Darrell Arthur: The Steal of Free Agency, Thus Far
By Drew Albee
The Nuggets got great value!
When comparing the value of Arthur’s contract not only to other contracts signed on Friday, but also to market value, the Nuggets got a great deal by getting Arthur to agree to a three-year, $23 million deal.
Arthur is a good backup big man with a high basketball I.Q. He isn’t the most athletic player, but he is rarely out-of-position on defense. Even though he isn’t a prolific shot-blocker, he’s probably the Nuggets’ best big at defending the pick-and-roll.
Offensively, Arthur had his best season in the Mile High City last year posting 7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He shot a career-high 38.5% from deep last year. D.A. will provide the Nuggets with veteran leadership off of the bench and his professional attitude will continue to serve as an example to the young pups on the roster.
The deal will pay Arthur a mere $7.7 million per season – an excellent value before the massive increase on the league’s salary cap. The Denver Post’s Christopher Dempsey reports that D.A. even took less money to stay with the Nuggets:
Arthur's contract is 3 years and $23 million. And he accepted a bit less money to stay with the #Nuggets
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) July 1, 2016
The 28-year old Arthur is rounding into form as a solid stretch four. He now will play the entire prime of his career here in Denver and the Nuggets are lucky to keep him around at such a great value.
Next: Comparing DA's deal to other Friday signings