The Denver Nuggets did not extend a qualifying offer to 24 year-old Julyan Stone, according to league sources. The qualifying offer was roughly $884,293. Stone will enter free agency on July 1st as an unrestricted free agent, but it’s believed the Nuggets will try to retain him.
Stone will be entering his third NBA season. He appeared in just 22 games for the Nuggets, two starts, as a rookie out of UTEP and in just four games during the 2012-13 season. Stone made his season debut on January 5th in a 110-91 win over the Utah Jazz and scored two points after battling back from off-season hip surgery. He also missed the team’s final 10 games with a knee injury (sprain) before appearing in games four and five against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
He averaged 1.8 points and 0.5 assists this past season for Denver. A defensive specialist, Stone was highly regarded in that role for former head coach George Karl. If the Nuggets are unable to re-sign Stone, rookie Erick Green could be a candidate to be the team’s third point guard as the Nuggets have Ty Lawson and Andre Miller under contract.
Entering free agency on July 1st the Nuggets have four free agents of their own: Andre Iguodala, Stone, and Corey Brewer are all unrestricted. Timofey Mozgov is a restricted free agent.
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