Why did Nuggets GM Calvin Booth spend his 4th of July in Greece?

As the days and hours tick away and the Nuggets have still yet to sign a free agent, fans are getting antsy and impatient. Thus far, the team has lost three players from their rotation and they haven’t added anyone beyond their first-round draft pick DaRon Holmes II.

More than a few people have been left scratching their heads, wondering what the Nuggets are doing and waiting to see their offseason plans. GM Calvin Booth has preached patience, but time is running away and free agents are coming off the board left and right. There are still good veteran players available who can help the Nuggets, but the team still needs to go get them.

Calvin Booth overseas scouting at the Olympic Qualifiers

But at the moment, it doesn’t appear like Booth is meeting with any prospective additions as he was spotted courtside in Piraeus, Greece to watch Slovenia take on New Zealand in an Olympic Qualifying game. Slovenia won the game by a comfortable margin, led by Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.

So what was Booth doing there? Surely not just enjoying a nice European vacation during the first week of free agency. More likely, Booth was there to watch former Nugget Vlatko Cancar play for Team Slovenia in person.

Denver declined Cancar’s team option recently, making him an unrestricted free agent. But there was immediately talk that declining the option was a formality and that the Nuggets would eventually sign Vlatko to a new minimum contract which would give the player a pay raise while also saving the team some money.

Cancar looking good in first action since ACL surgery

Somewhat complicating the situation was the fact that Cancar missed all of last season with a torn ACL. In all likelihood, Booth would like to get an up close and personal look at Cancar playing in live action before offering him one of the precious remaining roster spots available.

Cancar hasn’t been lighting up, but he’s been out here playing and looks no worse for the wear physically. That’s likely what Booth wanted to see and assuming Cancar comes out of this action feeling good, the Nuggets will probably bring him back to play a role for the Nuggets next season.