Mason Plumlee was one of the more intriguing players to hit the restricted free agency market this summer. While all eyes were on the likes of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nerlens Noel and Otto Porter, Plumlee was lurking in the shadows hoping to secure a big deal of his own.
It was a mixed bag of success for the top restricted free agents. Otto Porter and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope cashed out in two completely different ways, Tim Hardaway Jr came out of nowhere to sign a big deal and Nerlens Noel settled for a smaller contract as Nikola Mirotic and Alex Len currently sit without any new deals going into the season.
But for Plumlee, he doesn’t have to worry about the possibility of unrestricted free agency next year after he agreed to a new deal with the Nuggets. He’ll re-sign with Denver on a 3-year deal worth an estimated $41 million.
Following comes from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Restricted free-agent center Mason Plumlee has agreed to a three-year, $41 million deal to return to the Denver Nuggets, league sources told ESPN.
Agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports and Denver general manager Tim Connelly reached agreement on the deal late Sunday night, league sources said.
With the deal, Denver was able to avoid Plumlee signing a $4.6 million qualifying offer for the 2017-18 season — which would’ve allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Plumlee was traded to the Nuggets last year after a trade deadline deal saw Jusuf Nurkic and a first round pick get shipped to Portland. With the signing of Paul Millsap this summer, the Nuggets are most likely going to use Plumlee as the first big man off the bench along with Kenneth Faried.
In four NBA seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers and Nuggets, Plumlee has averaged nine points and 6.5 rebounds. In 27 games to end last season with Denver, Plumlee started 10 games while averaging 9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
