The Nuggets have an all-points bulletin out for 3-point shooters. Their search got a little harder early this morning when their free agent guard, Greg Buckner, agreed to sign with the Dallas Mavericks. Buckner will receive at least three years guaranteed, with the two sides working on details for two more years. .
“I’m happy,” Buckner said today. “It was my first choice to go to Dallas. It’s crazy it worked out.”
Aside from serving as a defensive specialist, the two-guard represented Denver’s top perimeter threat on a team that finished last in the NBA in 3-point shooting last season. Buckner’s .354 3-point percentage may not have been phenomenal, but his 86 threes easily led the team.
Buckner spent two years in Denver after arriving from Philadelphia before the 2004-05 season. He averaged 6.7 points per game last year.
But with the Nuggets having committed approximately $140 million to Carmelo Anthony and Nene this summer, Buckner said he and his agent agreed that his return would be a longshot.
“My time in Denver was great. It got me out of a bad situation with Philly,” he said. “They wanted to take care of their young kids. I thought it was going to work out that way. You have to take care of Melo and Nene. There wasn’t much money left.”
Buckner also looked at a Dallas team that reached the NBA finals in June and said he sees a good chance at winning a championship. He said coach Avery Johnson described a team culture where the players work hard but have fun.
“He said I bring a need, someone who can shoot from the outside, be a threat,” Buckner said. “Basically, the same thing I was in Denver a defensive stopper.”
Staff writer Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or at athompson@denverpost.com. Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or at mspears@denverpost.com.
