is about to sign a full NBA contract.
The Nuggets sent a qualifying offer to Craig on Monday night, a league source confirmed to The Denver Post, paving the way for him to become a restricted free agent. That means Denver can match any contract offer from another team.
Craig was one of the Nuggets’ feel-good stories last season. The 6-foot-6 wing carved out a rotation role while playing on a two-way contract, meaning he split time with Denver and with G League affiliate Sioux Falls. He averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds over 39 games with the Nuggets and was a multi-positional defender.
“Itap neat when a story like this kind of materializes,” Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said of Craig last season. “Itap certainly well-deserving. … The league’s looking for guys like him — guys who can make a shot and play defense.
“Itap fun because itap happening to a good person. Itap gratifying because he’s a guy that I think is unanimously liked by the coaching staff and the font office.”
Craig, who went undrafted in 2014, started his professional career in the National Basketball League in Australia and New Zealand. He earned his two-way contract, which was worth $75,000, after a successful stint with the Nuggets during summer league.
Free agency begins July 1.
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