Nuggets ship rookie Erick Green to Italy

The Denver Nuggets have asked rookie Erick Green to spend his rookie season in the Euroleague, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

The former Virginia Tech standout, who was selected 46th overall in this year’s draft, has signed a one-year deal with Siena of Italy. The Nuggets will retain Green’s rights through next season.

The overseas recommendation is likely a result of the two-year contract the Nuggets gave free agent point guard Nate Robinson last week.

Green, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year last season, ranks 10th all-time in points scored at VT. He led the NCAA in scoring at 25 points per game during his final season.

The 22-year-old guard averaged a shade under 10 points and two assists in roughly 22 minutes per game for the Nuggets in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Green joins a Siena club that has claimed the Italian League championship eight times, including seven straight titles.