Denver Nuggets finalizing two-year deal with forward JaKarr Sampson

With two open roster spots created by releasing veterans J.J. Hickson and Steve Novak, the Denver Nuggets are finalizing a deal for 6-foot-9, 214 pound JaKarr Sampson, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. Sampson is just 22 years-old and is in his second season out of St. John’s.

Philadelphia free agent JaKarr Sampson is finalizing a two-year contract with the Denver Nuggets, league sources tell The Vertical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 22, 2016

More from Shams on the two-year deal:

Sampson’s deal with Denver will be non-guaranteed in the second year.

Sampson was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline so the team could make room for seldom used veteran Joel Anthony — to help facilitate a deal that sent Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton from the Rockets to the Pistons. The Pistons also sent a first-round pick to the Rockets in the deal.

Sampson is listed as a shooting guard, but has been a versatile player for the Sixers after signing a free agent deal with the team after going undrafted in 2014. From SB Nation’s Liberty Ballers site that covers the team on the move to cut ties with Sampson:

If not, it’s a necessary (if heart-wrenching) cut. Sampson has played every role imaginable during his time here — from power forward to emergency point — and has flashed his toothy grin every step of the way. Hard to imagine a better soldier for the process, and Sampson is a guy I’ll root for so long as he plays pro ball.

Sampson appeared in 74 games for the Sixers his rookie season, starting 32 of them and averaging 5.2 points on 42.2 percent shooting from the field, including just 24.4 percent from 3-point land on 1.7 attempts per game. This season he appeared in 47 games for the Sixers, starting 18 of those and averaging 5.1 points on 42.6 percent shooting from the field, including just 17.6 percent from 3-point range on 0.7 attempts per game. He also averages 2.7 rebounds this season in 14.7 minutes per game.

The addition of Sampson could provide some backup help for Danilo Gallinari, who has been dealing with a cut to the back of his shooting hand. Sampson’s versatility will be a boon for the Nuggets, but his inability to stretch the floor doesn’t help the spacing of the offense. We’ll see how he fits in and if the two-year deal gets done, as Shams reports.

The move will take Denver’s roster from 13 players to 14 with one open roster spot remaining.