Arron Afflalo re-signs with the Denver Nuggets – NBA Free Agency Update
Prominent guard Arron Afflalo has committed his long term future to the Denver Nuggets after signing a new five year contract at the club. Afflalo was a restricted free agent this summer and a top priority for the Denver Nuggets,
who were pleased to hang on to the talented player.
Afflalo has been with the Denver Nuggets for the last few years and said he never really had any plans to leave the franchise.
"I always anticipated being back. Obviously I had to respect the process of being a free agent," he said.
The situation was complicated because of the NBA lockout, which ended just a while ago, with free agency only beginning on December 9. In any case, Arron was happy to continue at a franchise that had helped him grow.
"The timing of the lockout and training camp starting probably made it seem a little more difficult. I always anticipated being a Nugget. I got my true first opportunity to flourish as a player here. I'm truly grateful for that."
He will though be coming back to a very different Denver that he knew just at the start of last season. A lot has changed at the franchise that lost veteran Chauncey Billups and super star Carmelo Anthony during last season as
the duo moved to the New York Knicks.
The Nuggets got plenty of young guns in return, but they were further damaged by the free agent exits of Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith in the summer, both of whom are currently playing in China.
What that means for Afflalo is that whilst he was just a young guy in a roster full of experience last season, he is now one of the more experienced men expected to lead the franchise into the future. The player already adjusted
a little to his new duties when Anthony and Billups left the team, but now he will have to be braced for some serious responsibilities.
"It's kind of weird. I've been on, in my career, two very veteran teams," Afflalo said. "Early in Detroit and my last two years here. I gained a lot of experience and I learned a lot from those guys. I'm excited to be more of a
leader of the team and help everything about myself personally and the team grow at once."
His time spent with veteran players, both in Denver and with the Detroit Pistons, could prove invaluable to the Nuggets this coming season as they try and head in a new direction and build on the plethora of young talent available.
Afflalo will have some help from veteran centre Nene, who also re-signed with the Nuggets and the two of them will now be sharing the combined burden of leading the team.
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