Anthony Carter is back with the Nuggets, and a ton of people in the organization are thrilled, starting with his head coach George Karl.
Karl openly lobbied for the return of the veteran point guard, who will head into his 11th NBA season armed with a one-year deal worth approximately $1.3 million. The Nuggets announced the signing of the free agent point guard this afternoon.
“It’s something we very much wanted,” Nuggets vice president of basketball operations, Mark Warkentien said. “There’s a lot of guys out there. But there was never any question that that’s the guy that George and the front office wanted. We’re thrilled. His loyalty towards George, (owner Stan) Kroenke and the organization is just amazing.”
The move puts the Nuggets roster at 11 players under contract for next season, but everyone in the organization saw this as the team’s next most important move.
With Carter, the Nuggets have a solid defensive perimeter presence off the bench and a guy that knows Karl’s system. He is also now an important part of the support system that will mentor the team’s first round draft pick, point guard Ty Lawson.
“You can’t get better mentors than Chauncey Billups and Anthony Carter in terms of being professionals and first-class citizens,” Warkentien said. “Between them they have what, 20-something years in the league? You couldn’t have better role models.”
Carter averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 assists in 22 minutes per game last season.
“Obviously he could have found a similar contract somewhere else,” Warkentien said. “But he wanted to be a Nugget, and thank goodness he is.”
Smith to wear No. 5. Nuggets shooting guard J.R. Smith will wear No. 5 next season. Smith, who has worn No. 1 ever since he’s been with the Nuggets, is changing jersey numbers, as Billups will wear No. 1 next season.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
