Danilo Gallinari rumors: Nuggets’ star intends to opt out

Danilo Gallinari will become an unrestricted free agent this summer after he decided to opt out of his player option.

Add Danilo Gallinari’s name to the lengthy list of available free agents this summer. Gallinari has opted out of his player option worth $16.1 million for the 2017-18 season. Gallinari becomes one of the best available unrestricted free agents on the market.

Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical was the first to report the news.

Woj adds in the story that the Nuggets intend to make their best effort in retaining their star player. For those teams pursuing Gordon Hayward, Gallinari may wind up being a fallout plan of some sorts. Gallinari, 28, will likely be seeking a lucrative multi-year contract.

The Nuggets will hold his Bird rights with the ability to pay him more than any other team. Denver can exceed the salary cap threshold of $101 million to keep him with the Nuggets. The Italian stallion will create a $22.5 million cap hold to start free agency, meaning the Nuggets likely won’t be major players in free agency in an attempt to keep Gallinari.

Gallinari will always be known as part of the trade compensation in the Carmelo Anthony deal. The Italian forward played two seasons in New York before being shipped to Denver in the Anthony deal. Interestingly enough, the Nuggets have won more games than the Knicks since that trade in 2011.

Next: NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Denver Nuggets

Injuries have plagued Gallinari for much of his NBA career making him a risky free agency coup. Gallinari has played less than 64 games the past three years. Gallinari, 28, averaged 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this season. He also was a productive sharpshooter from 3-point range knocking down 38.9 percent of his attempts. At 6-foot-10, he becomes extremely tough to guard with the ability to play multiple positions.