An All-Star and the Nuggets' best defender, Iguodala is set to make $16.2 million next season. By opting out, he'll have the ability to sign a five-year contract with the Nuggets or a four-year deal with another team.

Iguodala averaged 13 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 assists last season, his first with the Nuggets after arriving in a four-team blockbuster trade from the Philadelphia 76ers that also involved Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum.

Iguodala helped the Nuggets to a 57-25 record and the Western Conference's No. 3 seed. However, Denver was upset by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, which led to the firing of George Karl, the 2013 Coach of the Year.

Former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is expected to interview for the Nuggets' vacant head coaching job this weekend. Team president Josh Kroenke has said he's in no hurry to hire a coach or GM.

Karl's dismissal came less than a week after Masai Ujiri, the league's Executive of the Year, left the Nuggets to take over as GM of the Toronto Raptors.

In perhaps a bit of good news, Danilo Gallinari, who was expected to miss at least half of next season following surgery to repair a torn ACL, may return sooner than expected.

Gallinari underwent surgery this week at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, where he was operated on by noted surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman.

Team spokesman Tim Gelt forwarded a statement from the clinic to The Associated Press on Friday night that read: "Danilo Gallinari had an arthroscopic procedure to promote healing of his ACL tear, which was found to be partially torn at the time of surgery. Dr. Steadman has performed over 2,000 of these procedures. We are hopeful that Danilo will return to basketball sooner than if he had a complete ACL reconstruction."

Gallinari also posted a video Friday on his official Facebook page in which he delivered the good news, saying in Italian that his recovery time will be "completely different" that previously expected.

Jmpasq wrote:Wish we traded Amare to Philly for him while we had the chance. Love Iggy

He's one of my favorite players too. He's the ultimate glue guy. But not sure if we ever had a chance at him, seeing how they got bynum in a deal he was involved in.

NardDogNation wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:How was Denver's D look without Iggg on the floor? He may be opting out for security of more years not necessarily a higher salary. The president has made him his priority so it is likely hr returns.

I recall Kroenke making those claims but it really isn't his decision; it's Iggy's. I think he'll re-sign in Denver but stranger things have happened. Remember that they have cleaned house and when that happens, it usually triggers significant changes with the roster (e.g. ATL trading Joe Johnson, ditching Larry Drew and in all likelihood sign and trading Josh Smith). Nine out of ten instances, those changes involve trades to free up money, especially if they are a smaller market venue. I think we should keep our ears to the ground if/when the Nuggets start hemorrhaging big ticket contracts. Who knows, we might be able to get the whole gang (Danilo, Wilson and Timofey) back together again, lol. Wouldn't that be a great way to bring peace and serenity to this board?

ONLY if it meant trading carmelo back to denver..

AnubisADL wrote:Denver has imploded this off season.

Lost the GM, VP and coach over money.

I wouldn't be surprised if Iggy walks.

tkf wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:How was Denver's D look without Iggg on the floor? He may be opting out for security of more years not necessarily a higher salary. The president has made him his priority so it is likely hr returns.

I recall Kroenke making those claims but it really isn't his decision; it's Iggy's. I think he'll re-sign in Denver but stranger things have happened. Remember that they have cleaned house and when that happens, it usually triggers significant changes with the roster (e.g. ATL trading Joe Johnson, ditching Larry Drew and in all likelihood sign and trading Josh Smith). Nine out of ten instances, those changes involve trades to free up money, especially if they are a smaller market venue. I think we should keep our ears to the ground if/when the Nuggets start hemorrhaging big ticket contracts. Who knows, we might be able to get the whole gang (Danilo, Wilson and Timofey) back together again, lol. Wouldn't that be a great way to bring peace and serenity to this board?

ONLY if it meant trading carmelo back to denver..

LOL, I'm shocked by this coming from you.

tkf wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:How was Denver's D look without Iggg on the floor? He may be opting out for security of more years not necessarily a higher salary. The president has made him his priority so it is likely hr returns.

I recall Kroenke making those claims but it really isn't his decision; it's Iggy's. I think he'll re-sign in Denver but stranger things have happened. Remember that they have cleaned house and when that happens, it usually triggers significant changes with the roster (e.g. ATL trading Joe Johnson, ditching Larry Drew and in all likelihood sign and trading Josh Smith). Nine out of ten instances, those changes involve trades to free up money, especially if they are a smaller market venue. I think we should keep our ears to the ground if/when the Nuggets start hemorrhaging big ticket contracts. Who knows, we might be able to get the whole gang (Danilo, Wilson and Timofey) back together again, lol. Wouldn't that be a great way to bring peace and serenity to this board?

ONLY if it meant trading carmelo back to denver..

Now that made me laugh! tkf, thy name is consistency!

NardDogNation wrote:

DurzoBlint wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:Wish we traded Amare to Philly for him while we had the chance. Love Iggy

and then he'd be hated on for not being able to shoot. Knicks fans are never satisfied and never except a players limitations, always wanting more.

Such is the nature of a Knick fan. If we could move Tyson to Portland or Dallas for picks/assets and a trade exception, I'd want Iggy with the trade exception. Hopefully the Knicks would have the foresight to frontload his deal and/or structure it so that we'd preserve as much cap space as possible.

I don't think he would be interested in coming to the Knicks because everyone's deal more or less expires at the same time. The would/should want his deal to expire at the same time. How much each player makes matters significantly less than the duration of their deal.

I think Iggy knows he isn't getting the same dollars per year at this stage of his career, but as previously mentioned he wants a long term deal, which will basically be his last major one in the Association