Nuggets Extend $2.7 Million Qualifying Offer to Linas Kleiza

Filed under: Hawks, Nuggets, NBA Transactions, NBA Free Agents

DENVER -- It's no secret Denver would love to have back forward Linas Kleiza. At what price is an entirely different subject.



The Nuggets on Monday extended a $2.7 million qualifying offer to Kleiza, who bolted as a restricted free agent last summer to sign a two-year, $12 million deal with the Greek team Olympiakos. The move is a formality since the Nuggets had to extend that qualifying offer by the end of the month to keep Kleiza from becoming an unrestricted free agent, and the amount of the offer is specified by collective bargaining agreement according to Kleiza being drafted No. 27 in 2005.



Kleiza can opt out of his Greek contract by July 15, which would leave him again as a restricted free agent. Kleiza's agent, Bill Duffy, who did not return a message left by FanHouse, told the Denver Post that Kleiza "very likely'' will stay in Greece.



However, a source close to the situation said the native of Lithuania hasn't entirely dismissed opting out but likely wouldn't do so unless a satisfactory NBA deal was in place for him to sign.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/06/21/nuggets-extend-2-7-million-qualifying-offer-to-linas-kleiza/