The Denver Nuggets signed forward JaKarr Sampson on Monday after he was released from the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline to make room for ... OK, this gets a little complicated.
The Sixers were involved in that three-team deal that saw Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton go to the Pistons from Houston in exchange for a first-round pick. To make salaries match, the Pistons had to send Joel Anthony somewhere, and the Sixers -- in very much Sixers fashion -- offered to help out for the standard price of a second-round draft pick. However, the Sixers had to create a roster spot for him, so they cut Sampson, averaging 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. The Sixers like Sampson's upside, though, so there was a widely-held belief that they would re-sign him after they waived Anthony.
That's not going to happen, as the Nuggets snatched him up, and did so on a two-year deal -- partially guaranteed for next season (via USA Today).
Sampson's a hustle junkie with athleticism, raw and long at 6-9. He fills an immediate need for the Nuggets who are short on small forwards with Will Barton needing more backup two-guard minutes after the trade of Randy Foye.
Just to recap, the Sixers waived Sampson to make room for Anthony but were going to re-sign him, only the Nuggets signed him until the summer of 2017 (non-guaranteed) and the Sixers came away empty handed because the deal was rescinded on Monday after Donatas Motiejunas failed his physical. The NBA is weird sometimes.
