for at least a week, as they got in contact with an unnamed Italian team about a potential deal for the remainder of his season. Still, the Nuggets hold the cards in this situation. Even if Chandler sits out or goes to Italy, his status as a restricted free agent sticks. The Nuggets will still have the right to match any offer sheet he signs with another NBA team.

The Nuggets could certainly use his talents as they push for a spot in the Western Conference playoffs, and Chandler said he likes being in Denver just a few weeks ago, but at this point he doesn't have another choice if he wants to play in the NBA.

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Wilson Chandler Rumors: Toronto Raptors' Cap Space Not Enough To Sign RFA

The Wilson Chandler saga continues. March 1 is the last day a team can offer (and Chandler can sign) an offer sheet from a team other than the Denver Nuggets. Just don't expect the Toronto Raptors to be the team to extend an offer, even though he has spoken with the team in the past week. The Raptors don't have enough cap space to outbid the Nuggets for Chandler's service, reports the Toronto Sun.

Since the Raptors are reportedly not going to extend an offer, Wilson will have his choices limited to the Nuggets, an overseas team, or sitting out from any basketball activities for the rest of the season. An unnamed Italian team is supposedly negotiating with Chandler's agent, Chris Luchey, to sign the guard to a deal, but that could also be a bluff to the Nuggets to blink.

The Nuggets don't want to sign Chandler for the remaining half of the season because that would send him to unrestricted free agency this summer. Chandler spent the first half playing for the Chinese Basketball Association.

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Wilson Chandler Rumors: Italian Team Attempting To Sign Nuggets RFA

Wilson Chandler's 2011-2012 season has a new wrinkle to it on Monday. The Denver Nuggets free agent has apparently turned his eyes toward Italy for the remainder of his season, according to his agent (via SportandoBakset):

Breaking news: Agent Chris Luchey told me that Wilson Chandler is in serious talks with an Italian team to seal a deal for rest of season

— Emiliano Carchia (@SportandoBasket) February 27, 2012

However, no one knows the name of the team. There have been numerous bits of information floating around about Chandler since he was close to returning to the league. First, as we all know, he is a restricted free agent, meaning the Nuggets would be able to match any offer from an NBA team. But the Nuggets only want to sign Chandler to a long-term deal.

Wilson needs to sign an offer sheet before March 1 if he even wants the chance to play for another team. Once March 1 hits, he is pretty much glued in with the Nuggets.

Of course, maybe Chandler's agent is just blowing smoke here.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes from around the league.

Wilson Chandler Update: Nuggets FA Sees CBA Team Eliminated From Playoffs, Easing Clearance Back To NBA

Though reports speculated that the Chinese Basketball Association was not going to grant Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Wilson Chandler a letter of return to the NBA, it now appears that that will be a moot point. Chandler's CBA team, one that allowed him to sit out the playoffs, has been eliminated from the postseason, reports Hoops World's Alex Kennedy.

Wilson Chandler's CBA team has been eliminated from the playoffs. His camp is expecting to receive clearance very soon.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 26, 2012

Chandler is still deciding between the Nuggets or to sign with another team, possibly the Toronto Raptors. However, since he is a restricted free agent, Wilson could see the Nuggets match any offer sheet he signs. If Chandler does not sign a deal with another team before March 1, he can really only sign with the Nuggets.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes from around the league.

Wilson Chandler Update: CBA Refuses Letter Of Clearance

The path for Wilson Chandler to make his return to the NBA has taken another turn, as Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Chinese Basketball Association has refused to give Chandler the clearance to play immediately in the NBA:

@wojyahoonba: The China Basketball Association has refused to give Wilson Chandler a letter of clearance to play immediately in NBA, sources tell Yahoo!

@wojyahoonba: Chandler is a restricted free agent, and almost assuredly on his way back to Denver. He could have to wait until mid-March to sign now.

@wojyahoonba: Chandler will file an appeal and a source believes resolution is possible within next week. Still, no one is sure how soon this plays out.

@wojyahoonba: Chandler and team reached deal to let RFA leave after he helped them to playoffs. But league has control of Letter, not individual team.

Chandler, who came over to Denver in the Carmelo Anthony trade, is a proven scorer on the wing. He averaged 15.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg last season and would provide the injury-riddled Nuggets with a huge offensive boost on the perimeter.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes from around the league.

Wilson Chandler Rumors: Nuggets RFA Talking With Raptors, According To Agent

Not so fast on the express train to the Denver Nuggets for Wilson Chandler. Despite sounding optimistic about signing with the Nuggets within a week or so, Chandler and his agent, Chris Luchey, are talking with the Toronto Raptors, according to Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick:

Wilson Chandler is visiting Toronto to discuss a possible pairing with the Raptors, according to his agent, Chris Luchey.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 22, 2012

However, Chandler and Luchey are still talking contract with the Nuggets at the same time, according to Amick. Luchey wouldn't be doing his job as an agent if he wasn't trying to find the best possible deal for his client.

Let's also remember that Chandler is still a restricted free agent, meaning the Nuggets can match any offer Chandler might agree to with the Raptors. It's just a question of how high the Nuggets are willing to go to match such a possible deal.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes from around the league.

Wilson Chandler Hopes To Sign Contract With Nuggets 'In The Next Week Or So'

Restricted free agent small forward Wilson Chandler attended the Denver Nuggets' Tuesday night overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he is in town to talk business with executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri as well. Chandler is still waiting for official clearance from the Chinese Basketball Association and FIBA before he can return to the NBA.

Chandler told Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com he hopes to finalize a deal with the Nuggets "in the next week or so." As a restricted free agent, Denver would have the right to match any bids on Chandler's services before the March 15 trade deadline, but the former Nuggets forward sounded excited to rejoin his old team (via Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com):

"I like being in Denver," he said. "It's a great team, a great young team. They're playing hard. The injuries have been tough, but it's still a pretty good team. I'm looking forward to being back. A long-term deal would be fine," he said. "Hopefully I can get back and help the team out."

The biggest decision Chandler will have to make is whether he wants to sign a long-term deal now with the Nuggets or merely join for the rest of the season and test the open market in free agency during the summer.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes from around the league.

Wilson Chandler Rumors: RFA Guard In Denver On Monday, According To Report

With all of the injuries they have experienced of late, the Denver Nuggets sure could use some stability in the starting lineup. That could be coming soon with the return of Wilson Chandler -- a restricted free agent who could still sign an offer sheet with another team. Chandler is reportedly in Denver on Monday, possibly to sign a new deal with the team.

Just got word that Wilson Chandler will be in Denver tomorrow to meet with the team about a possible signing.

— Benjamin Hochman (@nuggetsnews) February 20, 2012

Chandler has been playing in the Chinese Basketball Association for a team that made the playoffs, but he was allowed to return to the NBA without having to see any time in the postseason.

Had Chandler returned to the NBA on or after March 1, the Nuggets would have been the only real option to sign with. But right now, he could still look around the league and sign an offer that the Nuggets might not want to match.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes from around the league.

Wilson Chandler Promised Early Release From Chinese Team, May Return To NBA Next Week

Former Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler led his Chinese team, the Zhejiang Lions, to the Chinese Basketball Association playoffs, but team management says they are willing to grant the talented forward an early release to return to the NBA. According to ChinaDaily.com, Chandler's agent in China said his client will not play in the playoffs or the all-star game, and Lions management is supportive of Chandler making his own decision about when to return to the NBA:

"We prefer to let him make the decision. If he wants to continue with his duties here, we'll be happy. But if he wants to leave, we will release him, as he might play with a bad mood in the playoff if we keep him compulsively," Lions general manager Ye Xiangyu told Zhejiang media after talking with other team executives on Wednesday night.

The reason the team is so understanding is because Chandler is a restricted free agent and would need to be cleared to return by FIBA before March 1 for other teams to bid be able to bid for his services. As a restricted free agent, other teams can put in bids on him but the Nuggets will have two weeks to exercise their right to match if he returns before March 1 (the trade deadline is March 15). If Chandler comes back after March 1, only the Nuggets will have an opportunity to sign the forward.

Mark Stein of ESPN is reporting that the Lions essentially made a playoff clinching performance the basis for Chandler being granted an early release:

Sources told ESPN.com that Zhejiang management essentially promised a drifting Chandler that he'd be granted permission to skip the playoffs as long as he made sure the team didn't miss them. In the Lions' regular-season finale against the Beijing Ducks, Chandler responded with 41 points and 18 rebounds -- 25 of those points coming in the first quarter -- in a 114-94 rout.

The Nuggets are expected to match any reasonable offer for Chandler, but now the forward is deciding whether to sign a deal for the rest of the year in Denver and test the market in the summer, or to just sign a long-term extension with the Nuggets now.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes around the league.

Wilson Chandler's Chinese Team Makes Playoffs, Delays NBA Return

Former Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler's Chinese team, the Zhejiang Lions, qualified for the Chinese Basketball Association's playoffs with a 114-94 victory over the Beijing Ducks recently. That further delays Chandler's return to the NBA, as the Chinese league has prohibited NBA players from returning for the post-lockout season until the Chinese season has been completed.

Chandler has played like a star in China, averaging 27 points and nearly 12 rebounds a game while leading the Lions. The team has slowed down as the playoffs have neared, though, leading to some speculation that it likely won't be a major contender in the postseason. If the Lions lose in the first round of the playoffs, Chandler could return to the NBA by late February or early March. With the Nuggets missing Danilo Gallinari, his presence would be appreciated.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes around the league.

Wilson Chandler Plans To Return To Denver Once He Returns From China, According To Report

One of the NBA's deepest teams looks like it is about to get even deeper. According to Yahoo!'s Marc Spears, forward Wilson Chandler -- who signed a deal to play for the Xiniang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association during the NBA lockout -- will resign with the Nuggets upon his return from China.

Restricted free agent forward Wilson Chandler plans to re-sign with Nuggets once he returns from China, his agent Chris Luchey told Y!Sports

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) February 9, 2012

The Chinese Basketball Association's regular season ends on Feb. 15, and the playoffs end on March 28. After missing out on bringing back power forward Kenyon Martin, who recently announced he will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers upon his return from China, the resigning of Chandler will be a welcome sight for the Nuggets.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes around the league.

Wilson Chandler's Agent Talking With Denver Nuggets About Eventual NBA Return

The agent for former NBA forward Wilson Chandler, Chris Luchey, recently spoke to HoopsWorld.com about his client's return to the NBA and noted that the he has had discussions with Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri about signing a long-term contract with the team in the near future. Chandler has been playing overseas with Xiniang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association since signing a non-opt out contract with the team during the NBA lockout, but will be given permission to pursue a contract with an NBA team once his team has been eliminated from playoff contention. The Chinese Basketball Association's regular season ends on February 15th, while the post season season ends on March 28th, so at some point in the next two and a half months Chandler will be talking with NBA teams. Here is what his agent had to say to Hoops World:

"We speak to Masai quite often, in great detail about the future of the team and about a potential extension with them. One day at a time is all we're doing."

Chandler will be a restricted free agent upon his return to the NBA, and will join a pool of other overseas NBA players lacking opt-out clauses like J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Aaron Brooks, Patty Mills and Sonny Weems.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Nuggets be sure to visit Denver Stiffs. Visit SB Nation NBA for more news and notes around the league.

J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler Could Leave China Once NBA Lockout Ends, According To Report

It sounds like the plot to a bad action movie: Two Americans, held captive in China. Will they ever be released? Well, this time it's not a bad action movie, especially because J.R. Smith in China probably qualifies more as a comedy. ESPN's Mark Stein reported on Monday that despite a "no opt-out" clause that was reportedly locked in to any contract signed by an American player with a team in the Chinese Basketball Association, it is expected that Smith and Wilson Chandler, two of the three Nuggets currently hooping in the Far East, will be released by their respective teams if and when the NBA lockout ends.

So, how would Smith and Chandler be able to return home even though their contracts supposedly prevent that from happening? Well, the two players can't just walk away from their duties with their Chinese teams, but the Chinese teams can wave the two players, and at that point the players would be free to do whatever they pleased, which presumably wouldn't involve signing with the CBA version of the Cleveland Cavaliers. So yes, contract loopholes. Is there anything more American?

As for that third Nugget... well, Kenyon Martin might not be so lucky. It's believed that Xinjiang, the Chinese team that Martin is currently playing for, would want him to stay, and at that point, Martin would have no recourse. Unless, of course, he can get Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker on the phone.

Wilson Chandler Will Play Basketball In China During NBA Lockout

Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Wilson Chandler has done a 180-degree turn and settled on China as his overseas destination during the NBA lockout, reports ESPN's J.A. Adande. It appeared as though Wilson was headed ti Italy last week, but that report turned out to be wrong n Monday. Shortly after that, this news broke.

Chandler will not have an opt-out clause should the owners and the players reach an agreement to end the lockout. Because he is an NBA free agent and not under contract, Chandler was allowed to sign with the Chinese Basketball Association's Zhejiang Guangsha. However, Adande notes that it is possible for Chandler to rejoin the NBA in April for the final few weeks of the season--that is, if he isn't playing in the CBA finals.

His salary is unknown, but believed to be between $1.7 million and $3.1 million. He will join fellow NBA'er Earl Clark with the Lions, the English translation of the team name.

For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs.

Wilson Chandler Not Heading To Italy, According To Report; Destination Unknown

Despite a report last week that the Denver Nuggets' Wilson Chandler was heading to Italy to play for Olimpia Milano, that now appears to not be the case. According to veteran NBA writer Sam Amick, Wilson's agent said that his client is not likely to play in Italy. China, though, is still a possibility, at least as far as Amick is speculating.

The problem with Wilson heading to China is that he would be bound to play out the length of his deal in the Chinese Basketball Association. They are not allowing player's to receive opt-out clauses in their contracts, allowing them to leave once the NBA lockout ends. Amick tweeted a bit more, mentioning that an "exclusive story" will come out on Wilson soon enough.

Wilson is a restricted free agent and there are enough doubts about his role with the Nuggets that he may not be back with the team. But we won't know that until the owners and the players reach an agreement for a new collective bargaining agreement.

For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs.

Wilson Chandler Signs Deal With Olimpia Milano, According To Report

Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler has agreed to a contract with Olimpia Milano of Italy, according to Sportando. Chandler had been linked with Virtus Bologna last week, but that deal didn't come through or Chandler decided to keep looking for a new deal. This deal with Olimpia Milano last only for a few months, which is another workaround to escape contracts. All NBA players in foreign leagues would want to return to the league immediately at the conclusion of the lockout.

China had originally been a possible destination for Chandler, but once the Chinese Basketball Association forbade opt-out clauses, no NBA player appears headed to China.

Chandler will be a restricted free agent whenever the league starts up again and he would do well to take advantage of this move overseas. Should the Nuggets bring him back, he might find it hard to find playing time. Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari and rookie Jordan Hamilton all can play the wing.

For more on the Nuggets, visit Denver Stiffs.

No Opt-Out Clauses May Force Nuggets' Wilson Chandler, Others Out Of Playing In China

Wilson Chandler reportedly has an offer on the table to play in China, where he would receive $1.7 million. However, he hasn't signed the contract yet because there is no opt-out clause that would allow him to leave the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) once the NBA lockout ends. It now appears that the CBA will not allow opt-out clauses in any contracts. Nor will that league allow any player currently under an NBA contract to sign a deal in China.

Chandler is a restricted free, which would allow him to play in China. Yet, without an opt-out clause he is more likely to head to Italy, it would seem. At the time of the original report, both the Chinese club and the Italian club were unknown. But according to one report, the Italian team is Virtus Bologna.

One way or another, Chandler appears to be the next Nugget to head overseas. Ty Lawson has already signed a deal with a Lithuanian club and will join that team at the end of August. Start learning Italian and Lithuanian if you want to follow these Nuggets and don't want to rely on Google Translate.

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Nuggets' Wilson Chandler Looking To Play In China, According To Report

Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Wilson Chandler has deals on the table in China and in Italy. Where will he wind up?