Nuggets center Steven Hunter is not expected to opt out of the final year of his contract, his agent Mark Bartelstein said today.
“As of right now we’re not planning on doing anything,” Bartelstein said.
The deadline for opting out of a contract is June 30. But Hunter is due nearly $3.7 million next season, money that is hard to leave on the table, particuarly in the tenuous situation Hunter finds himself in.
The Nuggets traded for Hunter two seasons ago, but chronic knee injuries largely have kept him off the court. He missed 30 games because of injury in 2007-08, and all of the 2008-09 season. Hunter said he would participate in summer basketball as much as he can to insisted he would be ready to play next season.
If Hunter had opted out, it would have been an unexpected boost to the Nuggets, who will likely find themsevles in luxury tax territory next season.
Meanwhile, Nuggets guard J.R. Smith received a $600,000 bonus this season for playing more than 2,000 minutes and the Nuggets winning over 42 games.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
